Bloom, Reuben D.

BLOOM

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/28/2021 at 23:01:21

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.588

REUBEN DUNN BLOOM
Reuben Dunn Bloom, who is now living retired on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 7, Belmont Township, was born near Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio, July 27, 1820. The family was an old one of that state, coming originally from New York. Our subject was reared in the Buckeye state and, though he received but limited educational advantages, has become a well informed man through experience, observation and reading. As his father was a tailor by trade, the work of the home farm largely devolved upon the son, who took charge of the place when only about twelve years of age. The young lad was possessed of a strong constitution and good business ability and early displayed the determination and industry which have proven the salient features in his successful career as an agriculturist. In 1854, believing that better opportunities and advantages might be enjoyed in the west, he removed to Muscatine county, Iowa, and thence came to Warren county in 1856. Throughout almost his entire business career he has followed general farming but in his younger years was employed on the rivers during the winter season.
He had but little capital when he arrived in this county and the success which has since attended his efforts is therefore the result of his well directed labor and capable management. Purchasing a tract of raw land, he resolutely set to work and gradually transformed it into a highly cultivated and valuable farm. The place comprised three hundred and sixty acres in Belmont Town­ship, but since putting aside the active work of the fields he has lived retired on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 7, Belmont Township.
Mr. Bloom has been twice married. He was first wedded in Ohio, to Miss Viola Dixon, who passed away in the fall of 1853 in Peoria County, Illinois, leaving five children, of whom only one, G. D., still survives, making his home at Milo, Iowa. In Brown County, Ohio, Mr. Bloom was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Hannah Reynolds, whose demise occurred here about twenty years ago. The record of her six children, one of whom was born by her former marriage, is as follows: B. S. Reynolds, residing on section 8, Belmont township; Mrs. Esther Westerfield, of Des Moines; Emma, at home; Luke, who makes his home in Oklahoma and is familiarly known as "Dug”; Mack who is operating the home farm; and Oliver, of Otter township.
In his political views Mr. Bloom is a staunch Democrat, and in the latter '50s served as justice of the peace in White Oak Township. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, having joined the order at Pleasantville, and he is a charter member of the lodges at Sandyville and at Milo. In religious belief he was formerly a Freewill Baptist but is now identified with the Christian Union Church. Coming to this county more than half a century ago, he was for a long period successfully and prominently connected with its agricul­tural interests and won the competence that now enables him to spend his remaining days in well earned ease.