The Bloom Family of Johnson County, Iowa

HON. M. BLOOM, merchant, South Clinton St., Iowa City; was born March 28, 1833, in Alsace, France. He came to America in June, 1849, landed in New York, and finally settled in Iowa City, Johnson county, Iowa in November, 1857, and engaged in the mercantile business in the same block in which he is now doing business. His first office was alderman from the second ward of Iowa City, elected April 2, 1860; he was a candidate for Mayor in 1871, and was defeated by fourteen votes; was a candidate in 1872 and was defeated by seven votes; he made a visit to his native land in 1873, and upon his return from Europe was elected mayor of Iowa City the spring of 1874, by a large majority, and was solicited to be a candidate for re-election and declined; he was a candidate for the legislature in 1875, and was defeated by C. W. McCune; in 1877 he was a candidate and was elected, and re-elected in 1879. In all the offices of honor, profit and trust that he has been called upon to fill he has been faithful and honest in performing his duties, and was always to be found at his post of duty. During his first term in the legislature he took an active part in opposing the repeal of the railroad granger tariff bill, and also, with Hon. George Paul, was instrumental in securing to the State University a permanent annual endowment of $20,000, a thing often attempted, but failed. He was active in his opposition to the prohibitory constitutional amendment, and was a member of the committee on temperance, and a member of the executive committee of the state anti-prohibition organization. He was nominated for lieutenant-governor on the democratic ticket at the Council Bluffs convention, but promptly declined. He was appointed on the committee to investigate charges of fraud against the warden of the State Penitentiary at Fort Madison, but decHned, because it was necessary for him to be present all the time to aid in securing necessary legislation for the interest of his constituents. He has always taken a Hvely interest in all public improvements in the city, and is one of the leading and substantial financial men of the city. He is a member of the Masonic bodies in the city, also a prominent member of the I. O. O. F. in the city, being one of the charter members of Lutonia Lodge I. O. O. F. He was married in 1860, and his first marriage was blessed with four children: Benjamin, born 1861, and died June 21, 1882, of consumption, and buried in Cincinnati, Ohio; Laura, Addie, Edward; and by his second marriage there are four children: Julia, Blanche, Charles and Myra. He is a director in the Johnson County Savings Bank and a member of the executive committee. He is president of the Iowa Alcohol works of Iowa City; a member of the Board of Trade of Iowa City, and is a heavy stockholder in the new organization for loaning money and receiving funds in trust. Words of praise are unnecessary; Mr. Bloom has worked hard and his efforts have proved a success, and he enjoys the confidence of a large circle of social, political and financial friends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

BENJAMIN BLOOM, son of the Hon. M. Bloom, of Iowa City; died at Las Vegas, New Mexico, June 21, 1882, aged twenty-one years. The rapid development of pulmonary disease admonished the thoughtful father of the deceased to seek for him a more clement climate. He visited Los Angeles, California, in company with his father, where some encouraging improvement was apparent and the hope was felt that a complete cure might be wrought. The malady, however, was more deeply seated than its short duration appeared to warrant and suddenly the slowly gathered strength declined and his father hastened to his side. The journey homeward was taken by easy stages and at Las Vegas hot springs, a spot on which nature has lavished her beauties, the boy passed into a sleep that ushered the rest eternal, with his father by his dying bedside, in a strange land. His ashes were taken to Cincinnati, Ohio, and put to rest in God's acre on lovely Walnut Hill. The broken circle may well sorrow, but not without hope, for the inspiration of the life so early ended is not lost and the bright memory that garlands it is more than a lint of sunshine and of comfort.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

LEON BLOOM, a clothing merchant in Iowa City, doing business on Clinton street; was born January 3, 1841, in VVesthoffen, France. He was a soldier in the French army, by draft, and served two years as a non-commissioned officer. He bought the last five years of military duty for $500, and came to Iowa City in July, 1864. He was married Oct. 20, 1874, in Chicago, Illinois. He is a member of the firm of Hon. M. Bloom & Co., and is perfectly devoted to his business and helps to regulate and control the largest clothing house in Iowa City, and always keeps constantly in stock the finest line of goods in the market, and is gentlemanly, fair and honest in his dealings.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.