Pflum, a former vaudeville performer who dabbled in painting on the side, as Lew Bloom, claimed the painting of Mary Lincoln had not yet been presented and done in secret at the bequest of Mrs. Lincoln by the painter Francis Carpenter. After the assassination of President Lincoln, Bloom claimed Mrs. Lincoln refused it and the painting was sold to a Philadelphia shipbuilder, Jacob G. Neafi. Bloom also claimed that after the death of Mrs. Neafie, Mr. Neafie gave the painting to Susan Bloom for her kindness and caring for Mrs. Neafie through her long illness.
Pflum, who had performed vaudeville and occasionally painted as Lew Bloom, insisted that Francis Carpenter had not yet exhibited the Mary Lincoln portrait at Mrs. Lincoln's bequest. After President Lincoln's assassination, Bloom claimed Mrs. Lincoln rejected it and the painting was sold to a Philadelphia shipbuilder named Jacob G. Neafi. Later, after Mrs. Neafie's death, Mr. Neafie gave the painting to Susan Bloom for her care during her illness.