Blodgett, John W. (John Wood), 1860-1951

Variant names

Dates:

Birth 1860-07-26

Death 1951-11-21

Biographical notes:

John W. Blodgett, Jr. (1901-1987) was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 24, 1901. His father John W. Blodgett, Sr. was prominent in the timber industry. Blodgett Sr. was principal of the Blodgett firm during the late 1800s and early 1900s and served as president of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association. Blodgett, Sr. owned timber lands in the lake states region and in the south and west.

Blodgett, Jr. graduated from Harvard with an A.B. in 1923. Like his father he became active in the timber industry. After being appointed as a director of the U.S. National Bank in 1929 (a post he held until 1952) he was appointed chairman of the Blodgett Co., Ltd., in 1932. Over the years he served various timber companies in different capacities, including that of president of the Michigan-California Lumber Company, president of Consolidated Timber Company, chairman of the Western Management Company, secretary and board member of the Hill-Davis Lumber Company, director and secretary of the Arcata Redwood Company, director of Arcata National Corporation and director of the Booth-Kelly Lumber Company.

In addition to his work in the timber industry, Blodgett, Jr. was a trustee of the Blodgett Memorial Hospital in Grand Rapids, beginning in 1941. He was active in Harvard University affairs and served on various overseers' committees.

Blodgett, Jr. married Sarah Reed Gallagher in 1939. They had three children - Julia Reed, Katherine (who later became involved in Western Management Company), and Sarah Wood. Blodgett, Jr.'s second wife was Edith Irwin Ferris, whom he married in 1967. Blodgett, Jr. died on October 27, 1987.

From the guide to the John W. Blodgett, Jr. papers, 1936-1964, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries)