Rev. H.K. HINES, D.D. "An Illustrated History of the State of Washington." 1893.

Hon. Nathaniel H. BLOOMFIELD

	Hon. Nathaniel H. BLOOMFIELD, ex-Superior Judge of Washington, who has 
probably served the public continuously for more years than any one resident 
of southwestern Washington, was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, November 21, 
1850, a son of Joseph M. and Mary A. (HART) BLOOMFIELD. The former was a 
native of Bavaria, Germany, and the latter of New Orleans, Louisiana, and of 
Dutch-French extraction. The father came to America, settling in the Southern 
States,in 1835, where for many years he was a contractor and railroad builder, 
and later engaged in mercantile pursuits in St. Louis, Missouri.
	Nathaniel H. BLOOMFIELD, the only child of his parents, received his 
early education in Davenport, Iowa, and completed the same in Washington 
University, of St. Louis, Missouri, in 1869. He removed with his parents to 
Olympia, Washington, and subsequently took up his residence in Kalama, this 
State. In 1871, Mr. BLOOMFIELD began the study of law with Judge Elwood EVANS, 
of Olympia, later prosecuting his studies with the Hon. Thomas A. MCBRIDE, now 
of Oregon City, and was admitted to the bar in 1873, before Judge Orange 
JACOBS, now of Seattle. The same year he began practice at Kalama, and the 
following year, 1874, received the nomination from the Republican party for 
District Attorney of the then Second Judicial District of the territory 
comprising ten counties--Wahkiakum, Thurston, Mason, Chehalis, Pacific, Lewis, 
Cowlitz, Clarke, Skamania, and Klickitat. He was defeated, however by only 137 
votes, his opponent being the Hon. John P. JUDSON, of Olympia, who, in the 
following year, was defeated for Congress by Judge Orange JACOBS. In 1876, 
Judge BLOOMFIELD was again the Republican nominee for District Attorney of the 
same district, and was elected, his Democratic opponent being Judge Columbia 
LANCASTER, now of Vancouver, and the oldest lawyer in the district. Two years 
later our subject was again elected by his party to the same office, there 
having been no Democratic opponent, and also was again elected in 1880. At the 
expiration of his term of office, in 1882, he resumed the practice of his 
profession in Vancouver, but in 1889 was the choice for his party for Superior 
Judge for the circuit comprising Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clarke, and 
Skamania counties, and was elected. His Democratic opponents were Hon. J.A. 
MUNDAY, and ex-Chief Justice B.F. DENISON, of the Independant party. Judge 
BLOOMFIELD served in this position until 1890, when Pacific and Wahkiakum 
counties were taken off, leaving the district comprising Clarke, Cowlitz and 
Skamania counties. He resumed the practice of law at Vancouver, in January 
1893, upon the expiration of his term.
	The Judge was married in this city, November 14, 1882, to Miss Maria 
PETRAIN, a native of Clarke county, Washington, and the eldest daughter of the 
late Judge Joseph PETRAIN, of Vancouver. Socially, Mr. BLOOMFIELD affiliates 
with the K. of P., in which he has passed all the official chairs.

Submitted by: Holly Vonderohe, (Pollywogh@aol.com)