Person:Francis Blaine (1)

From newspaper clippings collected by Augusta Blaine Nelson:

FRANK BLAINE

Those who knew Frank J. Blaine were considerably schocked by the news of his death. It is always startling to know a man apparently in good health and in the best of spirits and then learn a few hours later that he has gone to join the majority.

Mr. Blaine was a man who remembered a great deal about the older history and times of Decatur. He came to this place in 1867; that was not such a long time ago, as the historian would look at it, but Decatur was then not much of a place. He saw more than three- fourths of the growth of the town. He remembered the details of many of the incidents connected with this growth, and it was always a pleasure to talk with him on this subject.

He was in many ways a pleasant man to know. There was a little fountain of shrewd humor in him that seemed to be playing all the time. He did not get very excited about the little ironies of life, but he saw them and he indicated his appreciation of them in a few words that sounded somewhat indirect, but to the one who knew the speaker they were deliciously to the point.

Mr. Blaine will be missed by all the men who had a beat on North Water Street and he wanted to stop now and then to hear a story or get the latest and wisest comment on the happenings of the day.

1850 United States Federal Census

Name: Francis J Blain Age: 8 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1842 Birth Palce: Indiana Gender: Male Home in 1850: Leesburg, Kosciusko, Illinois Source Citation: Year: «i»1850«/i»; Census Place«i»: Leesburg, Kosciusko, Illinois«/i»; Roll: «i»M432..156;«/i» Page: «i»350;«/i» Image: «i»398.

«/i»1900 United States Federal Census

Name: Frank Blaine Home in 1900: Decatur Ward 2, Macon, Illinios Age: 58 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1842 Birthplace: Indiana Relationship to Head of House: Son-in-law Spouse's Name: Aurvilla Race: White

Household Members: Jane L Culver 76 Frank Blaine 58 Aurvilla Blaine 51 Source Citation: Year: «i»1900;«/i» Census Place:«i» Decatur Ward 2, Macon, Illinois«/i»; Roll: «i»T623..323«/i»; Page: «i»7A«/i»; Enumeration District: «i»48.«/i»