David BLISS
Internet IGI
Pedigree Resource File
Ancestry World Tree
The following note comes from the Bliss family genealogy. "David Bliss, Jr. was one of the earliest settlers and most successful farmers of Union County, Iowa, arriving there with his family in the spring of 1856. The 1860 federal Census shows that his real estate was valued at $3000 and his personal property at $2427, making him one of the five wealthiest farmers in Platte Township at that time. He was an educated man and taught school in Platte Township in 1856. He was appointed Postmaster of Union City (a town in Union County that no longer exists) in 1865. An interesting account of the family's trip from Mercer County, Pennsylvania to Jefferson County, Iowa and finally to Union County has been preserved by his granddaughter, Miss Ruth Madden of Creston, Iowa. It was recorded in about 1922 from the recollections of Leonora (Bliss) Madden, one of Mr. Bliss' daughters. An unedited selection follows: "We came up the canal on a tow boat from Mercer County, Pennsylvania to Wheeling, West Virginia, all but Edd Bliss (Charles Edward, who) was born later, four brothers and five girls. We came on a steam boat to St. Louis and from there to Keokuk (Iowa) and staid over night. Father got teamsters to take us to Fairfield to Uncle William's (William Pitkin, brother of Leonora Pitkin). We staid there two or three months (then) moved to Libertyville. Our grandfather (David Bliss, Sr.) was buried there. We lived there three years and then moved here (Union Co.) in the spring of '56. (We) came in covered wagons. We drove cattle, hogs, and sheep and we also brought the dog and cat. We had the chickens on the back of a wagon. We had a log house 20 or 24 ft. Our house was on the farm where Harry Woorsley lives. It wasn't finished when we got here. It was the first house in Union county this side of Afton that had board floor and shingle roof. The glass was 8 in. wide 10 in. long, 6 above and 6 below. Two beds down stairs and four up stairs." " From Genealogy of the Bliss Family in America, Vol. 1:1860 Federal Census shows real estate valued at $3,000 & personalproperty at $2,427; one of five wealthiest farmers in Platte Townshipat that time.Postmaster of Union City in 1985. Earliest Settler of Union Co, Iowa. Farmer REFN: 1667
Family Search, Ancestral File, AFN: CFH2-PP
REFN: 1654 1860 census,Iowa,Union cnty, Platte twnsp. Confirmation and initiatory done 21 June 1992 Burried Brethren Cemetary, Des Moines Township,Jefferson County
REFN: 2564 According to her niece, Florence, both Damaris and James are burried in the Lennox Cemetary Lennox Cemetary. Reported to be a great beauty. IGI records show two other sets of ordinance dates: 1993 & 1994 in Oklahoma, and 1950, 1952 &1953 in Logan.
REFN: 2565 1860 census Iowa, Union cnty, Platte twnsp Confirmation and initiatory done 21 June 1992 IFALL Temple work originally done for Lenora but further research names second chil as Lucy Burried in Rose Hill Cemetary, Shenandoah, Iowa
REFN: 2566
REFN: 2567
REFN: 2568
REFN: 2569 Alt Birth Palce: Mercer, PA
REFN: 2570
REFN: 2571
REFN: 2572 1860 census,Iowa,Union cnty,Platte twnsp Confirmation and initiatory done 21 May 1992 Stella Reed's scrapbook, obituary of Tom Madden, lists Ophelia's children all residing in Creston, Platte township, Iowa. Only Myrtle was married. Burried in Grove Chapel Cemetery
He married Leonora Pitkin 12 Mar 1834 at marshfield, Vermont . Leonora Pitkin was born at Marshfield, Vermont 18 Feb 1809 daughter of Stephen Pitkin and Damaris Goodwin .
They were the parents of 9
children:
Demaris Goodwin Bliss
born 24 Jan 1835.
Lucy Blanding Bliss
born 26 Feb 1837.
Stephen Pitkin Bliss
born 12 Dec 1838.
William Henry Harrison Bliss
born 15 Aug 1840.
Horace Bliss
born 31 Jan 1842.
Lenora Bliss
born 28 Jul 1846.
Asenath Bliss
born 3 Jul 1848.
Orlando Bliss
born 11 Oct 1850.
Ophelia Bliss
born 27 Apr 1852.
David Bliss died 25 Sep 1872 at Union, Iowa .
Leonora Pitkin died 2 Sep 1853 at Jefferson, Iowa .