Amos Bloom, son of James A. Bloom, is one of the foremost merchants of the borough of Sunbury [1911] where he has been doing business for the past twenty-five years. He was born July 14, 1846, in Clearfield County, was brought up on the farm and had such educational advantages as the schools of his day in that locality afforded.

The district was then a typically rural section and the school and its equipment typical of the times. Slabs were used for seats, goose quills for pens, the old Sanders reader and an old-fashion “ciphering” book were the manuals of instruction and the schoolmaster ruled with the rod, whippings being common.

Mr. Bloom’s mother was a woman of unusual intelligence and taught her children at home, so that by the time he was seventeen Amos was able to teach school. He taught in all ten terms of four months each, and received $35 a month for his services, which was considerable in those days, his board costing him but $5 per month. Meantime he also learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed during the summer months, school being held in winter, when the boys were not needed so badly at home to help with the farm work.

When twenty-two years old Mr. Bloom went to Iowa, where he followed his trade and also found profitable employment for a time binding wheat which was then selling at 65 cents a bushel. He received $5 a day and his board, five meals daily and drink free, but eighteen to twenty hours constituted a day’s labor. After two years in the West Mr. Bloom returned to Pennsylvania and resumed his former method of life, following carpentry in the summer and teaching in the winter, continuing thus until 1875.

That year he engaged in the mercantile business at Northumberland, Northumberland County, whence in 1885 he came to Sunbury. He has since done an extensive general business in that place, having a well stocked store at No. 44 North Fourth Street, where he carries a good line of general merchandise and wall papers.

Mr. Bloom is undoubtedly one of the busiest men in the borough, for he has acquired additional interests during the passing years which keep him thoroughly occupied. He is a director and secretary of the Sunbury Mutual Fire Insurance Company, having served as such since its organization, in 1896; has been Secretary of the North Branch Fire Insurance Company (capitalized at $300,000) since 1910; is a director and treasurer of the Sunbury Ice Company; and is treasurer of the Hydraulic Ram Company of Sunbury.

Mr. Bloom has not taken an active part in the local administration except as member of the town council. Politically he is a Democrat with independent inclinations. He is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has been grand master of the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania since September, 1906. In religious connection he is a member of the Baptist Church at Sunbury.

On Aug. 27, 1873, Mr. Bloom married Kate Lesher, daughter of Daniel and Sarah J. (Van Kirk) Lesher. They have had one daughter, Annie Irene.3581