William H. Bloom, Tiskilwa, was born October 10, 1833, in Eaton, Green Co., Ohio. His father, Peter Bloom, a native of New Jersey, was a farmer by occupation and settled on Section 12, near Tiskilwa, where he died May 17, 1867. William Bloom, the grandfather of our subject, came from Germany to America about the year 1800. He first settled in New
Jersey, but removed to Ohio, where he died. He reared a family of six boys and two girls, and was a farmer and weaver by occupation. The mother of our subject, Jane Hankins, was born at the Blue Ridge in Virginia. Her parents, Thomas and Anna Hankins, were born in Virginia. The latter’s mother was one of many children captured in Ireland at an early day and sent to this country. Mrs. Jane (Hankins) Bloom died here December 12, 1870. She was the mother of the following children: Eliza A., Mary, Catharine, Elizabeth, Sarah, William H., Martha J., James and Francis Bloom.
Mr. Bloom’s early life was spent on the farm. He has been a grain and lumber merchant in Buda, Ill. After that he was a contractor on the Southwestern Railroad in Iowa one year. In 1855 he returned to Tiskilwa, where he merchandised one year and then farmed. At present he resides in Tiskilwa. He owns over 500 acres of land in this county. Mr. Bloom also owns a one-sixth interest in a large cattle ranch in Colorado and Nebraska. The company is know as the “Putnam Live Stock Company,” and has the brightest prospect of success.
Mr. Bloom was married December 16, 1856, in Clinton County, Ohio, to Eliza M. Hester, born December 16, 1834. Her parents, David and Mary (Vandevort) Hester, were natives of Ohio, and of German descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Bloom the following children were born: Emery C., David H., William C., Jennie, Cora May and Ida Bloom.
Mr. and Mrs. Bloom are religiously connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. Bloom is Independent. In the stock business he is well posted and wide awake. He is an A. F. & A. M. and is also an I. O. O. F.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885