"An Illustrated history of Union and Wallowa Counties : with a brief outline of 
the early history of the state of Oregon." Western Historical Pub. Co., 1902.
Union County.  pg. 371-372.

	SAMUEL M. BLOOM.--Who will write the real history of the pioneer?  Many have
tried, many have written part, but who can portray on paper the thrilling and
unique and distinctive experiences and labors of this most worthy class?
Verily, it is beyond the pen of men to do this subject justice, , however, with
pleasure we are granted the opportunity to tell still some of the salient points
in the career of one of this noble number, and one, too, who has toiled steadily
on here in this county for over a third of century, stemming the tide, and
surmounting the obstacles, and enduring the hardships, beating back the forces
that combine to thwart the attempts of those who will venture into the wilds of
nature, and winning from the dame of fortune rich laurels of success in spite of
her objections and the combined currents of adversity, while also he has always
maintained a stanch integrity and walked in the light of upright principles.
   	Samuel M. BLOOM was born in Brown county, Ohio on February 4, 1836, being
the son of Lewis and Mary (MITCHEL) BLOOM, farmers of that section.  From Ohio,
the family removed to Illinois and thence to Iowa, dwelling in three different
counties in the latter state, where the father bought land and gave himself to
tilling the soil.  He lived to a good old age, passing the river on June 3,
1885.  Our subject remained on the farm until the spring of 1860 and then rented
a farm for himself, tilling it for one year and then took up threshing and
running a prairie team until the spring of 1862, when the reports from the
opening west stirred his adventurous spirit to come hither in quest of a home
and fortune.  Accordingly he fitted ox and horse teams and started for
California.  The plans changed somewhat and he drifted into the Grande Ronde
valley.  No sooner was the country seen that he determined to make this his
home, and he has done so since.  He arrived here October 1, 1862.!
  	Getting into winter quarters, he passed the first winter in various
explorations and in the spring of 1863, he filed on a quarter section in Cove
and commenced the arduous labor of rearing a home and making a farm from the
wild sod and raw timbers of the adjacent forests.  His industry and skill were
equal to the task and soon he had fine crops growing and little by little the
farm was improved with good and substantial buildings.  He raised well bred
horses, handled cattle, and raised the cereals.  For thirty-two years he held
steadily to the line of his endeavors, toiling on through good years and bad,
stopping neither for adversity nor the smiles of prosperity.  the result was
that he added to his estate, broad acres by purchase, and town property, until
he was possessed of a fine portion of this world's goods.  Eight years since, he
sold the farms and removed to Cove and at the present time he is living with one
of his daughters, Mrs. CHILDS, the hostess of Cove hotel.
   	The marriage of Mr. BLOOM and Miss Martha Jane MURPHY, a native of
Tennessee, was solemnized in Jasper county, Iowa, and they became the parents of
three boys and two girls, all living.  On June 9, 1886, Mrs. BLOOM was called to
depart the scenes of this life and go hence to the realities of another world.
She was a woman of sweet virtues and beloved by all and in her demise was
mourned universally.
   	In fraternal circles, Mr. BLOOM is associated with the I. O. O. F., lodge N.
52, of Cove.  He has never pressed forward in politics, being contented to send
others to the seats of government.  Mr. BLOOM was one of the first settlers in
the vicinity of Cove and he has seen all the marvelous growth that has taken
place in Union county since 1862, having ever been in the van guard of the ranks
that were laboring for substantial progress and material development of the
county.  He was personally acquainted with the hardships and sufferings of the
early pioneers and it is no small source of comfort to see some of them reaping
the rewards of a quiet enjoyment of a rich competence that they have so well
earned.  he has always maintained a reputation unsullied and to-day he has the
unbounded respect and confidence of all.

Submitted by: Sandy, scarletgen@comcast.net