Born in the town of Diana, Lewis county, New York, April 15, 1839. His. father Caleb Blanchard was a farmer, but died when the subject of this sketch was only 5 years old. The son received a good common-school education after which he attended Carthage Academy, New York for several terms, and in 1858 came to Illinois and entered Rock River Seminary. There he remained for several years. He enlisted in Company K of the 28th Iowa Infantry at Newton, Iowa, and served in that regiment during the war. Returning to resume the arts of peace, he entered the law department of the University of Michigan from which he graduated in 1866. He immediately returned to Iowa and commenced the practice of law at Montezuma. In the fall of 1868, he was elected circuit judge and was re-elected in 1872 and again in 1876, serving three full terms or twelve years on the bench. He removed to Oskaloosa in 1874 and since his retirement from the bench has been engaged in the practice of law in that city. In 1886 he spent the summer traveling in Europe. In Masonic circles he stands high, having been treasurer of the grand lodge of Iowa in 1879-80. He was also grand orator of that body in 1878. He is also a member of the G.A.R., and in 1890 was elected senior vice commander of the Department of Iowa. As a member of the House two years ago he took an active part in all the important legislation of that body. He was largely instrumental in having the law passed prohibiting the 80 percent coinsurance clause in fire insurance policies. Mr. Blanchard served as chairman of the committee on federal relations, and was a member of the committees on ways and means, judiciary, appropriations, municipal corporations, state university, elections, public libraries and judicial districts. His promotion to the Senate is well deserved.

Born in the town of Diana, Lewis county, New York, April 15, 1839. His. father Caleb Blanchard was a farmer, but died when the subject of this sketch was only 5 years old. The son received a good common-school education after which he attended Carthage Academy, New York for several terms, and in 1858 came to Illinois and entered Rock River Seminary. There he remained for several years. He enlisted in Company K of the 28th Iowa Infantry at Newton, Iowa, and served in that regiment during the war. Returning to resume the arts of peace, he entered the law department of the University of Michigan from which he graduated in 1866. He immediately returned to Iowa and commenced the practice of law at Montezuma. In the fall of 1868, he was elected circuit judge and was re-elected in 1872 and again in 1876, serving three full terms or twelve years on the bench. He removed to Oskaloosa in 1874 and since his retirement from the bench has been engaged in the practice of law in that city. In 1886 he spent the summer traveling in Europe. In Masonic circles he stands high, having been treasurer of the grand lodge of Iowa in 1879-80. He was also grand orator of that body in 1878. He is also a member of the G.A.R., and in 1890 was elected senior vice commander of the Department of Iowa. As a member of the House two years ago he took an active part in all the important legislation of that body. He was largely instrumental in having the law passed prohibiting the 80 percent coinsurance clause in fire insurance policies. Mr. Blanchard served as chairman of the committee on federal relations, and was a member of the committees on ways and means, judiciary, appropriations, municipal corporations, state university, elections, public libraries and judicial districts. His promotion to the Senate is well deserved.

Born in the town of Diana, Lewis county, New York, April 15, 1839. His father Caleb Blanchard was a farmer, but died when the subject of this sketch was only 5 years old. The son received a good common-school education after which he attended Carthage Academy, New York for several terms, and in 1858 came to Illinois and entered Rock River Seminary. There he remained for several years. He enlisted in Company K of the 28th Iowa Infantry at Newton, Iowa, and served in that regiment during the war. Returning to resume the arts of peace, he entered the law department of the University of Michigan from which he graduated in 1866. He immediately returned to Iowa and commenced the practice of law at Montezuma. In the fall of 1868, he was elected circuit judge and was re-elected in 1872 and again in 1876, serving three full terms or twelve years on the bench. He removed to Oskaloosa in 1874 and since his retirement from the bench has been engaged in the practice of law in that city. In 1886 he spent the summer traveling in Europe. In Masonic circles he stands high, having been treasurer of the grand lodge of Iowa in 1879-80. He was also grand orator of that body in 1878. He is also a member of the G.A.R., and in 1890 was elected senior vice commander of the Department of Iowa. As a member of the House two years ago he took an active part in all the important legislation of that body. He was largely instrumental in having the law passed prohibiting the 80 percent coinsurance clause in fire insurance policies. Mr. Blanchard served as chairman of the committee on federal relations, and was a member of the committees on ways and means, judiciary, appropriations, municipal corporations, state university, elections, public libraries and judicial districts. His promotion to the Senate is well deserved.

Born in the town of Diana, Lewis county, New York, April 15, 1839. His. father Caleb Blanchard was a farmer, but died when the subject of this sketch was only 5 years old. The son received a good common-school education after which he attended Carthage Academy, New York for several terms, and in 1858 came to Illinois and entered Rock River Seminary. There he remained for several years. He enlisted in Company K of the 28th Iowa Infantry at Newton, Iowa, and served in that regiment during the war. Returning to resume the arts of peace, he entered the law department of the University of Michigan from which he graduated in 1866. He immediately returned to Iowa and commenced the practice of law at Montezuma. In the fall of 1868, he was elected circuit judge and was re-elected in 1872 and again in 1876, serving three full terms or twelve years on the bench. He removed to Oskaloosa in 1874 and since his retirement from the bench has been engaged in the practice of law in that city. In 1886 he spent the summer traveling in Europe. In Masonic circles he stands high, having been treasurer of the grand lodge of Iowa in 1879-80. He was also grand orator of that body in 1878. He is also a member of the G.A.R., and in 1890 was elected senior vice commander of the Department of Iowa. As a member of the House two years ago he took an active part in all the important legislation of that body. He was largely instrumental in having the law passed prohibiting the 80 percent coinsurance clause in fire insurance policies. Mr. Blanchard served as chairman of the committee on federal relations, and was a member of the committees on ways and means, judiciary, appropriations, municipal corporations, state university, elections, public libraries and judicial districts. His promotion to the Senate is well deserved.

Born in the town of Diana, Lewis county, New York, April 15, 1839. His. father Caleb Blanchard was a farmer, but died when the subject of this sketch was only 5 years old. The son received a good common-school education after which he attended Carthage Academy, New York for several terms, and in 1858 came to Illinois and entered Rock River Seminary. There he remained for several years. He enlisted in Company K of the 28th Iowa Infantry at Newton, Iowa, and served in that regiment during the war. Returning to resume the arts of peace, he entered the law department of the University of Michigan from which he graduated in 1866. He immediately returned to Iowa and commenced the practice of law at Montezuma. In the fall of 1868, he was elected circuit judge and was re-elected in 1872 and again in 1876, serving three full terms or twelve years on the bench. He removed to Oskaloosa in 1874 and since his retirement from the bench has been engaged in the practice of law in that city. In 1886 he spent the summer traveling in Europe. In Masonic circles he stands high, having been treasurer of the grand lodge of Iowa in 1879-80. He was also grand orator of that body in 1878. He is also a member of the G.A.R., and in 1890 was elected senior vice commander of the Department of Iowa. As a member of the House two years ago he took an active part in all the important legislation of that body. He was largely instrumental in having the law passed prohibiting the 80 percent coinsurance clause in fire insurance policies. Mr. Blanchard served as chairman of the committee on federal relations, and was a member of the committees on ways and means, judiciary, appropriations, municipal corporations, state university, elections, public libraries and judicial districts. His promotion to the Senate is well deserved.