Dr. Alonzo O. Blair, dean of Crawford County physicians, a practitioner in the county for the past 40 years and former city councilman died this morning at 10 o’clock at his home, 513 West Second Street, after an illness lasting since Monday of this week. Dr. Blair has been in poor health for about two years and had suffered several attacks of convulsions brought on by blood pressure, the last one, which occurred Monday, causing his death. He continued the practice of medicine up until the starting of his last illness, receiving several patients in his office Monday, diagnosing their cases and writing prescriptions for them.
Dr. Blair was the last surviving member of the partnership of Williams, Williams and Blair, who founded the Pittsburg City Hospital in 1894. He served one term on the city council, representing the Second Ward, and was also city health officer for some time. He was one of the organizers of the United Presbyterian Church in this city. The church started with a membership of thirteen and Rev. J. H. Gibson who was its pastor for 25 years, was the first minister. Dr. Blair was an elder in the church until his death. He was part owner of the Pittsburg Drug Company at the time of his death.
Native of Illinois
Dr. Blair was born at Cutler, Perry County, Ill., Sept. 19, 1852, the son of William R. and Martha Blair. His parents were both of Scotch ancestry and belonged to the somewhat numerous group of families of strong Presbyterian proclivities who settles in Perry and Randolph Counties, Illinois, in the early part of the nineteenth century, resulting in the building up of towns such as Cutler, Coulterville and Sparta, communities where religious observances were very much adhered to. He received his education in the Coulterville Academy from which he graduated in 1873. He then attended the St. Louis Medical College, graduating in 1877. He practiced medicine about a year and a half at Coulterville, Ill., and in 1878 came to Kansas, locating in Bavaria, Saline County, where he practiced until 1882, when he came to Crawford County. He had a practice in Beulah for seven years and then went to New York City and spent a year studying in the New York Polyclinic. He then returned better equipped than ever for the successful practice of medicine, locating in Pittsburg where he had maintained an office ever since.
Funeral Monday Afternoon
Dr. Blair is survived by his widow, formerly Miss Elizabeth Hughes, whom he married in Coulterville, Ill., in 1878; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Nesch, 307 West Jefferson Avenue, and Mrs. Charles R. Fisher of Fort Scott and a son John H. Blair of 402 West Euclid Avenue. Another son, Roscoe, died in infancy. Dr. Blair was a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge, the Knights Templar, the Shrine, Woodmen of the World and A. O. U. W. Many anecdotes are told of Dr. Blair’s early practice in Crawford County. He possessed of a remarkable personality and enormous vitality, which sustained him at times when a weaker man would have given up. During the last two years of his life; although his health was constantly failing, he tenaciously hung to his practice, largely because of the demand of his old patients, who would have no other physician serve them, and he remained active until the last. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 4 o’clock from the United Presbyterian church, Rev. J. H. Hutchman conducting the services. If possible, Rev. J. H. Gibson of Kansas City, the former pastor of the church, will be obtained to assist with the services. Burial will be in Mt. Olive. - Pittsburg Daily Headlight, 17 March 1923