Oscar B. Blanchard, merchant, Edgewood, was born in Allegany County, N.Y., April 16, 1825. His parents were Lewis and Deborah (Wheeler) Blanchard, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of Connecticut, and both members of the Presbyterian church. Of their three children, Oscar B. was the oldest. He remained on his father's farm till of age, when he became self- supporting. In 1849 he went to Dodge County, Wis., where he engaged in trade. He was married at Beaver Dam, Wis., to Mary Stoll, In February, 1863. She was a daughter of D.F. and Sarah (Ogden) Stoll, of New Jersey. In 1872 he came to Iowa, and with his brother, Dr. Blanchard, laid out the village of Edgewood. The same year he started a store at that place. In 1873 he erected his present dwelling, and brought his family from the East. Here he has since resided. He has three children-- Clara, Louis and Charles, all at home. Mr. Blanchard owns, besides his residence, two stores and several lots. He has held various offices of trust and honor in the township, and is now the Justice of the Peace at Edgewood. He is highly respected by all, and is in every sense a representative man. H was a Whig, and then a Republican. Is not a partisan, however, and votes for "the best man for the place." He is a Freemason. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 884-885 |