Bloom, Adam

BLOOM, YEAGA

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 2/10/2003 at 22:31:32

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

ADAM BLOOM.

For a period of about forty years the subject of this review was one of the most active business men of DeWitt, and having met with excellent success in his undertakings, is now able to lay aside all business cares and spend the remainder of his life in the pleasurable enjoyment of his accumulations. He was born in Westphalia, Prussia, Germany, April 29, 1835, a son of Theodore Bloom, who emigrated to the new world with his family in 1848, and settled in Rochester, New York, where the mother died. After residing there some years the father joined some of his children in Akron, Ohio, where he spent the last years of his life.

Adam Bloom was a lad of thirteen years when he came with his family to the United States, and grew to manhood in Akron. He had previously attended school, but his knowledge of the English language has been mainly acquired through his own unaided efforts. When quite young he commenced clerking in a store at Akron, and for four years was in the employ of one man who was engaged in both wholesale and retail trade, during which time he acquired a thorough business training.

In the fall of 1856 Mr. Bloom came to Iowa, and during the following winter was employed in a wholesale store in Davenport. He came to DeWitt in March, 1857, and after clerking for about a year he started a restaurant. A year later he put in a small stock of groceries, and as his trade demanded he increased his stock from year to year until he had one of the best groceries in the town, but sold his store in 1866. Prior to this he had become interested in buying, feeding and shipping stock, and after selling his grocery he opened a meat market, which he carried on in connection with his stock dealing for two years. At the end of that time he bought back the store and continued to engage in the grocery trade quite successfully until 1897, at the same time feeding considerable stock upon his farm. Since then he has lived a retired life, enjoying the fruits of former toil. He began his business career with no capital, and the success that he has achieved is due entirely to his own industry, perseverance and good management. Prosperity has attended his well-directed efforts, however, and he is today one of the substantial men of the county, owning several fine farms besides a good home in DeWitt. He is also a stockholder in the First National Bank of that place, which he assisted in establishing.

At DeWitt, in 1860, Mr. Bloom was united in marriage with Miss Adaline Yeaga, a native of Switzerland, and a daughter of ----- Yeaga, who, on coming to this country first settled in Michigan, and later came to Clinton county, Iowa. Eight children were born to our subject and his wife, of whom one, Mary, died at the age of about ten months. Those living are Frances, at home; Charles, who is married and engaged in farming in Bloomfield township; John, who is married, and Frank are engaged in business in DeWitt; William, who is married and follows farming in Eaton township; Frederick and Joseph, both at home.

Since casting his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860 Mr. Bloom has never failed in his allegiance to the Democratic party, and for several terms he efficiently served as alderman of DeWitt, though he has never been a politician in the sense of office-seeking. He was reared in the Catholic faith, and he and his family are communicants of the church of that denomination in DeWitt. They are widely and favorably known, and have a large circle of friends and acquaintances in the village where they reside.