Obituary - James M. Blazer
East Liverpool Tribune
C. H. Blazer, of this city, has received word of the death of his uncle, James M. Blazer, at the ripe old age of 89, at his home in Macomb, Ill. Death was due to general debility incident to old age. Mr. Blazer was born in Washington county, Pa., October 5, 1816 and was the last survivor of a family of ten brothers and sisters. He had been a resident of McDonough county, Ill., for over 70 years, being one of the pioneers of that district. He was a staunch abolitionist, and with his brother John, who was the father of C. H. Blazer, of this city, assisted over 200 slaves to escape by means of an underground railroad, form the tyranny of their masters.
The Blazer farm became known as a place of refuge in those days and only one slave was ever recaptured who ventured that far. The underground railroad ran from the Vandorin family in Quincy to the Pettijohns in Round Prairie, to the Blazers in Camp Creek, and on north to Canada. The deceased registered one of the last votes in McDonough county for the abolishment of the slave traffic. He is survived by three children.
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