Edward F. Blum

EDWARD F. BLUM. - The present efficient and honored clerk of the court of common pleas of Wyandotte county has been a resident of this county since his childhood days and is a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of this section of the Sunflower state. His standing in his home community sets at naught all application of the scriptural aphorism that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country." Mr. Blum has been identified with various lines of business enterprises in Wyandotte county and has also served in other positions of public trust than that of which he is now incumbent, and he holds secure vantage ground in the confidence and esteem of the community that has represented his home during virtually his entire life thus far.

Edward F. Blum was born in the now thriving little city of Pekin, the judicial center of Tazewell county, Illinois, and the date of his nativity was December 13, 1852. He is a son of Frederick and Henrietta (Jungk) Blum, both of whom were born and reared in Germany and the marriage of whom was solemnized in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. The father came to America in 1835, at the age of seventeen years, and his future wife was twenty years of age when she left her fatherland to come to the United States, in 1844. Both located in St. Louis, Missouri, and there they were married in the year 1849. Frederick Blum passed the closing years of his life in Kansas City, Kansas, in the section of the city then constituting the village of Wyandotte, and he was summoned to the life eternal in 1866, his widow passing away in 1879. They became the parents of four sons and three daughters, all of whom are living. Frederick Blum was a cooper by trade and to this line of business he devoted his attention for many years. In 1857 he removed from Illinois to Kansas and settled in the town of Wyandotte, the virtual nucleus of Kansas City. Here he continued to follow his trade until his death, and he is remembered as a man of sterling character, earnest, honest and industrious and well worthy of the esteem of his fellow men.

Edward F. Blum was four and one-half years of age at the time of the family removal to Wyandotte, and here he was reared to maturity, in the meanwhile being duly afforded the advantages of the public schools. He began to work when a lad of fourteen years of age and in all the succeeding years his application in a practical way has been unceasing, as he is fully appreciative of the diginity[sic] and value of earnest endeavor. He followed various lines of employment until 1872 and for the ensuing decade he was identified with railroad affairs, principally in a clerical capacity. For a time he was engaged in the feed and commission trade in Kansas City and here he was also identified with the real estate business for a short period. Thereafter he served four and one half years as deputy in the office of the register of deeds of Wyandotte county and in 1891 he himself was elected register of deeds. His personal popularity was significantly shown on this occasion, as he was the only candidate on the Democratic ticket to be victorious at the polls in the county. He served in this office for two years and for the ensuing two years he followed various vocations, after which he was employed in the offices of one of the large packing houses in Kansas City Kansas, for seven and one-half years. He again served as deputy register of deeds in 1907-8, and was then elected to his present office, the duties of which he assumed in January, 1909. His administration was most efficient and acceptable and resulted in his re-election in the autumn of 1910, for a second term of two years.

As a citizen Mr. Blum is loyal and progressive, and, as already implied, he gives his allegiance to the Democratic party. He has been a Master Mason for twenty-eight years, has been affiliated with the Knights of Pythias since 1874, has been a member of the Odd Fellows since April 20, 1878, and is also a popular member of Kansas City Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Washington Boulevard Methodist Episcopal church in their home city, where their circle of friends is coincident with that of their acquaintances.

In the year 1881 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Blum to Miss Ida M. Young, of Pomeroy, Wyandotte county, and they have two sons: Frederick H., who is deputy clerk in his father's office; and Edward Y., who is a representative young member of the bar of Kansas City, Missouri.