James Blair was born on the shores of Lake George, the fifth of seven children of John & Jane (Rogers) Blair. At age 12 the family moved to Michigan and James moved to Grand Rapids at age 18. His education was obtained in the common schools. He was initially in business with Porter & Roberts and C.C. Comstock. In 1856 he was City Clerk. Following the return of Colonel Gray from the Civil War, James studied law with him and was admitted to the bar after the war. He took over Colonel Gray's business, when he left Grand Rapids. In 1871 he formed a partnership with Lyman D. Norris, which firm then became Norris, Blair & Kingsley and finally Blair, Kingsley & Kleinhans up until James' death. On 18 December 1855 he married Eliza Turner and they had three sons, Charles Benton, James & Hugh Blair. He was director of many industrial & financial institutions and did much to promote the municipal & business growth of Grand Rapids. James was a member of the Grand Rapids Board of Education and served as its president four terms. He was appointed by Governor Begole to the Board of Trustees for the Industrial School for Boys. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster for Grand Rapids by President Cleveland and held that office five years. As a lawyer James occupied a rather peculiar & remarkable position, unparalleled in Kent County, if not in Michigan. He was a practicing lawyer for more than twenty years and during all that time never tried a case and never saw a case tried. However, his business experience early in his life coupled with his law studies and quick intuition of men & situations made him a wise counselor and good businessman's lawyer.
James Blair was born on the shores of Lake George, the fifth of seven children of John & Jane (Rogers) Blair. At age 12 the family moved to Michigan and James moved to Grand Rapids at age 18. His education was obtained in the common schools. He was initially in business with Porter & Roberts and C.C. Comstock. In 1856 he was City Clerk. Following the return of Colonel Gray from the Civil War, James studied law with him and was admitted to the bar after the war. He took over Colonel Gray's business, when he left Grand Rapids. In 1871 he formed a partnership with Lyman D. Norris, which firm then became Norris, Blair & Kingsley and finally Blair, Kingsley & Kleinhans up until James' death. On 18 December 1855 he married Eliza Turner and they had three sons, Charles Benton, James & Hugh Blair. He was director of many industrial & financial institutions and did much to promote the municipal & business growth of Grand Rapids. James was a member of the Grand Rapids Board of Education and served as its president four terms. He was appointed by Governor Begole to the Board of Trustees for the Industrial School for Boys. In 1885 he was appointed postmaster for Grand Rapids by President Cleveland and held that office five years. As a lawyer James occupied a rather peculiar & remarkable position, unparalleled in Kent County, if not in Michigan. He was a practicing lawyer for more than twenty years and during all that time never tried a case and never saw a case tried. However, his business experience early in his life coupled with his law studies and quick intuition of men & situations made him a wise counselor and good businessman's lawyer.
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