History :

John Blue, Sr. was born on November 18, 1861. His parents were Angus and Mary Ann Blue. As a child, Mr. Blue spent many hours making farm tools in a small blacksmith shop on the family farm. He also helped his father farm the crops, including cotton, that were planted on their land. The demands for cotton were high and the inventions built by Blue to aid in the growing and harvesting of cotton were very helpful doe all of the farmers. Blue recieved a patent for a cotton salk cutter in 1891. Later he received a patent for the Rex fertilizer distributor and a cotton planter. All of these devises were made to be drawn by a horse and all of them had to be painted blue. After Mr. Blue married Flora Jane McKinnon, he built his family a home on X-way Road in 1891. This Victorian home was built from the timber on the Blue land. All of the ornaments that decorate the porch and railings were hand carved by Blue. He also liked stained glass and included inserts of glass in the doors of the home. Blue built a shop and foundry across the street from his home so the machines that he invented could be mass produced and sold to other cotton farmers. This plant operated for many years and still stands, but it is now the home of the Scotland County Museum. Many of his inventions are on display in the museum. Mr. Blue died on March 2, 1935.