What didn't D. C. Bloomer do? He was a lawyer, Postmaster in Seneca Falls, NY, newspaper editor, member of the Council Bluffs Board of Education, Library Board, Receiver of public moneys, Alderman, Mayor, President of the Pottawattamie County Bar Association, charter member of the International Order of Odd Fellows, real estate and land agent, member of the Pottawattamie County Agricultural Society, Womens Suffrage Society, senior warden at St. Paul's Episcopal Church and helped form the Republican Party in Western Iowa.
Dexter Chamberlain Bloomer was born July 4, 1816 in Scipio, NY. He began studying the law in 1836 and in 1840 married Amelia M Jenks.
They lived in Seneca Falls, NY where Dexter was editor of Seneca County Courier and was Postmaster from 1849 to 1853.
In 1853 the couple moved to Mount Vernon, Ohio, where they lived for two years before moving to Council Bluffs , Iowa in 1855.
Dexter immediately became a moving force in Council Bluffs, especially during his time on the school board when seven school buildings were built, Bloomer School being named in his honor. Dexter was also instrumental in establishing the Free Public Library.
He was a prolific writer, an example being the "History of Pottawattamie County" which appeared in the Annals of Iowa.
A quote from the Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa sums up Dexter Bloomer: "As an evidence that he has a fine, large brain, it can be said that he has been as efficient in his business relations as in the legal and literary."
Dexter and Amelia celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1890. Amelia passed away in December of 1894 and a year later Dexter published the "Life and writings of Amelia Bloomer".
In February 1900, Dexter was on a sleigh ride in the country when he was thrown from the cutter. He never fully recovered from the fall and passed away a week later on February 24, 1900. He is buried next to Amelia in Fairview Cemetery.
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