A picture of Robert Blum long graced the walls of the primitive log school house in Blumfield Township . It represented him kneeling on the ground , his Executioners ranged in front , and he in the act of tearing the folds from his eyes , and saying : " An honest brave man does not fear death , he glories in the thought of dying for his country . " This would later inspire many young men in Blumfield County to join the Union Army , including Richard Veenfliet and his older brother Fred . Specifically , men from Blumfield were inspired by Robert Blum to wipe out slavery as a national institution . Richard 's father , George F. Veenfliet , was one of the delegates to the 1860 Republican National Convention , which nominated Abraham Lincoln for president
1860 Republican National Convention
1860 Republican National Convention
Richard Veenfliet