J

OSEPH ELLIS BLACKBURN was born in a log cabin in the village of Farmington, Colerain township, Belmont county, Ohio, June 30, 1860. He attended the common schools at Martins Ferry and Bellaire until he was nearly twelve years of age, when he went to work at common labor in the Belmont Glass Works. He rose step by step until he became foreman of the factory. He was one of the principal organizers of the most successful mold makers' union in the United States and was either President or Secretary thereof as long as he worked at the trade.

In 1887 Mr. Blackburn embarked in the drug business, and, after taking a course in pharmacy at the Ohio Medical University at Ada, had the degree of Ph. G. conferred upon him. He never held public office until elected a member of the Seventy-second General Assembly in 1895. He is a Republican and was nominated by the State Convention of his party for the office of State Dairy and Food Commissioner March 11, 1896, and elected by a plurality of 52,519 votes.

Mr. Blackburn assumed his official duties February 16, 1897. He was elected to a second term in 1898 and to a third term in 1900 by an increased majority.

The Dairy and Food Commissioner.

This office was originally appointive by the Governor, but the Legislature, in 1891, made it elective, and fixed the term at two years. It was first established May 8, 1886. The following is the incumbency.

G

EORGE M. COLLIER, chief examiner of engineers, is an Ohio boy born on a farm near Elyria, Ohio, Lorain county, in 1859, where he resided until he was eleven years of age, when his parents removed to North Amherst, Lorain county, Ohio, where he received a common school education. After leaving school he served an apprenticeship at the machinists' trade with one of the largest ship building concerns in the country. He has held some very important positions as master mechanic and chief engineer, notable among which was the position of chief engineer of the J. H. Wade Estate,. of Cleveland, Ohio, which very responsible and lucrative position he resigned to accept an appointment under Governor Nash as Chief Examiner of Engineers.

Mr. Collier is widely known throughout the State, especially among the engineering fraternity. He has been identified with the organization of stationary engineers, and as such had much to do with securing legislation favorable to engineers. He has shown good executive ability in the appointment of and organization of his force of district examiners to carry out the intent and letter of the law.

His ancestors on both sides were from New England, and were of a mechanical turn of mind. Mr. Collier is at the present time a resident of Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where he has lived for the past fourteen years.