Jesse Bloomfield

Born: January 14, 1867

Birthplace: New York or Russian Poland?

Died: February 23, 1905

Occupation: Miner and Businessman

 

Lizzie Bloomfield

Parents

Born: 1870

Birthplace: Germany

Immigrated: 1882

Died: ?

Occupation Housekeeper

 

Hannah Belle Bloomfield

Born: 1900-1905?

Birthplace: Leadville?

Died: ?

Occupation: Daughter

 

Other names associated with the Bloomfields

Adolf Schayer

Mrs. Janowitz

Siegfried Ballin

Bertha Ballin

Jesse Bloomfield was born in 1867.  The 1900 census lists Bloomfield as being born in New York.  However, the Herald Democrat states his birthplace as Russian Poland in his obituary.[1]   Regardless, he arrived in Leadville in 1880 and worked as a miner during the initial boom.[2]  He was quite young during this time and he could have helped out around the mine in various ways other than hard rock mining.  Bloomfield remained in Leadville intermittently but returned to stay in 1894.[3]   He often traveled throughout the West and Colorado and was active in the mining business.  He was married to Miss Lizzie Schayer in 1897.[4]   Lizzie Schayer was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1882.[5]   She was a cousin of Aldoph Schayer and worked in his liquor store as a clerk in 1887.[6]   After their marriage in 1897, Jesse and Lizzie had a child named Hannah Belle sometime between 1900 and 1905.[7]

In the 1900 census, the Bloomfields are listed as living at 218 E 8th St.[8]   Prior to 1900 Jesse is listed as having worked at a number of different addresses.  In 1894 Bloomfield was listed as a miner at 135 W. Chestnut.[9]   In 1895 and 1897 as a miner at the Ibex Mining Co.[10]   During 1900 he worked for the Chippewa Lease.[11]   In 1901 he worked for the New Leadville Home Mining Co.[12]   In 1902 Bloomfield dabbled in business with Siegfried Ballin at S. F. Ballin & Co., a liquor store.[13]   Bloomfield then purchased a new cigar store in 1904 which offered domestic and imported cigars, and focused on advertising its Key West Cigars.[14]   After this foray into business he was back to the mining industry which would have morbid consequences for him and his young family in 1905.

The Bloomfields were an active couple in Leadville’s social scene.  Mrs. Bloomfield was a frequent attendee and hostess of various house parties.  One such party Lizzie hosted was the Friday Euchre Club.  At this event Mrs. Janowitz won first prize and Mrs. Hoffman took second.[15]  Lizzie and Jesse also attended an anniversary party for the Jacksons.[16]  The Bloomfields were an active couple in Leadville’s social scene.  Lizzie also appreciated the nature which surrounded Leadville and was a member of the “Woodcraft” society in which women “were inducted into the mysteries of the forest and explored the secrets of the woodland.”[17]   Besides its outdoor escapades the Woodcraft organization was a social welfare society, which provided benefits and social events for its members.  The Bloomfields were also frequent visitors of Denver during their time in Leadville.[18]

Sadly, tragedy struck on February 24, 1905 and Jesse Bloomfield was killed in a mining accident.  This excerpt from the Herald Democrat describes the tragedy which occurred when attempting to set up some dynamite for a blast.

 

“Either he missed his footing or stepping too close, the ground gave way under him, and in an instant he pitched through the small aperture which widened with the weight of his body and a great mass of earth and boulders tumbled through after him into the lower slope…  Bloomfield was caught and smothered under the weight, boulders crushing in the pit of the stomach and inflicting several bruises on the body.  The head was uncovered by the earth and rocks but the breath was crushed out of him.”[19]

Bloomfield left behind a widow and a young daughter.  Bloomfield’s funeral was well attended by Leadville society.[20]   It appears Mrs. Bloomfield and her daughter Hannah Belle, decided to leave Leadville after her husband’s death and settled in Denver.[21]   The Bloomfield’s lives represent the vibrant society of Leadville, but also the more dangerous aspects of a career invested in mining. Jesse Bloomfield is buried in Leadville’s Hebrew Cemetery.