John C. Blanchard House
The John C. Blanchard House was built as a private house located at 253 East Main Street in Ionia, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. As of 2018, it serves as the museum for the Ionia County Historical Society.
History
John C. Blanchard was born in New York in 1822. He began working in a mill at age 14, saved enough money to move west, and in 1836 transported himself to Michigan. He worked on farms near Detroit and in Shiawassee County, bought a farm, then moved on to work as a farm laborer and clerk in Lyons, Michigan. In 1840 he began studying law, and in 1842 was admitted to practice. In 1850, he was elected prosecuting attorney, and moved to Ionia. He eventually served in multiple political offices, including Registrar of the Ionia land office and President of Ionia Township.In 1879, Blanchard began construction of this sandstone Italianate residence. The house was finished in 1881, and Blanchard lived there until his death in 1905. The Ionia County Historical Society eventually purchased the house in 1974, and it serves as their museum.