Biography - DANIEL NEWTON BLODGET

Daniel Newton Blodget, president of the bank of Blodget Brothers & Company at Brighton, has gained a high position in financial and business circles of Macoupin county, and has shown a discrimination and progressiveness that give brilliant promise as to his future. A native of Brighton, he was born May 26, 1860, a son of Daniel and Isabelle Ann (Peter) Blodget, the former of whom was born in New Hampshire and the latter in Kentucky. The father came west when he was a young man and was one of the early settlers at Brighton. He was a pioneer merchant of the town and also was its first postmaster, and was one of the leaders in the platting of Brighton. He lost his hearing when he was about fifty years of age and severed his connection with the mercantile business, being identified prominently in his later years with the real-estate business. He was the first treasurer of the school board of Brighton and was for a number of terms a member of the board, taking great interest in educational affairs of the growing community. The mother of our subject came to Macoupin county with her parents in her girlhood. She was a daughter of Rev. Samuel Peter, a well known Methodist Episcopal minister, who was in charge of a circuit in this section of the state for many years in pioneer times. Mrs. Blodget was an active and efficient member of the denomination in which her father was one of the leaders. Mr. Blodget died in 1889, being then in his eightieth year, and his wife passed away in 1904, at the age of seventy-nine. He was twice married. The maiden name of his first wife being Ellen Jones- who came to Brighton from England. There were no children by this union.

In the public schools of Brighton Daniel N. Blodget secured his preliminary education. Later he attended Brown’s Business College of Jacksonville, completing the course at that institution in the spring of 1882. Upon returning home from Jacksonville he associated with his brother Samuel P. in the mercantile business at Brighton, with which they were successfully connected for ten years. They disposed of their store in 1892 and organized the bank of Blodget Brothers & Company, which has now been established for nineteen years and is one of the well known financial institutions of Macoupin county. The bank was originally founded in 1868 by Stratton & Amass and was reorganized as the bank of Blodget Brothers & Company, with Daniel N. Blodget as president and Edwin Amass as cashier. This bank bas been largely instrumental in promoting the welfare of the city and of the wide region which is tributary to Brighton. In 1910 Mr. Blodget and his brother became actively connected with the real-estate business, and in tbe same year Mr. Blodget established the Brighton Grain, Flour & Feed Company, which gives promise of good returns upon the investment. He has displayed remarkable judgment in his business affairs and enjoys the confidence of the people throughout this section.

In 1888 he was married to Miss Jennie M. Flanagan, who was born in Iowa and came with her parents to Brighton in 1876. Of their seven children five survive, Daniel Francis, Jennie Marguerite, Delmar, Darrell Raymond and Esther Melburn, all of whom are living at home.

Politically Mr. Blodget supports the republican party but has never sought the honors or emoluments of public office. Fraternally he is a valued member of Hibbard Lodge, No. 249, A. F. & A. M. His name is not carried upon the rolls of any religious denomination but his wife is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a liberal supporter of all worthy causes that aim to lighten the burdens of humanity. Throughout his life he has been actuated by high and honorable purposes and no man in Macoupin county can claim in a greater degree the good will of the entire community.

Extracted 14 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 299-300.