Bloomfield H. Minch

Bloomfield Holmes Minch
Born	Hopewell Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	June 24, 1929(1929-06-24) (aged 64)
Occupation(s)	Businessman, politician
Years active	1884–1929
Known for	President of the New Jersey Senate (1907), business leadership in Bridgeton, New Jersey

Bloomfield Holmes Minch (October 10, 1864 – June 24, 1929) was a prominent New Jersey businessman and political figure.

Early life

Born on October 10, 1864, in a farmstead located in Hopewell Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey, Minch was the son of farmer Francis B. Minch and Elizabeth H. Tice. He completed his early education locally before graduating from the South Jersey Institute in 1883. The following year, he finished a program at Bryant & Stratton's Business College in Philadelphia.

Business career

In November 1884, Minch joined forces with William O. Garrison to establish Garrison & Minch in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Their enterprise focused on farm machinery sales, agricultural products, and fertilizer production, employing between 50 and 100 workers. Minch also played a key role as incorporator and treasurer of the Cumberland Construction Company, which specialized in building bridges and wharfs, with Garrison serving as president. Furthermore, he contributed to founding the Cumberland Trust Company of Bridgeton and held positions as incorporator and director for both the State Mutual Life Insurance Company and the Real Estate Loan and Trust Company based in Camden.

Advancing in the banking sector, Minch became vice-president of the Bridgeton National Bank in 1903 and subsequently took on the presidency. His leadership extended to several other organizations where he served as president: Bridgeton Gas Light Company, Cumberland Building and Loan Association, Parker Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company, and North Bridgeton Land Company.

Political career

Minch secured election to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1894 as a Republican representing Cumberland County, serving from 1895 through 1897. Later, he was elected to the New Jersey Senate in 1901 for Cumberland County and held office continuously from 1902 until 1910. During his tenure, he was elected President of the Senate in 1907.

He was instrumental in advancing conservation laws beginning in 1902 that established governing bodies tasked with protecting state timberlands and watersheds. He also authored legislation mandating firebreaks along railroad tracks to protect forested areas. As Chairman of the Committee on Corporations, Minch influenced corporate law reforms and developed charter legislation for second-class cities with populations under 20,000—efforts that contributed to the later adoption of the Commission form of municipal government under the Walsh Act.

At the 1904 State Republican Convention, Minch nominated Edward C. Stokes for governor. He also participated as a delegate at the 1904 Republican National Convention and served as an alternate delegate in 1916. In 1910, he received an appointment to the State Board of Equalization of Taxes for a term lasting until 1915.

During World War I, Minch fulfilled duties as U.S. fuel administrator for Cumberland and Salem Counties while also leading multiple Liberty Loan drives. At the time of his passing, he was serving on the State Board of Conservation and Development.

Personal life and death

Minch was deeply involved in fraternal organizations; he served as master of his local Freemason lodge and high priest within the local Royal Arch Masonry. He was affiliated with several Masonic bodies including the Knights Templar, Scottish Rite, and Shriners. Additionally, he belonged to societies such as the Odd Fellows, Elks, the Union League of Philadelphia, and was a member of the Seaview Golf Club. His religious affiliation was with the First Presbyterian Church.

In 1886, Minch married Mary E. Rebeau from Camden, with whom he had two children: Robert F. and Aleta E. Following Mary’s death in 1896, he remarried in 1906 to Marion Kenney of Somerville.

Minch passed away due to heart disease at his residence on June 24, 1929. He was laid to rest at the Broad Street Church Cemetery located in Bridgeton.

External links

• The Political Graveyard