JAMES FAMILY FOLKLORE

James Family Folklore

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His Name, Not His Town

STORY TAKEN FROM A WEB SITE
APPARENTLY SUBMITTED BY DOUG BLOOMFIELD
OF RAMAH, NEW MEXICO
     In 1882, John Bloomfield Jr. was living in Fruitland, N.M., and had been going east to the town of Porter and Hammond to assist them in getting homes built and to help colonize that area. The ward or branch at Hammond had made some kind of an agreement with the Latter-day Saint church in Salt Lake City to borrow some money to complete a canal to irrigate their land. The president of the stake and officials of the Hammond ward were in a controversy with the church leaders concerning the payment of the debt and the need for more capital to finish the canal. On May 17, 1882, the people of Porter and Hammond together voted in a public meeting to change the name of these two places to the name of Bloomfield.
     The Stake President then went to John Bloomfield Jr. and asked him if he would come and live in the new town of Bloomfield and become the bishop of that ward. He declined this offer because, as he said: "You people are in controversy with the leaders of the Church, and it is your job to clear this controversy up. I do not want to ever be in a position where I find myself opposing the leadership of the church."
     So he declined the offer and did not move to Bloomfield, but the name Bloomfield still was kept as the name of the new town.
     For information on this offer, see the Aztec Industries -- Review December 6 & 13, 1973. We quote a short article from the section called the Bloomfield Banner:
     "The Village of Bloomfield, known as Porter till 1882, came about its name from an early pioneer to the San Juan County, John Bloomfield.
     "Mr. Bloomfield, who lived on his farm at Fruitland, spent much of his time in the village of Porter helping to settle the village and to establish the Saints Mormon Church in Bloomfield.
     "The villagers voted to change the name Porter to Bloomfield on May 17, 1882, in hopes of bringing Mr. Bloomfield and his family from their farm at Fruitland and settle here.
     "Mr. Bloomfield decided to remain on his farm but continued to give his assistance in settling the village and help the Mormon Church in its programs."

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INDEX OF STORIES

Strength of Samson
General Conference talk that relates a story of Philemon C. Merrill.

John Bloomfield Finds a Baby
While keeping guard at night over his pioneer company, John Bloomfield finds an infant in the wilderness lying near its dead mother.

His Name, Not His Town
Why John Bloomfield never lived in the town named after him.

A Heavy Fog
Cyrena Dustin writes about a miracle she experienced as a young woman.

Dinner Guest
A dinner guest sees Cyrena Dustin for the first time and declares he will marry her some day.

Hero on the River
A daring river rescue catches the eye of Lydia Ann Lake.

Lost Scissors
Expensive shears end up in the bottom of the river.

Killed by Innovation
Lumbermen in Mexico gather to watch Joseph Henry James and his boys send down the first log on a new chute.

Joe's Jokes
Joseph Henry James brings a sense of humor to the Mormon Colonies in Mexico.

Apache Raid
The Apaches attack in the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Expensive Lobster
A birthday party for George Heber James (Jr.) has a surprise ending.

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