H.S. BLOSSOM, of the firm of Madison & Blossom, merchants, Bradford, was born in Cayuga County, N.'Y., February 13, 1841, a son of Erastus and Elizabeth (Gartner) Blossom, natives of New York, former of Scotch-Irish and latter of Dutch descent. He remained at home until eighteen years old, when he bought his time of his father, and, choosing a sea-faring life, obtained a situation as cabin boy, from which, by merit, he rose until he became master of a vessel. He sailed both the ocean and the lakes, and when he left sailing he began farming in Linn county, Mo., but on the breaking out of the oil excitement at Titusville he removed to that section, where he worked at wells and also built oil derricks for a company, later becoming its manager. In 1880 he was employed by Bennett & Quick to superintend their wells in McKean county and remained with them until 1888, when he became associated with L.O. Madison in the grocery business at Bradford.
Mr. Blossom was married in 1868, at Hawley, Wayne Co., Penn., to Miss Fannie M. Lord, and they have one child. Sarah Ellen.
The wife of Mr. Blossom is the daughter of Solomon Zolotus and Sarah (Mulford) Lord, the latter deceased and tinformer now residing at the home of Mr. Blossom, and ninety-one years of age. Mr. Lord is a native of New York State and Mrs. Lord was born at Southampton, Long Island. Mrs. Blossom is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
In politics Mr. Blossom is a Republican. He is a Master Mason.
