Florine (Bloom) PRITCHARD

PRITCHARD, BLOOM, MCGREGOR, HOOVER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/19/2007 at 19:19:23

[Born: 30 January 1846 in Curwinsville, Clearfield county, Pennsylvania
Died: 6 APR 1914
Parents: Isaac Bloom and Leah (Hoover) Bloom]

The Iowa Valley Press
April 15, 1914

Florine Bloom was born at Curwinsville, Pennsylvania, January 30, 1846, where she grew to womanhood and was educated in the public schools of that state. In June, 1866, she came to Iowa as a teacher, which vocation she followed successfully until her marriage to John Sherman Pritchard, December 7th, 1869. To this union were born four children, Robert H., Walter S., Irving M., and Laura A. These all grew to manhood and womanhood and are or were probably known to every reader of this sketch. Mrs. Pritchard was one of the early settlers of this section of the state, bravely sharing the responsibilities, hardships and privations of pioneer life. Her home was always open and her hand ever ready to help the weary traveler or those in unfortunate condition. She early became identified with the activities of the Congregational church, being a member of the Ladies' Aid for probably more than forty years and nine years ago she came into full membership with the church. A teacher in the Sunday school, a member of W. R. C., of the Eastern Star and the Progress Club. These and her home duties served to fill her mind and heart until the end. Possessed of more than ordinary talent, she used her gifts to bless the world and she will be sadly missed in every walk of life. But we joy in the confident hope that our loss is her eternal gain.

Forty days ago, weary and worn, she sought her chamber to lie down and die.
"She passed to peaceful slumber like a child, the while attendant angels built the dream on which she rode to Heaven."
She lay in state in the parlor of the home, covered with banks and banks of beautiful flowers, gifts of loving friends. At three p. m. on Saturday, the march was taken to the Congregational church, in which procession the various organizations to which she belonged formed a conspicuous part, together with a large concourse of relatives and friends. The hearse was preceded by the honorary pall-bearers, being members of the local G. A. R., followed by the active bearers, six stalwart young men. Brief, simple and impressive services were conducted by the pastor, Rev. B. W. Northrup, and Rev. W. U. Parks, a former pastor. Text: "As we have borne the image of the earthly, so shall we bear the image of the Heavenly." After the services the remains were tenderly borne to beautiful Franklin Grove cemetery.