William was born at or near Fox Hill, Hunterdon County, NJ. In 1798 he came with his fathers and brothers to what is now Clearfield county, but which then formed a part of Lycoming county.

After his marriage William Bloom and wife settled where the old State Road crossed the Susquehanna river, near where the P. R. R. bridge is now located. For many years he kept a hotel and ferry boat at this point. He had a canoe or dugout to ferry passengers across the river, and had large flat boats to transport teams and wagons. At this time the old “State Road” was one of the principal thoroughfares of the State. There was a constant procession of foot passengers, horsemen and teams with wagon loads of goods, and at times there would be dozens of teams waiting their turn to cross the river, and as the river at that point was hardly ever fordable, Mr. Bloom was constantly engaged in this work.

During the Second War with Great Britain in 1812–15 thousands of troops passed along this road to Erie and other points on the Canadian border. Some of the regiments camped in the vicinity, and during the entire war soldiers were constantly marching to and fro over this now historic road. Mr. Bloom’s hotel was one of the principal stopping places along the entire road and many of the most prominent people of the State were entertained at his inn.

In 1815 he bought this entire tract of land. From the original deed of conveyance, in possession of Lewis C. Bloom, we are informed that the tract contained 3041/2 acres. For this land he paid what at that time was the enormous sum of $2,000, or nearly $7 per acre, when $1.25 per acre was considered a good price for land. This tract is now divided into two fine farms, one owned by Robert Porter and the other by William Bloom’s grandson, T. Jeff Bloom.

William Bloom took active interest in military affairs. On August 3rd, 1811, he received from the Governor of the State a commission as major of a regiment of the Pennsylvania militia, which office he held for a number of years. When the Philadelphia and Erie turnpike was made he built a new house near the bridge which crosses the river at Robert Porter’s, and continued to keep hotel for a number of years.

Before Clearfield county was separately organized he was deputy sheriff for Sheriff Mitchell, of Centre county. In 1826 he was elected sheriff of Clearfield county, being the second sheriff of the county. In 1840 he was appointed Deputy Marshal, an office synonymous with what now is called census enumerator. Mr. Bloom did this work all himself, traveling from house to house to ascertain the number of inhabitants, products and such other information as he, by law, was expected to attain.

William Bloom was a leader among his own family as well as throughout the entire county in the early days. By his thrift and intelligence he accumulated what at that time was considered a large fortune. At one time he was known to be by far the wealthiest man in the county.7087
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“After his marriage, William Bloom lived in Pike township, where the farm then included 500 acres, 168 of which he cleared, beginning with nine acres, which he immediately started to cultivate. He then erected a large log house, big enough to accommodate his own growing family and also to offer hospitality to the traveling public that was then passing over the Meads road on the way farther west.

He had a fine trade and was a shrewd business man, as was evidenced by his moving to a part of his farm which was adjacent to the newly constructed Erie turnpike road. For years he conducted a hotel in Pike township.

He was a very robust, well proportioned man and had a corresponding strong constitution, living to be ninety-two years of age, dying in 1872. He was a Jacksonian Democat and was elected to many public offices. He was constable when the township had but sixty-two voters, later was sheriff of Clearfield county. Having a cash fortune of $30,000 he was considered the wealthiest man in Clearfield county. His wife lived to be seventy years old [?]. They are both buried in McClure’s cemetery, where the ashes of the pioneers of the family also repose.” 1843
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This record of the 1850 census indicated he is an “Ex Sff” a farmer with real estate property valued at $3000.1854

Listed as Clearfield county Sheriff 1826-1829.2235

This source says William Jr. came to Clearfield County in 1798. He cites “Some Genealogies and Family Records” by A. Y. Straw, pp. 150-151, 229, with a lot of data on this family.2509
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A William Bloom Jr. along with his father and others, is listed among the 155 taxable inhabitants of Chincleclamousche township (Centre County) in December of 1806.1919
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Aged 89Y 3M 25D.990
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All the children and their birthdates (except David’s) were verified at this source.1832