Moses Bloom
Encyclopedia
Moses Bloom was a Jewish American
politician, member of both houses of the Iowa General Assembly
, and mayor
of Iowa City
, United States
. Various publications name him as the first Jewish mayor of a major American
city.
, France
in 1833, and left the country in 1850. He settled in Iowa City in 1857 and opened a clothing store, thus becoming the first Jewish settler
and the first long-time clothier
in the city. At the time, Iowa City was the capital
of the recently established State of Iowa, and rapidly growing. With the major railhead
soon arriving to the city, the travelers brought new business and Bloom's "One Price Clothing House" became very successful. Bloom later opened two banks in the city.
Bloom's first public office was a city alderman, for which he was elected in 1860, at the age of 27. He distinguished himself as a public speaker, and was noted for his address atop a box car to men departing for Union Army
service in the Civil War
. In 1873, Bloom was elected mayor of Iowa City. At the time, Iowa City had fewer than a dozen Jewish residents. He served as mayor for two years, until 1875.
In 1877, Moses Bloom was elected to Iowa House of Representatives
. There, he became influential and succeeded to secure budget support for the State University of Iowa, a “permanent annual endowment” of $20,000 a year. Bloom served two terms in the Iowa House (1877–1882), and then two terms in the Iowa Senate
(1883-1888), representing Johnson County
. In 1879, he pragmatically turned down the Democratic
nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
(from the office establishment in 1858 and until 1892, only Republicans occupied the office). He was also a Freemason.
According to some publications, Moses Bloom was the first Jewish mayor of a major American city, narrowly beating Bailey Gatzert
, who became the mayor of Seattle in 1875. This claim is a subject of dispute as smaller, predominantly Jewish communities had Jewish mayors much earlier. For example, in 1818, Solomon Cohen was elected the first Jewish mayor of a historic Georgetown, South Carolina
. Similarly, David Naar was elected the mayor of Elizabeth Borough, New Jersey
in 1843, and is also credited with being the first Jewish mayor in the United States.
The "Moses Bloom Clothing Store" located at 28–30 S. Clinton St. remains one of the key historical buildings in the downtown of Iowa City. The Moses Bloom Lane in the city is also named after him.
American Jews
American Jews, also known as Jewish Americans, are American citizens of the Jewish faith or Jewish ethnicity. The Jewish community in the United States is composed predominantly of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, and their U.S.-born descendants...
politician, member of both houses of the Iowa General Assembly
Iowa General Assembly
The Iowa General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Iowa. Like the federal United States Congress, the General Assembly is a bicameral body, composed of the upper house Iowa Senate and the lower Iowa House of Representatives respectively...
, and mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Iowa City
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City is a city in Johnson County, State of Iowa. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total population of about 67,862, making it the sixth-largest city in the state. Iowa City is the county seat of Johnson County and home to the University of Iowa...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Various publications name him as the first Jewish mayor of a major American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
city.
Biography
Bloom was born in AlsaceAlsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1833, and left the country in 1850. He settled in Iowa City in 1857 and opened a clothing store, thus becoming the first Jewish settler
History of the Jews in the United States
The history of the Jews in the United States , has been part of the American national fabric since colonial times.Until the 1830s the Jewish community of Charleston, South Carolina was the most numerous in North America. With the large scale immigration of Jews from Germany in the 19th century,...
and the first long-time clothier
Cloth merchant
Cloth merchant is, strictly speaking, like a draper, the term for any vendor of cloth. However, it is generally used for one who owned and/or ran a cloth manufacturing and/or wholesale import and/or export business in the Middle Ages or 16th and 17th centuries...
in the city. At the time, Iowa City was the capital
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
of the recently established State of Iowa, and rapidly growing. With the major railhead
Railhead
The word railhead is a railway term with two distinct meanings, depending upon its context.Sometimes, particularly in the context of modern freight terminals, the word is used to denote a terminus of a railway line, especially if the line is not yet finished, or if the terminus interfaces with...
soon arriving to the city, the travelers brought new business and Bloom's "One Price Clothing House" became very successful. Bloom later opened two banks in the city.
Bloom's first public office was a city alderman, for which he was elected in 1860, at the age of 27. He distinguished himself as a public speaker, and was noted for his address atop a box car to men departing for Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
service in the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. In 1873, Bloom was elected mayor of Iowa City. At the time, Iowa City had fewer than a dozen Jewish residents. He served as mayor for two years, until 1875.
In 1877, Moses Bloom was elected to Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
. There, he became influential and succeeded to secure budget support for the State University of Iowa, a “permanent annual endowment” of $20,000 a year. Bloom served two terms in the Iowa House (1877–1882), and then two terms in the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
(1883-1888), representing Johnson County
Johnson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 130,882 in the county, with a population density of . There were 55,967 housing units, of which 52,715 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. In 1879, he pragmatically turned down the Democratic
Iowa Democratic Party
The Iowa Democratic Party is the local branch of the Democratic Party in the state of Iowa.-Current elected officials:Iowa Democrats are in control of the Iowa Senate, one of the state's United States Senate seats, and three out of the state's five United States House of Representatives seats. ...
nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
Lieutenant Governor of Iowa
This is a List of Lieutenant Governors of the U.S. state of Iowa, 1858 to present. In Iowa, the Lieutenant Governor and the governor run together on the same ticket. Before the 1998 Election, the law was changed from the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor running separately....
(from the office establishment in 1858 and until 1892, only Republicans occupied the office). He was also a Freemason.
Legacy
Moses Bloom was the first Jew in the Iowa Senate.According to some publications, Moses Bloom was the first Jewish mayor of a major American city, narrowly beating Bailey Gatzert
Bailey Gatzert
Bailey Gatzert was the eighth mayor of Seattle, Washington, serving from 1875 to 1876. He was the first Jewish mayor of Seattle, narrowly missing being the first Jewish mayor of a major American city , and has been the only Jewish mayor of Seattle to date.Gatzert was born in 1829 in Darmstadt,...
, who became the mayor of Seattle in 1875. This claim is a subject of dispute as smaller, predominantly Jewish communities had Jewish mayors much earlier. For example, in 1818, Solomon Cohen was elected the first Jewish mayor of a historic Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown, South Carolina
Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, in the Low Country. Located on Winyah Bay at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee River, Waccamaw River, and Sampit River, Georgetown is the second largest seaport in South Carolina,...
. Similarly, David Naar was elected the mayor of Elizabeth Borough, New Jersey
Elizabeth Borough, New Jersey
Elizabeth Borough was a borough that existed in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, from 1740 until 1855.Elizabeth was established as a borough by Royal Charter on February 8, 1740, and was rechartered by the New Jersey Legislature on November 28, 1789.Portions of the borough were taken...
in 1843, and is also credited with being the first Jewish mayor in the United States.
The "Moses Bloom Clothing Store" located at 28–30 S. Clinton St. remains one of the key historical buildings in the downtown of Iowa City. The Moses Bloom Lane in the city is also named after him.
See also
- List of Jewish political milestones in the United States
- List of Jewish American politicians