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Albert B. Blunt

The record of Albert B. Blunt, the well known and popular county treasurer of Fayette county, is that of a man who, by his own unaided efforts, has worked his way from a modest beginning to a position of influence and comparative affluence in his community. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable methods he has followed have won for him the unbounded confidence of his fellow citizens. He has always sought to promote the interests of his county, having the same at heart. He is a native of Westfield township, Fayette county, his birth having occurred on June 7, 1861, and he is the son of Dr. Harrison Blunt, a native of Ohio, but an early settler of this county; he is now living at Genesee, Illinois. He married Mary Ann Butler, a daughter of Harrison Butler, a pioneer family. Mrs. Blunt is now deceased. Their family consisted of six children, four sons and two daughters, all living, namely: Jennie, now Mrs. Pillsbury, of Milford, Iowa; Albert B.; Clara is the wife of C.T. Hanna, of Carpenter, South Dakota; William H., of Spokane, Washington, where he is connected with the Creamery Supply Company; George E., of Goldfield, Colorado; J.L., who resides in Charles City, Iowa.

Albert B. Blunt was educated in the public schools of his native county and in the Oelwein city schools. He began his life work as a farmer, and he engaged in the grain and produce business at Oelwein and other points for about twenty years. He very ably served as deputy postmaster at Oelwein from 1893 to 1897, and also city recorder during the early nineties, and member of the school board from 1899 to 1902, and elected president three times during his incumbency of that office. In that city he was manager of a lumber business in 1903, and in January, 1904, he was appointed deputy sheriff and served three years in that capacity, during which time he was nominated by the Democratic party and elected at the general election in 1906, as county treasurer, taking possession of that office January 1, 1907, and he made such a splendid record that he was re-elected in 1908. From the first Thomas Loftus has been his efficient deputy.

Mr. Blunt was married August 30, 1884, to Fanny Sadler, of Hazleton, Buchanan county, and a daughter of Wallas Sadler, a farmer at Hazleton. Three children have been born to this union: Bessie; Grover A., teaching in public schools at LeMars, Iowa, who married Helen Schmuhl; and Miles. The daughter is now the wife of W.S. Wiley, a contractor, carpenter and builder at Livingston, Montana, and they have two children, Phyllis and Walter.

Mr. Blunt has always taken an active interest in local political affairs and is a recognized leader in Democratic affairs. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, subordinate lodge and encampment. He has passed the official stations in all, and since 1896 has been a member of the grand lodge of Iowa, and represented the lodges of his county five years in the grand lodge. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and is past chancellor of the same, and was a member of the grand lodge in 1893. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Blunt is a Presbyterian and is a representative of a very excellent old family, the Sadlers having come from Ohio to Wisconsin in an early day, thence to Buchanan county, Iowa.

~transcribed by Nancy Schroeder