The subject of biography yields to no other in point of interest and profit. It tells of the success and defeats of men, the difficulties they have encountered, and gives an insight into the methods and plans which they have pursued. The obvious lessons therein taught will prove of great benefit if followed, and the example of the self-made man should certainly encourage others into whose cradle smiling fortune has cast no glittering crown to press forward to nobler aims and higher ideals. Such a man is George W. Blue, subject of this review, and in a biographical compendium of Wexford county's progressive and representative citizens his name is deserving of conspicuous mention. Mr. Blue is one of Michigan's native sons, born in Lapeer county, September 21, 1846. His parents, John and Mary (Braymer) Blue, were early settlers of Lapeer county and figured prominently in the growth and development of that part of Michigan. The father was a native of New Jersey, the mother of Livingston county, New York. She died in Iowa, Iowa, at the age of forty-four years, while he lived in Lapeer county, Michigan, until he reached the age of sixty-three years, when he too passed to his eternal rest.
They were the parents of a large family of children, of whom the subject of this review was the oldest.

The early life of George W. Blue was spent upon his father's farm in Lapeer county. There he grew to manhood, attending school during the winter months and devoting the remainder of the time to farm work.
When he arrived at the age of twenty-one years he moved to Iowa, Iowa county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming on his own behalf and where the next six years of his life were spent. Then he tried Kansas for a year, but was by no means fascinated with prevalent conditions in that wind-swept region. About this time, 1873, his attention was called to the merits of Wexford county, Michigan, as a place of abode and the more he investigated the better pleased was he with the locality. In March, 1874, he secured a part of section 32, Liberty township, the identical farm upon which he still resides, and proceeded to fit it up as a home and farm. The tract of land consists of one hundred and sixty acres, one hundred of which are cleared and splendidly improved.

October 1, 1867, in Lapeer county, Michigan, George W. Blue was united in marriage to Miss Rachael A. Harger, a native of Pennsylvania; born March 31, 1848. She is the daughter of John and Ellen. Maria (Carpenter) Harger, and a sister of the late Ezra Harger, one of the best known and most highly respected men, during his life time, in that section of the state. To Mr. and Mrs. George W. Blue four children have been born, viz.: Maynard, Grace, Blanche and Gaylard. Grace is the wife of George Monger and Blanche is the wife of Thomas Stewart. Grace Blue, now Mrs. George Monger, was the first white child born in Liberty township, Wexford county. From the time of his first location in Wexford county, now nearly thirty years ago, Mr. Blue has identified himself with the interests of the county. In politics he is a pronounced Democrat, and has always acted with that party, but that has not prevented him from being elected to the position of supervisor of the township nor barred him from re-election a number of times thereafter. He is an enterprising, public spirited man, whose abilities the voters of his locality appreciate. One of the very first settlers in the township, he assisted in its organization. The new municipality then had no roads-indeed it had little of anything other than woods and broad, fertile acres. In all public improvements to be made Mr. Blue was one among the leaders and when he was invested with the authority of an official, as supervisor, he used all means in his power to improve conditions in the locality. He is a member of Manton Tent No. 20, Knights of the Maccabees, and of the New Era Association, of Grand Rapids. He is genial, companionable and kind. On almost all subjects he is well informed and in legal affairs and complicated business transactions his neighbors frequently avail themselves of his knowledge. He served two terms, eight years, as justice of the peace and made one of the most just and capable judicial officials the township has ever known. Domestic in his tastes and aspirations, his home has always been a most happy one.