VI

        JOHN JAY BORLAND, son of John and Katherine (Tupper) Borland, worthy descendant of the ancestry mentioned above, was also kin to the Green family of Revolutionary fame. He was born in North Evans, Erie County, New York, October 31, 1837. He received his preliminary education at the public schools at Evans, later being a pupil at the Springfield High School, and completed his schooling at Bryant and Stratton's Business College, Chicago. His father desired that he further pursue his education by college work, but John Jay Borland decided that the exigencies of the family situation demanded that he become self-supporting, since he was one of several children. When he was sixteen years old, the family moved to Iowa and followed this two years later by removal to Carlton, Kewanee County, Wisconsin. Here Mr. Borland making practical use of his commercial training, entered business life as as a clerk in the business firm of Borland and Dean. The firm was engaged in building a dock at Carlton, and his father was senior partner.

        This marked the beginning of Mr. Borland's association with the lumber business, in which he held no small share of influence in the years to come, gowing to the position of one of the leading lumber operators of his part of the country. John Jay Borland may be classed among those pioneers who used their skill and business ability in the furtherance of an enterprise of immeasurable effect upon the well being and development of the country at large. His next move was the purchase of his father's share in the business, the name remaining the same. In 1858 the business having markedly grown it was decided to move to Chicago, and Mr. Borland took charge at that end. So wisely did he manage affairs and so prosperous did his work prove, that within twelve months it was decided that expansion was both expedient and necessary. A new partner was admitted who brought with him new capital and very extensive connections in the lumber business. This was William Blanchard.

        Just at this period the Civil War broke out. At that time Mr. Borland was on a well-earned visit to his old home. He immediately volunteered in the 27th Wisconsin Infantry, Company A. Little time elapsed before his regiment was hurried to the front. He received his first promotion from the ranks, on the battlefield for conspicuous bravery under fire, and he was commissioned second lieutenant. His regiment took part in the siege of Vicksburg, being sent there June 4, 1863, and remaining until after the fall. From there they marched to Helena, Arkansas. On August 13, they were transferred to General Frederick Steele's command, Third Brigade, under Colonel Engleman, of the 43rd Illinois, Third Division, Brigadier-General Frederick Salomon, Seventh Army Corps, and assisted in the capture of Little Rock, March 23, 1864. General Steele cooperated with General Banks in the celebrated Red River expedition. At Jenkin's Ferry, Arkansas, they were successful in holding back the forces under Kirby Smith, but with sad loss of men. It was here that John Jay Borland was severely wounded. Left on the battlefield for thirty-six hours in a pouring rain, the exposure added to the danger of his injuries. It seemed at first impossible that he could survive, and his life was for long despaired of, but his excellent constitution prevailed and after a lingering convalescence he recovered. Mr Borland was promoted captain, but before he could take charge of his command the end of the struggle came and he did not again rejoin his regiment.

        After this long period of service to his country he returned to his business in Chicago to find that his business partners had been loyal and the business carefully conserved. He decided upon the selling of his Carlton interests and centered his entire planning and activity upon his Chicago mills, and the firm became Blanchard & Borland. In 1869 he became interested in a sawmill at Ford River, Michigan, which later became incorporated. At this time Mr. Borland was made treasurer, which position he held until the time of his death; the company being known as the Ford River Company. It was due to the acumen, energy and skillful understanding of the industry that Mr. Borland brought to the business, that a large measure of prosperity came to it. Modern machinery replaced the old equipment, and modern methods the old style of conducting it. Added to this, Mr. Borland was a member of the Lumberman's Exchange, and later became its vice president and treasurer.

        John Jay Borland died in Chicago, Illinois, October 9, 1881. An executive of the highest ability, a citizen of loyal courage and a man of sterling character with highest ideals of personal integrity, his death was mourned by many. On the battlefield he had risked his life, as he had done before when but a lad, having saved from drowning several companions. In his business life he was known for fair dealing and prompt and honest fulfillment of any contract that he entered into. He was accorded the trust of his associates, who placed him in positions of responsibility and honor. In his home he was wise, kindly and devoted. The Lumberman's Exchange with which he had been associated so many years, passed the following resolution:

        Resolved, That, identified as was Mr. Borland for nearly a quarter of a century with the lumber trade of Chicago and the Northwest, his life was a bright example of business integrity and uprightness, which could not fail to impress itself and exert an influence for good upon all his business associates; elevating the standard of morality governing commercial transactions, leading all who were brought into contact with him to form a higher estimate of the obligations resting upon business men in their intercourse with each other and no less in their social relations.

        We point with pride and satisfaction to the life of our late associate as an example of patriotism, in his devotion to his country through a term of service spent in her defence and of uprightness in his dealings with his fellow men, worthy of the deepest study and emulation of all men, especially of those younger in commercial life, who could adopt no more worthy standard as the aim of their business career than is afforded by the life and example of John J. Borland as an honest, courageous, self-reliant and judicious man.

        John Jay Borland was married (first), on February 22, 1865, to Sophia L. Ingersoll, daughter of James Ingersoll, of North Evans, New York. She died in 1876. He married (second) Harriet Olivia Blair. (See Blair VI.)

Child of the first marriage:


1. John Ingersoll.
   
   Children of the second marriage:
   
   
2. Chauncey Blair, of whom further.
3. Bruce, of whom further.