| 730 to labor in the west, with Nauvoo, Illinois, Far West, Missouri, and Council Bluffs, Iowa, objective points. This mission resulted in a great awakening among the old members of the church located in western Iowa and elsewhere.
From this time to the close of his life Elder Blair was an active, zealous missionary, visiting nearly all parts of the United States (except the Southern States) and Canada. He was the means of bringing many into the church. He was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve until 1873, when he was called to the position of First Counselor to the President of the church. After this he was more of his time at headquarters, yet spent much time in the prosecution of missionary work.
On April 18, 1896, he died suddenly, while on the cars returning to his home, Lamoni, Iowa, from Kirtland, Ohio, where he had been in attendance at the General Conference.
His missionary and other official work appear in this volume, and will appear in volume 4, in connection with current events. We have not room for mention in detail here.
The wife of his youth, his companion in all the events of his active life, the sharer of his joys and sorrows, survived him, and still lives, residing at Lamoni, Iowa. He was the father of seven children, five sons and two daughters. One daughter and five sons are still living: Charles E., now a resident of Lamoni, Iowa; Mary B., now the wife of D. F. Nicholson, of Lamoni, Iowa; George W., now a resident of Lamoni; William A., now a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri; David H., also a resident of St. Joseph; and Frederick B., now a resident of Lamoni and an active missionary.
The other daughter, Fannie B., was the second child. She died when about seven years of age, near Amboy, Illinois.
The Quorum of the Twelve, at its first meeting after his demise, adopted the following:-
"Resolutions on the death of President W. W. Blair. Adopted by the Quorum of the Twelve, Lamoni, Iowa, March 22, 1897. Whereas, in the providence of God the removal by death of our esteemed brother and colaborer,
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