The New England neighborhood was terribly saddened last week when word came from Omaha of the death of a very good friend and neighbor, Mr. Blum. He has been a resident of this neighborhood for twenty-nine years and has therefore won a large circle of friends. He had a kind word for all whom he came in contact with. He was a kind and loving father as well as a good husband. And now that he has departed from this neighborhood we know that he has gone to that Heavenly home above where there will be no more suffering. Mathias Blum was born January 12, 1865 at Reichenbach Baden, Germany, and died June 14, 1926, at Omaha, Nebr., at the age of 61 years, 5 months and 1 day. He was reared in the Lutheran church coming to American in 1889, he settled in Washington county, Nebr., and became acquainted with the Evangelical church, was converted and united with the church and remained a faithful member unto the end of his earthly career. In the year 1897, on the 17th day of March he was married to Minnie Kruger and this happy union was blessed with five children, three sons and two daughters, one daughter having preceded him to the better home above. This spring his health began to fail and after several weeks of treatment by local physicians without any results he went to the Nicholas Senn hospital in Omaha where he hoped to be restored to normal health but after three weeks spent there and everything possible was done for him he passed away quietly at 7 o’clock Monday evening, June 14th. He bore his suffering with true Christian fortitude. Acute Bright’s disease with other ailments caused his seeming untimely end. His body was brought home to his family Tuesday. His faithful wife, three sons and one daughter and little grandson mourn his departure. Many relatives and friends look forward to a happy reunion in the spiritual world. Short services were held at the home Thursday afternoon after which Rev. G. H. Henkin conducted the services at 2 o’clock at the Telbasta church. He was laid to rest in the Telbasta cemetery.

#2-Tribune 24 June 1926

Mathias Blum was born at Raechen Baden, Germany, January 12, 1865. He departed this life June 14, 1926, being 61 years, five months and two days of age. He came to America in 1889. He was married March 17, 1897, to Miss Minnie Kruger moving to a farm six miles west of Herman where they have since resided. Mr. Blum had been ailing for the past two or three months and he last three weeks he had been in the Nicholas Senn hospital at Omaha. He is survived by his wife and four children, Oscar, Eddie and Henry, who are all at home and a daughter, Mrs. Martha Mengedoht, and one grandson. The funeral was held Thursday afternoon at one o’clock at the family home and at two o’clock at the Telbasta church, the services being conducted by Rev. Hampton of Telbasta. Interment was in the Telbasta cemetery. Mr. Blum was a kind and loving husband and father and will be missed by all who knew him.

#3-Blum Mathias

Died 14 June 1926

Burial in Telbasta cemetery

Published in Pilot on 23 June 1926

Mathias Blum, who lived on a farm six miles west of Herman, died Monday, June 14, at the Nicholas Senn hospital of Omaha, where he had been for just a few days. Everything had been done for him that could be done, he having undergone two operations, neither one being successful. He was born at Raechen, Baden, Germany, January 12, 1865. He came to America in 1889 and settled in Washington county, Nebr. He was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Kruger, March 17, 1897.To this union five children were born,one died in infancy. He leaves to mourn his loss his wife, one daughter, Martha, three sons, Oscar, Eddie and Henry, and one grandchild, also many friends and neighbors who loved and respected him. The funeral was held at the home at 1 o'clock Thursday afternoon and 2 o'clock at the Telbasta church. He was laid to rest in the Telbasta cemetery.

Note: Buried in Telbasta Cemetery Sect 2 Lot 18.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~