The Blum brothers, Alphonse and Arthur, also probably German Jews by way of Ireland, were pioneers in present-day Hartswater, then Phokwane in Bechuanaland. Alphonse Blum passed away in late December 1896. He was murdered after being captured in the Langeberg rebellion. Arthur was a field-cornet. The rebellion was triggered by the killing of cattle in order to stem the spread of Rinderpest.

 

From his estate records, we learn that their business was called Blum Brothers. The earliest records related to Alphonse date back to a case in 1879. Arthur, who appears to have been a military man, arrived in the area via Clanwilliam (archival references from 1878 and 1879 exist), and by 1881, he was involved in an incident in Kenhart involving Jameson and Company. This was likely the same Jameson who led the failed raid on the ZAR, which triggered the Second Anglo-Boer War. In 1887, Arthur married Martha Smith in Kuruman. His occupation is listed as police inspector. Martha was presumably not Jewish.

 

According to his death certificate, Alphonse was born in Dublin to his parents, Gobert and Wilhelmina. Alphonse, a trader and farmer, was married with four children, Gobert, Mila, Charles, and Leve. His wife, Blanche Bora Marcelis, was not Jewish.