Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 627 - 628 

HENRY BLIN, a prominent and influential farmer of Valley Center Township, was born in Warren County, Ohio, Feb. 26, 1826, and is the son of Christopher and Mary Ann (Fry) Blin, who were natives of Ohio and Virginia respectively. Both of his parents have passed to their reward in the other world, his father in 1850 and his mother in 1866.

             Christopher Blin was reared to the vocation of a farmer, and until his death followed that line of business in the Buckeye State. He gave considerable attention to stock-raising, which was one secret of the success with which he met in his operations. Both he and his wife were members of the United Brethren Church, and took an active part in all the work of that society; Mr. Blin, having the entire confidence of the community, held the office of Trustee of the United Brethren Church for quite a number of years. He was a Republican in his political faith, and was a good citizen and respected member of the community in which he resided. There were born unto him twelve children, two boys and ten girls, whose names are as follows: Sophia, Julia A., Catherine, Henry, Christopher, Christina, Rebecca, Rachel, Mary Ann, Susan, Harriet and Nancy. Of this large family, however, but three still survive: Henry, the subject of our sketch, Christopher and Rachel.

             Henry Blin, after having received his education in the common schools of his native county, and having assisted his father in the labors attendant upon agricultural pursuits, remained at home until eighteen years of age, when he commenced and served an apprenticeship, until his majority, at the wagon and coach building trade. For two years after having worked his time he was employed as a journeyman by Clark Haines, the same party with whom he had been, and then in company with this employer removed to Logan County, Ohio. There they, in partnership, purchased eighty acres of land and put up a sawmill and factory to bend felloes, turn hubs and prepare other materials for buggy and wagon making, and continued in that employment for about two years. Our subject then removed to the county seat of Logan County and engaged at his old trade, wagon-making, for John Powers, where he remained for about one year. In company with his brother-in-law he then moved to Franklin, Warren County, in the same State, and the two, entering into partnership with John Stanton, engaged in the same line of business. One year later the firm was dissolved, and the brothers-in-law, removing to Springboro, resumed the wagon-making business, and there they remained together for a period of four years. At the expiration of that time Henry sold out to his brother-in-law and removed to his father's homestead and rented the place and commenced farming. From there he went to Henry County, Ill., where he purchased eighty acres of land and was engaged in tilling the soil in that locality in Annawan Township, from March, 1857, until the fall of 1861. While in that precinct he served for one term as Trustee of the township and as School Director of the district.

             The next move made by our subject was to Cass County, Ind., where he continued in agricultural pursuits until the spring of 1880, when he came to Kansas and settled in Sedgwick County, and purchased 160 acres of land on section 20, in Valley Center Township, where he has since made his home. He has done but little farming, however, in the last few years, having rented his place ever since he came to this locality, only working a small piece of it himself. Politically, he is a member of the Republican party and adheres closely to the lines drawn by that organization. Since coming to this place he has won the esteem and regard of the community. and stands high as an honorable and upright gentleman in the community.

             The marriage ceremony which united the destinies of Henry Blin and Miss Elizabeth Watson took place April 9, 1850. The bride is a native of Logan County, Ohio, and was born in the year 1827. She is a daughter of Patrick and Althea (Donoden) Watson, both of whom have passed to their reward beyond the dark river, the mother dying in 1850, on the same day that Christopher Blin, the father of our subject, died, and the father in 1862. Patrick Watson was a carpenter by trade, which he followed until his eyes began to fail and he was compelled to relinquish it. He moved to Bellefontaine, Logan Co., Ohio, where he engaged in the hotel business, which he continued until the death of his wife. He then made his home with his children, and died in Richmond, Wayne Co., Ind. He was the parent of twelve children, as follows: Alexander, Benjamin, Elizabeth, James, Helen, William, Minerva, Hannah, Seth, Althea, Samuel and Maria. Of this family four boys and two girls are still living. Benjamin and Elizabeth, the latter the wife of Mr. Blin, were twins. Three of the boys, William, Seth and Benjamin, were in the army during the late Rebellion.

             Mr. and Mrs. Blin have a family of six children, viz.: Patrick, who married Miss Mary Trissel, and is living in Kingman County, this State, engaged in the hardware and lumber trade; C. C., who married Miss Harriet Green, and is a blacksmith by trade; Jessie, Mrs. William Winters; her husband is a farmer in Eagle Township. Henrietta, the wife of Ambrose Mix, who is the proprietor of a sawmill in Arkansas; Helen, the wife of Simeon Zaring, a farmer in Valley Center Township; and Julia, who is living at home.

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