The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-05-28
]. NJ. BLOSSOM HAS
HAD VARIED CAREER

HAD VARIED jAhEEh
The city of Hood River and, perhaps
the state of Oregon has no more UNIQUE
character than J NJ. Blossom, WHIT
now, 63 years Of age, is filling out hli
life Of bachelorhOOd in a little hom,
here, after a varied career of clerk
school teacher, Law student, miner
farm hand, railroad surveyor. express
messenger, and ordinary 'hoboeing,
that has taken him over practically al
of the states Of the northwest and thI
Pacific coast. To the stranger jim
Blossom, as he is known by his friends
still presents the appearance Of 1
tramp. His regulation costume con
slsts Of a little cap. seemingly too
small for his mead, blue shirt, log
gers coat, corduroy or Oyeralls trOus
eTs, heavy broean shoes and socks Of
brilliant red and white stripes. Bu
when one engages in a conversation
with Jim Blossom he forgets his eccen
tricities of dress. The rough looking
ola man is found TO be student, will
an understanding not only of the topics
of the day, but versed in classical lit
erature and ready to discuss intelli
gently questions of science and philos
ophy. And the tales he can draw from
his personal experiences are interest
ing, when he can be persuaded to talE
Of them.
Mr.. Blossom was born in Fort
Wayne, Ind, March 20, 1851. When he
was but a year old his father jour
neyed across the plains by OK wagon
aud settled in Portland, where he en-.
gagged in business. The greater part
of my bOyhood days were spent in
Portland" says Mr.. Blossom. 81 at.
tended school there for about eight
years, part of the time at the old Port
land Academy and Female Seminary,
and part of the time at the only public
school at that time, called Free
| School.
"While not in school | clerked in
the store of f. j. Northrup. At the
| age Of II years | was taken out of
school by father, who went to Silver
| City, Ida, where he entered the mer-
camille business, aud where | assisted
him with his work. My father failed
in business and | got work in other
stores at different Idaho towns. About
this time my father decided that |
should be a lawyer and sent me to
of Logan, Shattuck & Killen as a
student and clerk. This lasted, how
ever, for only about a year, when !
was taken to Smith Hill, where my
father began a store on the line of the
railroad that was being constructed
from Portland to California. This was
in 1871 and II.
"When | became of age again went
to Portland, securing various jobs and
finally landing place as rodman,
bookkeeper, etc, at the office of city
surveyor, w. S. Chapman, an old
schoolmate. This job lasted for about
nine months.
'ln the summer of 1874 | secured
the position of school teacher of the
Columbia Slough district about six
miles from Portland and not far from
Vancouver. | rustled my own wood
and got $50 a month. | boarded
around with the patrons. The school
building was out in the woods, with not
house in sight. 1t was constructed
of logs. There was no chimney and
the smoke from my fires escaped
through the roof. 1t was very plainly
furnished, too, but fair number of
boys and girls received their rudiments
of learning there. | am proud to say
that never struck one a blow with
my hands nor a whip, but punished the
children by scolding or keeping in, an
unusual method for those days. The
worst boy in school shed tears, when |
left. They may have been tears of
joy, but he wept just the same. had
but few visitors. County school super
intendent, Rev. T. l.. Eliot, came out
to see US once. A little squirrel came
into the school house the same day.
However, many atfectionate mosqui-
toes came to see US and stung the bare
legs and feet of my pupils.
After his experience as teacher
ended, Mr. Blossom drifted to Marsh
field and thence to San Francisco, where
for two years he was office boy and
clerk of Judge Blake, who presided
over the municipal court of the city
and county of San Francisco. Judge
Blake gave Mr.. Blossom a testimonial.
at the time he left the firm after about
two years service, which he later filed
with the supreme court when he sought
admission to the Oregon bar. When
MIR. Blossom was admitted to the bar,
he was sworn in by p. II. Darcy, at
that time clerk of the court.
81 had such small financial backing, "
says Mr.. Blossom, "when | began to
practice law that | soon had to quit.
struck out for eastern Oregon, which
was talked of very much at the time as
land Of opportunity"
After various experiences as a men,
ber of railroad surveying parties, pros
pector and express agent, he was ad-
mitted to the practice of law in Wash
ington. This, however, did not last
long. He drifted to The Dalleg, where
he was engaged with Charles Rawson
and r. H. Weber on their nursery. He
later came to Hood River, working for
ranchers and at brick factory. He
| finally secured homestead in the
| Mount Hood district. The property
was sold several years ago, returning
| to Mr.. Blossom a neat sum of money.
The competency will keep him comfort.
able to ripe old age. He declares
that he is on the retired list, but the
greater portion of his time is spent in
reading.