SDGMBlairH
HENRY H. BLAIR 1838-1911
Grand Master of Dakota, 1876-1877
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 24:
Brother Henry Blair, the second Grand Master of Masons of Dakota, was born in Aurora, Erie County, New York, on February 15, 1838. In his seenth year the family moved to Burlington, Wisconsin, and three years later to Wyocena, Wisconsin, where he grew to manhood.
In 1861 he enlisted as a musician in the Union Army and after two years returned to Wyocena.
He married Miss Margaretta E. Day at Wyocena on October 25, 1863. To this union was born two sons and two daughters. He was a member of the Christian Church.
In 1869 they came by wagon to Elk Point, Dakota Territory, where he entered the drug business.
He was made a Mason in Rio Lodge No. 52, Rio, Wisconsin, on October 4, 1862. He was a charter member and the first Worshipful Master of Elk Point Lodge No. 3, in Elk Point.
In 1875, as Master of Elk Point Lodge, he sent invitations to all known lodges in Dakota Territory, inviting them to assemble at Elk Point in convention for the purpose of forming the Grand Lodge of Dakota.
1877
Agreeable to the resolution adopted at the second Annual communication in the hall of St. John's Lodge No. 1 in the city of Yankton on Tuesday, June 12, 1877, with Grand Master Henry Harrison Blair presiding.
The Grand Treasurer reported that expenses had amounted to $93.45 for the year and that the income was $136.02.
A. W. Hastie of Watago Lodge No. 291, Illinois, presented a petition asking that a charter be granted but there was some question that the by-laws had not been followed. Brother Folk, the Master of the Lodge, had not appeared before another lodge to exemplify the work in the three degrees. It was explained that a strict compliance to the provisions of the by-laws would have worked a hardship since the proposed lodge was over 350 miles from another Dakota lodge. It was recommended by the committee that if the nearest lodge was more than one hundred miles distant, the Grand Master may grant a dispensation. This would be done if he is fully and entirely satisfied of the competency of the Master-elect and of the propriety of establishing said lodge. The proposed amendment was ordered to be printed and laid over until the next Annual Communication.
The Grand Master was pleased with the progress made by the Grand Lodge but reported that no further word had been received from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota regarding the recognition of the new Grand Lodge of Dakota.
LODGES
None.
