The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-07-27
DEATH OF MIR. LEVY. BLUM
Member Of Salem'S Well Known Publish
ing Firm, [. V & E. 7, Blum.
THE OLDEST EDITOR IN TIE STATE.

| Passed Away at the Ripe Old Age ol
81 Years-SOmething About Hi'
Life-Entered the Printing Busi
ness lin 1927 and Set Type on Sa
Iam's First Paper.
Another of Salem's landmarks
has passed away.
Mr.. Levi V. Bum, the oldest news
paper man in the State and member
of the well-known publishing firm OF
L. V. & e. t. Blum. died peacefully
at his home at $3.50 p. NJ. July 10th:
aged 81 years.
The deceased had been in declining
health for several years, but his last
serious illness only dated back about
two weeks.
He appeared to be cheerful through
all of his illness and was satisfied of
late years with any and everything.
He expressed a Willingness to die at
any time.
L. V. Blum was born in Salem on
May 20, 1912. In 1927 he entered the
printing office which was established
that year by his father, the late John
w. btSlOCS JJD WOi IN ilt W u NtNi
on the first issue of the well-knOwn
Blums' Farmers and Planters Alma
nae, the first issue Of which appeared
in 1927 as small 3G-page pamphlet.
In 1929 Mr.. Blum began work and
set type on the first issue Of Salem's
first paper-the Weekly Gleaner-ed-
tied and printed by II. S. Noble, of
Watertown, New York, and owned by
J. c. Blum. After few years Noble
left Salem and went South. The
name of the paper was changed sever
al times the Scrap-Book, Farmers
Reporter, Weekly Chronicle, Carolina
Gazette and last the Peoples Press.
After the son became o. age he aSso-
ciated himself with his father in the
publication of the paper and almanac,
the ffrm-name being Blum & Son At
ter the fathers death the business was
continued by L. V. Blum for several
years. The next change made was
the admission of the younger son. F..
T. Blum, to an interest in the bust
ness. The latter is still living and,
though seventy odd years of age, is
very active.
The publication of the almanac and
paper was continued by the two
brothers until about two years ago
when they disposed of their entire
printing business to two of their em-
ployees-Messrs G. E. Crist and Geo.
Keehln.
For several years much of the edi-
torial that appeared in Tue Press was
not written, but set up from the case
by the senior brother He read proof
with great care and it was Il rare
thing that an error escaped his eye.
He said to George Walter Sites. while
the latter was doing editorial work on
the paper, that he had four rules for
reading proof. The first was geLer-
al lOok-over: second, for errors; third,
in mechanical way; fourth. critical.
Mr.. Blum was always opposed to
anything of ali abusive nature ap-
pearing in the columns of his paper.
He was an old time Wing in politics,
but never took an active part in any
of the campaigns except in 1859 when
Leach and Scales were the opposing
candidates for Congress.
During the war his paper often APP
peared with only six columns Of read
ing matter-a half sheet. Several is
sues were also missed, one of the num-
Der being the week that Stoneman's
raiders passed through this section.
1t was also court week. but when the
news came that StOneman and his
men were coming through the presid-
ing Judge told jurors, witnesses and
everybody to go home.
The deceased was always of retir-
ing disposition. 1t. was seldom that
he left his place of business. OF late
years he visited his farm few miles
in the country quibe frequently. His
visits even to Winston were very few.
1t has been stated that he never rode
on railroad train but once and that
was in his younger days when he took
trip to Washington City. where he
worked for a short time on the old
National Intelligencer, morning
daily which was then set up and ed
tied by candle light.