Bio: Blume, J. J. (1862 - 19??)

Contact: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Blume, Bumgartner, Reidel, Trauba, Riech

----Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913.

Blume, J. J. (31 May 1862 - 19??)

J. J. BLUME, who has been assessor of the town of Marathon for the past eight years, owns a valuable form of 128 acres lying in section 7, one-quarter mile south of Marathon City. He was born in the town of Marathon, Marathon County, Wis., May 31, 1862, and is a son of John and Augusta (Bumgartner) (Reidel) Blume. John Blume was born and grew to manhood in Germany, where he learned the shoemaking trade. He came to America when thirty-three years old and in a few years had become a prosperous business man. He opened the first general store at Marathon City, Wis., where he was postmaster for twenty-four years. Later in life he removed to Oregon where he became a farmer and died there at the age of seventy years. While a resident of Marathon City he served as village president, as town clerk and as a notary public and at one time owned considerable property here. He married Mrs. Augusta (Bumgartner) Reidel, who died also in Oregon, aged about seventy years. They were faithful members of the Catholic Church. Six children were born to them.

J. J. Blume put aside his school books when he reached the age of fourteen years and for two years more assisted his father, following which he worked for eight winters in a logging camp and in a saw mill, following farming in the summer. Since his marriage in 1887, he has lived on his present farm, about one-half of which is cleared, Mr. Blume having cleared thirty acres by himself. He carries on a general farming line, does a little dairying and grows his own cattle.

On June 21, 1887, Mr. Blume was married to Miss Bertha Trauba, who was born in Germany, a daughter of Joseph and Louisa Trauba, who came to Marathon County when Mrs. Blume was three years old and here she was reared and educated. The mother died when aged fifty-two years and the father when aged seventy years and both were buried in St. Mary's cemetery. Mr. Trauba was a carpenter by trade and was well known through the town of Marathon as a skillful workman. Mr. and Mrs. Blume have a family to be proud of, twelve vigorous, intelligent children, all born on the home farm: Mary, who is the wife of John Riech, and they live at Wausau; Charles, who is attending college at Stevens Point; and Laura, Augusta, Louisa, Hilda, Gertrude, George, Josephine, Ella, Irene and Mildred. Mr. Blume and family belong to St. Mary's Catholic Church. In addition to his farm interests Mr. Blume has others, being a stockholder in the Central Creamery of the town of Marathon; a stockholder in the State Bank of Marathon City; also in the Farm Produce Company of Marathon City and the Marathon City Brewing Company. Politically he is a Democrat and his methods as town assessor have been so satisfactory to party and people that he has been elected and reelected to office for eight years. He is identified with the Catholic Order of Foresters.