David H. Bleam (1837-1907)

BLEAM

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 10/3/2022 at 09:09:39

David H. Bleam
(December 17, 1837 – May 11, 1907)

David Bleam is a retired farmer residing in Manson. America is rich in opportunity and here the individual may by strong purpose and unflagging diligence win success unhampered by the caste and class which impedes his progress in foreign lands. Mr. Bleam owes his prosperity entirely to his own efforts and deserves great credit for
what he has achieved. He is now living in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil and well does he merit the rest which
crowns his labors. He was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1837. His father, Samuel Bleam, was also a native of the Keystone state and there wedded Mary Hottel, likewise a native of Pennsylvania. The father engaged in carpentering and contracting and died when our subject was only six months old. He was a Whig
in his political belief and he held membership in the Mennonite church. His wife still survives him and now makes her home in Philadelphia. David Bleam was their only son and the youngest of their three children, the others being Lydia, the widow of A. Benner, who died in 1899, her home being in Philadelphia, and Betsey, who died in infancy. In the common schools of his native state David Bleam began his education which he continued until sixteen years of age, when he started out in life on his own account, learning the miller's trade, which he followed for ten consecutive years. Like most young men, in early manhood he sought companionship for the journey of life, and on the 4th of July, 1858, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was united in marriage to Katherine P. Bickert. She was born in Northampton County in the town of Bethlehem. Pennsylvania, December 16, 1839. Her father. Joseph Bickert was a native of Lehigh County and a son of Nicholas Bickert. The latter served in the Revolutionary war, valiantly espousing the cause of the colonies, and died in 1842 when about ninety years of age. His son, Joseph Bickert, was a faithful defender of the American cause in the war of 1812. He was united in marriage to Esther Young, who was born in Hanover Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Her father, John M. Young, was likewise a native of Pennsylvania, and was a son of George Young, who served his country in the Revolutionary war. The former engaged in farming and also owned and operated several distilleries. He became quite wealthy and died at the age of sixty-three years, giving his property to his eleven children. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bickert they located in that neighborhood, where Mr. Bickert engaged in carpentering and contracting, being actively identified with the building interests of that locality for a number of years. He was also the owner of land and in later years engaged in the manufacture of lime, owning and operating three kilns. He was a Democrat in politics, although he supported Abraham Lincoln and was a strong advocate of the Union cause. He held membership in the German Reformed church and his life was in consistent harmony with its teachings. On the 20th day of December, 1877, his life's labors were ended in death and many friends mourned his loss. In the family of Joseph Bickert were ten children. Tillman, deceased, married Sarah Arndt, who now resides in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Eliza Ann is the wife of Tillman Kitt and resides at Emuse, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Mathew married Hannah Klator. He passed away in 1899 and his widow now resides in Huddlesville, near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Katherine P. is the wife of onr subject. Henry married Mrs. Sarah Ibilson, who now resides in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He died December 20, 1893. Samuel married Emma Keckline and resides in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Sarah became the wife of John Shively, a resident of Goldsboro, Maryland. The three youngest children, Marie, John and a babe, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Bleam began their domestic life in Pennsylvania, where they remained for six years and on the expiration of that period they emigrated to the west settling in Keokuk County, Iowa, where he remained about three months and then went to Benton County, where our subject rented a tract of land, thereon engaging in farming for four years. He next came to Calhoun County, in the fall of 1868, and secured a homestead claim, but later the swamp land company claimed to own a part of it and he had to purchase it over again. With characteristic energy be began the development of his farm, on which he erected a good residence and substantial buildings. He also added to the place until be now owns a quarter section of rich land. At the time he took possession thereof, however, it was a tract of raw prairie upon which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made, but he at once began to develop it and in the course of time the well tilled fields were returning to him golden harvests in reward for his labors. In his farming methods he was practical and progressive and successfully carried on the operations of his land until 1898 when he came to Manson, where he has since lived retired. He was formerly extensively engaged in dealing in stock, making a specialty of dairy cattle, including shorthorns. His business interests were so capably managed that as the years passed he added continually to his income and at length with a handsome competence, he was enabled to put aside the more arduous duties of the farm. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bleam have been born eight children. Oliver, the eldest, was born December 26, 1858. He married Emma C. Caldwell, by whom he has one child, Beulah. He is living retired in Pocahontas County, having been extensively engaged in farming. Charles Henry - is the second member of the family, his birth occurring March 13. 1861. He was married February 14, 1890, to Miss Alma A. Johnson, and resided on a farm in Sherman Township. He died October 20, 1897, leaving a wife and three children, Mamie, Floyd and Emery. Allen David was the third son born unto to Mr. and Mrs. Bleam, his birth having occurred July 23, 1863. Laura Celestia, born August 29, 1866, became the wife of Marion I. Randall on the l0th of October, 1893, by whom she had two children, Myrtle E. and Ruby R. The family resides in Woodenville, Washington, Amanda Eliza was born March 14, 1871, and on the 23d of March, 1892, was united in marriage to Charles E. Parish. They have three children. Grant L., Lee and Mabel, and reside in Wair, Pocahontas County, Iowa. George Franklin, the sixth in order of birth was born May 14, 1874 and died on the 3d of September, 1874. Emma Katherine, born August 2, 1876, married
Messer Leith, June 29, 1898, and is the mother of two children, Flora C. and Loyd M. They reside near Fonda, Pocahontas County, Iowa. Minnie L. is the youngest of the children, born March 7, 1880. She married William Leith and lives on a farm in Center Township, Calhoun County. They have one child, Dorothy Ethel. David Bleam and his wife are consistent and active members of the Methodist Episcopal church, doing all in their power to promote the cause of Christianity. He is a Republican in his political affiliations and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and
ability, have frequently called upon him to fill positions of public trust. He has been especially active in behalf of educational interests, the schools finding in him a warm friend. While there have been no exciting chapters in the life history of David Bleam, it yet contains lessons which may be profitably followed, for his course has been such as to commend him to public confidence and regard and to win for him substantial evidence that his business methods are such as secure prosperity. In all the years of his residence in the west, he has become widely known and the qualities of an upright manhood have made him a valued and representative citizen of the community. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S.J. Clarke, 1902, p.372]