Obituary

The Bismarck Tribune
Bismarck, North Dakota
Monday, February 16, 1925

JOHN H. BLOOM DIES, VICTIM OF HEART ILL

Editor-Manager of Nonpartisan League Organ Dies Suddenly in City
Long State Figure - Had Taken Part in Political Battle in North Dakota For Many Years John H. Bloom, 60, editor-manager of the North Dakota Nonpartisan, official organ of the Nonpartisan League, and for many years widely known in' newspaper and political circles, John Peter Blum, Jr. Family died suddenly of heart trouble in his room in thc McKenzie Hotel here, at 10:30 o'clock Sunday morning. Mr, Bloom has been confined to his bed for several weeks.

Funeral services for Mr. Bloom, according to present plans, R. T. Muir, assisting in the arrangements, said, will be at 10 a. m. Wednesday in the Methodist church, Bismarck, with Rev. S. F. Halfyard of Mandan officiating. The body, probably will be taken to Fargo Thursday morning for burial.

Those who will act as 'honorary pallbearers are: Judge John Burke, Gen. H. M. Creel of Devils Lake; Capt. I. P. Baker of Bismarck; Lt. Gov. Walter Maddock; Hon. B. C. Larkin; W. F. Lemke of Fargo.

The following are the active pallbearers: Hon. Robt. Byrne, Herman Hardt, J. N. Hagan, R. T. Muir, Mr. Pepke and Sen. Ralph Ingerson. The body will be taken to Fargo Thursday morning for burial.

Death came after he apparently was rallying from his illness. On Saturday he went down to the hotel lobby from his room on thc third floor, for the first time in many weeks. He was bright and cheerful Sunday morning, and insisted that his wife, who had been a constant companion at his bedside, go out for breakfast,
and he asked for milk toast for his own breakfast. Mrs. Bloom had been absent from her room but a few minutes, when she returned to find him breathing heavily and dying. She summoned help, but in a few minutes he had died.

Mr. and Mrs. Bloom were planning a trip for the benefit of his health, and were going to Ohio and then to Ontario for a time, expecting to be absent from the state for three months.

Mr. Bloom last week announced he was not a candidate for election as editor-manager of the North Dakota Nonpartisan, because it was necessary for him to seek a lower altitude.

Felt It 2 Years Ago

Heart trouble first began to affect Mr. Bloom seriously about two years ago. The trouble became more pronounced, especially about election time last fall, when he had several heart attacks. It was only a few weeks ago, however that he was forced to his bed.

As publisher of the Devils Lake Journal manager of the Fargo, Courier News and editor-manager of the North Dakota Nonpartisan, Mr. Bloom was an important figure in many political developments in North Dakota. He was active in Democratic politics, but threw his Support to the Nonpartisan League when that organization rose to power in the state.

In newspaper circles Mr. Bloom was known as a good business man and a capable editor, in politics he was known as one who asked and gave no quarter, never dodging a fight. His last public statement. issued last week announcing his resignation, contained a denunciation of men, who, he asserted, were ready to "sell out the party."

Born in Roseville, Illinois, April 24. 1864, the son of Dennis Downing and Rachel M.
Bloom, he learned the printer's trade after completing his schooling. In following his trade he lived at various times in Pawne, Richardson and Gage counties, Nebraska, 1870 to 1885; Del Norte, Colorado, 1885-97. In 1900 he came to North Dakota, going to Devils Lake, and in 1904 he established the Devils Lake Journal, which he published until a few years ago, when be sold it. Mr. Bloom later was business manager of the Courier-News at Fargo, the NOB partisan League organ, and in December, 1923 he came to Bismarck as editor-manager of the North Dakots Konpartiian. He also, at the time of his death, was receiver of the Farmer-Labor State Record, local Nonpartisan weekly.

Mr. Bloom and Miss Marjorie Sanderson, who survives, were married at Clark, South Dakota, February 8, 1899, it being Mr. Bloom's second marriage. One son, Elden Sanderson, aged 23 years, also survives, and is employed as a printer by the Fargo Tribune. Two sisters, Mrs. Alice Albright of Hoquiem, Washington, and Mrs. Richard Hutton of Roseburg, Oregon, and one brother, Bert B. Bloom of Los Angeles, survive. Mrs. Albright was taken seriously ill a few days ago and is in a hospital at Portland, Oregon.

Preferred Private Life

Mr. Bloom did not seek public office, preferring the business of a newspaper man. He was a strong supporter of Governor John Burke, and was appointed a colonel on the Governor's staff in 1907. He was appointed state game and fish commissioner by Governor Lynn J. Frazier April 9, 1917, and served until February 28, 1922.

During his life, Mr. Bloom was affiliated with the Odd Fellows, Modern Brotherhood of America and Ancient Order of United Workmen lodges. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and was a friend of Rev. S. F. Halfyard, former pastor of the Methodist Church in Bismarck, and now pastor in Mandon. Mr. Bloom has continued in the last three years to count Fargo as his home, owning a residence there.

The death of Mr. Bloom came as a shock in political circles in Bismarck, especially to members of his political faction. Mrs. Bloom, who was prostrated by the sudden death, was taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Muir, on North Sixth street and received many callers Sunday afternoon and evening, they coming to express their condolence.5665
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John H. Bloom was editor and owner [of] two newspapers. I am still in process of trying to obtain several articles. I know John H. Bloom did a letter to [the] paper when he first introduced himself.

He was very into politics [and] I guess a District Judge was running for reelection and was corrupted accept[ing] $800.00 from someone to do something.  John H. Bloom didn't think this man should run again and wrote in the paper about [it] doing so it got him tossed into jail. Even the Govenor of Colorado wanted to pardon him which he refused to accept.

It went to court and it is said that he did good for all Editors and Journalists in the [country] and this is in the law books.

Following the court [proceedings John wrote] his last letter to the paper when he sold it and [left] Colorado for Clark, South Dakota where he met his second wife Agnes.

John and Agnes later moved to Devils Lake, North Dakota where John was Editor and owner of the paper for 16 plus years. This paper is there today [2011].  John was also the postmaster in Devils Lake and his wife also and later sold the Devils Lake paper.

John’s young son Eldon was working for the Fargo Forum. John tried to buy the Fargo Forum but it got bought out from underneath him, so then he managed the Courier paper in Fargo for just a short time.

Being a life-long Democrat John then was editor and manager for the nonpartisan paper in Bismarck North Dakota, untill his death in 1925.

He was also North Dakota State Game and Fish Commissioner and Colonel to the Govenor Fraizer. When John H Bloom died his body laid at the North Dakota State Capitol and everything was closed and his picture and articles were in newspapers all over North Dakota, Nebraska and I think Colorado. 

John H Bloom is buried in Fargo Riverside Cemetery along with my grandmother, his son Eldon, my father and mother and my parent’s two stillborn sons.3696
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John H. Bloom was Editor owner Editor and very interested in Politics, some district judge was running and Mr. Bloom had written something about the man and he was tossed in jail for the article. The Governor of Colorado wanted to Pardon Mr. Bloom but he refused, it went to court and Mr. Bloom won and it is said he did good for all Editors and jounalist in the USA.

He moved to Clark South Dakota for short period and then moved to Devils Lake Journal from 1904. For a very long time he was postmaster he sold the journal and then tried to buy the Fargo Forum but it was bought from underneath him he then worked for the Fargo Courier short time and then moved to Bismarck North Dakota he was the Colonial to the Governor and the State Game and Fish Commissioner and he was Editor for the Non partisan paper till his death in 1929.

His body laid in the State and the capitol was closed and he had the front page
of newspapers all over. I would love to get a copy of this article that got him tossed in jail and when he won the court.5666
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John was the founder of the Devils Lake Journal, Devils Lake, ND, running it for 16 years before selling.5667