Hon. John Blanchard and Mary Miles

---

---

Husband Hon. John Blanchard ^{1 2}

---

           Born: 30 Sep 1787 - Peacham, Caledonia Co, VT 1 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 8 Mar 1849 - Columbia, Lancaster Co, PA 1 2
         Buried: 

       Marriage: Mar 1820 1 2

---

---

Wife Mary Miles ^{2 3}

---

           Born: 23 Mar 1799 - Milesburg, Centre Co, PA 1 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 9 Jan 1857 1 2
         Buried: 

---

         Father: Evan Miles (Abt 1770-1838) 4
         Mother: Rebecca George (Abt 1769-1841/1845) 5

---

---

Children

---

1 M Edmund Blanchard ⁶

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 27 Dec 1886 6
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Mary T. Irvin (      -      ) 6

---

2 M Evan M. Blanchard ²

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 7 Nov 1894 - Bellefonte, Centre Co, PA 7
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Eliza T. Harris (      -      ) 2

---

---

General Notes: Husband - Hon. John Blanchard

---

When fifteen years of age his father died, and he assisted in carrying on the farm, attending the public schools in the winter. Supporting himself by school teaching, he prepared himself for college, and graduated at Dartmouth, in 1812. He then removed to York, Pennsylvania, where he taught school and studied law, and was admitted to the Bar of York County March 31st, 1815. He first settled at Lewistown, and in the fall of 1815 removed to Bellefonte, which continued to be his residence up to the time of his death. He at once became largely engaged in the practice of law, and took a high position at the Bar. He was a Whig in politics, but not an active politician, and after much persuasion became the candidate of the party for Congress in the fall of 1844. His speeches in Congress, particularly on the tariff question, are characterized by great logical ability, and abound in evidence of great research of statistics. He took sick about the close of his second term, and died at Columbia, Pennsylvania, on his way home.

The following brief estimate of Mr. Blanchard's character is from the pen of Ex-Gov. Curtin, at one time Mr. Blanchard's law partner: "Mr. Blanchard was a thoroughly educated man, and it is not an exaggerated eulogy to say a ripe scholar. He retained his fondness for the classics, and read Latin and Greek habitually in his hours of relaxation from professional labor. He was active and zealous in the cause of education and participated in all means intended to improve and enlighten the people who surrounded him. In his professional reading, except in the preparation of his cases for trial, he preferred books and writers in which elementary principles are discussed, and had the fondness of the thoroughly educated and accomplished lawyer for the common law. There were other phases of Mr. Blanchard's nature which were scarcely known except to his intimate friends. He had a keen sense of the ludicrous, and enjoyed wit and humor with rare zest. Those who knew him well only realized the extent and variety of his literary acquirements. Remarkable for his agreeable conversation, he was always the leader in the social circle when not too ill, and then he gave real enjoyment by his knowledge of modern classic literature, and amused by apt and quaint illustration drawn from his well-filled memory. A man of positive convictions on all questions that engaged his attention. Mr. Blanchard was bred and educated a Federalist in his political opinions, and never abandoned the principles of that party, which he had closely studied and well understood. It was a high compliment to him and a just appreciation of his character, as well as to the generosity and good sense of the people of the district in which he lived, to elect him twice to Congress when it was well known he was an avowed Federalist, when the name was odious and the party was defeated, disbandoned and its leaders in retirement. As an advocate, Mr. Blanchard was persuasive, clear in his logic, and always truthful in his statements. In his forensic efforts, he was remarkable for the simplicity of his language. His speeches were never long enough to weary the court or jury, or to lose him the interest of the Court room. That he was learned and truthful to his clients was the foundation of his professional success is true to his memory; and the purity of his social life and his integrity gave him the sobriquet of 'Honest John Blanchard,' and more than all other qualifications gave him power in the forum and influence in the community."

1 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 162.

2 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 188.

3 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 162, 215.

4 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 71, 188.

5 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 215.

6 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 185.

7 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 189.