Word has been received of the death of Solomon H. Bloom, one of the pioneer merchants of Council Bluffs, who died Monday at Oakland, CA. Mr. Bloom's body will be brought back to Council Bluffs. Definite funeral arrangements have not been completed but services will probably be held Sunday at the Gables, the home of Mrs. Stewart Wildman. It was Mr. Bloom's wish in life that his funeral be held in the old home of the Stewart's and that he be buried in the Stewart family burial plot along side John T. Stewart, his lifelong friend.

With Mr. Bloom's death there comes to light the story of his life which had remained a secret to even his intimate friends. About fifteen years ago during one of his visits to Council Bluffs, Mr. Bloom remarked to Mrs. Wildman that someday he would die and his friends might want to know something of his life. So he told to her briefly the story of his career, taking her solemn promise that she would not divulge it until after he had died. This obligation Mrs. Wildman maintained, carefully keeping the notes she made at the time.

Mr. Bloom was a native of Alsace, France, having been born in West Loffen, Department of Basrhin. He was left motherless at birth and at the age of 13 came to the United States with his sister, Henrietta, the wife of Daniel Woolman. This was in 1849 or 50. Landing at New York, this peasant lad of France went to Hagerstown, Maryland, where after schooling of a year and a half he embarked on a mercantile career in Fechdic's dry good store. When his sister moved to Philadelphia, young Bloom took to farming and for a time worked on Dr. Butler's farm about twelve miles from Hagerstown. Here his principal tasks were that of fox hunting and for it he received $7 per month. Bob Butler, was a boyhood friend of Mr. Bloom.

Mr. Bloom afterwards returned to work for Fechdic, later quitting there to go to what he called "Uncle Zech" Cheney's farm. It was while on this farm that the tales from the frontier of Indians, buffalos and the like filled the young man with a burning desire to go west. Following this spirit, young bloom railroaded and staged his way to Lafayette, Indiana, where he again took up the dry goods business in Sam Kuhn's store. Here he saved a little money with which he bought a team and wagon and drove to Iowa City. From there he came by stage to Council Bluffs. This was in 1856. In the Bluffs, Mr. Bloom began working for May and Wiel, a leading store of the times. This store adjoining the offices of Cassiday and Test for whom John T. Stewart was then working. Between Mr. Stewart and young Bloom a friendship immediately sprung up which ripened in sentiment as years went by and continued until Mr. Stewarts death.

In 1859, Mr. Stewart and Bloom made an overland trip to Pike's Peak, a rare feat in those days. While on this trip they were offered 160 acres of land in exchange for a white horse which they had with them. This land is now the site of the present city of Denver and worth millions of dollars.

Returning to Council Bluffs, the following autumn Mr. Bloom bought out the firm of May and Wiel, continuing in the business here until 1877. He built Blooms and one of the first large buildings in the city. In 1877, Mr. Bloom disposed of his business interests here to Metcalf brothers and went to Deadwood, SD, later opening stores in Sheridan, Sturgess and Casper, Wyoming.

He retired from business some years ago and for the past few years has been making his home in Oakland. His heart, however, was always in Council Bluffs and he considered this city as his home. He visited here several years ago, stopping at the Grand, where he enjoyed many interesting reunions with old time friends.