From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 579-580.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


RICHARD BLUM

Richard Blum was born in the kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany, March 
31, 1829.  He was educated at Stutgard, and came to America in 1847.  
He had been a surgeon in full rank in the Prussian army and to any 
one who knows the severity of the examinations necessary to attain 
such position, no other proof of his medical skill is required.  
Along with many other young men of his time, Dr. Blum was in some way 
connected with the abortive revolution of 1848, and came to this 
country as a refugee.  He landed at New Orleans.  Some two years 
later, about 1850, he drifted to Wheeling.  He was very highly 
esteemed among the profession for his liberal culture and skill in 
medicine.  He was a good student and was regarded as among the very 
foremost in professional acquirements.  In 1865 he drafted and aided 
in the passage of the city's health ordinance, and was himself made 
the city's first health officer.  In this position he went vigorously 
to work to effect sanitary reforms, showing great intelligence and 
fearlessness in the discharge of his duty.  The council failing to 
adequately sustain him in the measures he proposed, he resigned the 
office.  In 1871 he read a paper on Sanitary Science before the State 
Medical society, with which he became connected at its first regular 
meeting.  In 1878 he left the city for the interior of the state, but 
returned in 1883 and resumed practice.  His health was impaired, 
however, and he never again did much practice.  He died August 29th, 
1884.  Dr. Blum seemed to prefer the study to the practice of 
medicine, and therefore never burdened himself with the latter.  He 
enjoyed, however, the confidence of the community, and numbered among 
his patrons very many of the best German families of the city.  


(Linda Fluharty)