BIOGRAPHY: Celestine J. BLAIR, Cambria County, PA
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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 452
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Celestine J. BLAIR
CELESTINE J. BLAIR, ex-register and recorder of Cambria county, is a son of John
and Mary Ann (Evans) Blair, and was born August 11, 1857, in Ebensburg, this
county.
He was educated in the public schools and Mount Gallitzin seminary, of
Ebensburg. In those days his father was a very active and prominent politician
of the county, and young Celestine was soon inducted into public life. In 1879
he entered the office of the county treasurer as deputy, where he remained nine
months, and shortly afterwards entered the office of register and recorder. His
father having been elected sheriff of the county, he became his father's deputy,
and continued in that relation the full term of three years. His father was
followed in that office by Joseph A. Gray, and Mr. Blair was made his deputy,
serving in that capacity until he was elected to the office of register and
recorder, in the autumn of 1886. He served in that office one term, and that his
administration of its affairs was satisfactory to the public, is evidenced by
the fact that he was re-elected.
September 10, 1880, Mr. Blair married Kate M. Fenlon, a daughter of John
Fenlon (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume), and their marriage has
been blessed in the birth of twelve children: Frank J., Mary Grace, Maria
Marmaleta, deceased; Ellen M., deceased; C. Louisa, Pauline, Jessie M.,
Katherine, Jeanette, deceased; Celestine J., Fenlon L., Marian, Basil, deceased,
and four died young.