Flora Vianna Rakestraw was born in Coalport the daughter of Elam and Mary Jane Noble-Rakestraw. The Rakestraw's were from Lancaster County, Pa. and were Quakers. Flora was one of eight children. Her siblings were Susan, George, John, Elam Wilmer, Mildred, Laura and Winfield Scott. Sometime after Flora's birth Mary Jane died and subsequently Elam left Clearfield and joined his sister Anna Downing Rakestraw and her husband Joseph Guernsey in the Boston, Mass. area. Elam died in 1906 in Upsonville, Susquehanna County, Pa.

This left Flora as an orphan. She is known to have lived with a Sikes and Swan families prior to landing with Mr. William T. Bloom and his second wife Eliza. William and Eliza would raise Flora as one of their own. She appears in the 1870 census as Flora Rakestraw and in the 1880 census as Flora Bloom. In 1877 William Bloom would gain custody of B. Frank Schoening and this is how Flora and Frank met. When Flora and Frank were married is a subject of speculation. Frank's Obit would indicate March of 1879, however a newspaper article in Sep of 1931 reports the 50th Wedding Anniversary. It is interesting to note how Flora weaved her families names into her own children's names. Flora endured many difficult years and as a result could be a little "Brash" and "Loving" at the same time. As her own flock was leaving the nest, Flora would take in two grandchildren Don Schoening and Della Mae Schoening and raise them. When asked her name Flora would reply "Flora Viana Rakestraw Sikes Swan Bloom Schoening" - This was to honor those that had help raise her. Flora's passing was a great loss for the family and the tight knit group would never be the same. But no matter what differences the family had, all agreed on their Love of Flora.