Biography - Calvin Blizzard
PROF. CALVIN BLIZZARD, the efficient and honored Superintendent of the schools of Bond County and a well-known resident of Greenville, was born March 12, 1852, in Dudleyville, Mills Township, and is a representative of one of the earliest families of the county, his grandfather, James Blizzard, becoming one of its earliest settlers. He was a native of Kentucky and was of English descent. The parents of our subject were Rev. John J. and Catherine (McAdams) Blizzard, and both were born in this county. The father was a farmer and school teacher, and was also a local minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The last sermon he preached was a funeral sermon. He filled the office of Justice of the Peace and took quite a prominent part in politics. During the war he was a stanch friend of the Union. He died June 16, 1883. His wife still survives him and yet makes her home in this county. Their family numbered ten children, seven of whom are yet living: Calvin, II. Wallace, Lucy E., John J., Solon E., Fannie and Stella.
Prof. Blizzard remained on the home farm until seventeen years of age and then began clerking in Dudleyville. After attending McKendree College for a year he began teaching, and followed that profession continuously from 1871 until December, 1890. He was employed for eight years in one school in Mills Township, and is an able instructor as his long-continued service in various localities fully testifies.
On the 4th of October, 1875, Prof. Blizzard was married to Miss Maggie White, of Dudleyville, daughter of Leander and Rebecca White, early settlers of this county. They have a family of three children: Alvin, Effie and Nellie.
In 1890, Prof. Blizzard was elected to his present office. He has one hundred and eight teachers under his charge and his time is fully taken up with office work when not visiting these. His able administration of affairs has won him high commendation. He has held the office of Township Trustee for six years, and was the first Clerk of Mills Township. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Modern Woodmen, and in religious belief is a Methodist. He united with the church when sixteen years of age and is one of its faithful and consistent members. For some sixteen years he has served as Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He takes a prominent part in all public affairs calculated to benefit the town, county or State, and is one of the wide-awake and progressive young citizens of the community, who has the high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
Extracted 21 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 483-484.
