John
Tazwell Blair was born June 6, 1876,
Marietta, Georgia, and came to Coleman
County in 1897 and got a job working for
Lucien Love, a pioneer rancher.
While working for Mr. Love, he fell in
love with one of the Boss' daughters,
Carrie Agnes, and married her shortly
thereafter. (See Lucien Love and William
F. Kegans). About this time, he
became acquainted with Col. R. H.
Overall, who had extensive holdings in
the south part of the county. Col.
Overall was much impressed with the
young man and offered him a job as
foreman of his large ranch. Mr.
Blair held this position until the death
of Mrs. Overall in 1927, serving her
well.
Mr. and Mrs.
Blair moved to the ranch and lived in a
small, but comfortable house near the
main house. They had none of the
conveniences we consider so necessary
today, but they were happy.
Shortly after J. T. and Carrie went to
the ranch, Col. Overall died.
During this
time, J. T. was acquiring land and
running his own stock. Also,
during this time, the Blairs were
acquiring a family; three boys and two
girls: Nelle, J. T., Jr. (see Paddleford
Family), Robert, Charles, and Elizabeth
(see Ira Irvin Young). When the
children reached school age, Mr. Blair
felt that it was too far for the
children to ride horseback or drive a
buggy or wagon to Coleman in order to
attend school. He felt that he
must move his family to Coleman.
Mr. Blair bought the southwest quarter
of Block 11 in the Clow Addition from
Mr. and Mrs. G. B. Davidson. In
1914, he had J. P. Caldwell, a civil
engineer, to draw the plans for the two
story southern colonial house which was
to become the Blair family home.
Mr. Caldwell hired Will Haynie of
Coleman as the head carpenter, or
contractor, as we know the position
today. Mr. Haynie hired all the
other workers for the job. As much
of the material as possible that went
into the house was bought locally.
Mr. and Mrs. Blair and their children
lived in the house until the children
married or left home, and Mr. and Mrs.
Blair died. In February, 1974, Mr.
and Mrs. C. B. Drinkard of Coleman
purchased the Blair House from Nelle
Blair.