James H. Bliss
Surnames: Bristow, Coffin, Deronso, Gleave, Houghton
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 231-232
JAMES H. BLISS has been a hard-working and upright man all his life, and whatever he has undertaken has been wrought with painstaking fidelity. At the very beginning of his young manhood he gave long and faithful service to the preservation of the National Union; and, while he played a humble part in the great war for liberty, it was the modest and heroic devotion to duty on his part and of millions like him that made this the golden age of the Republic. He is now somewhat advanced in life, but is still hale and hearty, and bears himself like a strong and vigorous man.
Mr. BLISS was born in Jefferson County, N.Y., Oct. 29, 1838, a son of James and Julia (COFFIN) BLISS, both natives of the State of New York. They were the parents of four children, two of whom are now living: James H. and Horace R., of Chicago. One of the deceased was named Julius. The father, who was a carpenter and cabinet maker, came to Roscoe, Ill., in the fall of 1853. Four years later he moved to Beloit, Wis., and engaged in cabinet making, and some years later he moved to Janesville and secured a position in the Northwestern shops, where he worked until a short time before his death, in 1871, at the age of fifty-six years. His wife survived him many years, and passed away in 1887. She was a Methodist. He was a soldier in the Union army, having enlisted as a member of Company E, 3d Wis. V.C., under command of Col. BRISTOW. The worst injury he received in the service was in a battle in Missouri. His father was born in England, and coming to this country settled in New York, where he died. Isaac COFFIN, the father of Julia COFFIN, was native to the soil of New York. He had four sons and four daughters.
James H. BLISS was reared to manhood in New York, where he attended the public schools, and acquired a substantial and useful education. At the breaking out of the Civil war he was quick to respond to the call for soldiers, and, enlisting in Company F, 13th Wis. V.I., served four years and three months, proving himself a loyal and gallant defender of the flag. He was a private the greater part of the time, but before the completion of his enlistment was appointed sergeant. When he had done with war and its horrors he returned to civil life, and for a time was engaged in building bridges. He had a freight transfer wagon in Janesville, and did a teaming business in that city for fifteen years, in 1875 buying the farm of ninety-three acres on which he is now living. Three years later he left the city, and locating his family on this farm, has since devoted himself to its cultivation. Though not large, it has proved exceedingly productive.
Mr. BLISS and Miss Louis GLEAVE, a daughter of James and Alice (HOUGHTON) GLEAVE, were married Aug. 9, 1868. They had four children: Philip R., Orville J., Jay H., and Alice O. Philip R. married Lulu E. DERONSO, and lives in Oregon; they have one daughter, Alice. None of the other children are married. Orville J. is an electrician in Chicago. Jay H. is studying pharmacy in Janesville. Mrs. BLISS died May 17, 1898, at the age of fifty-four years. She was a Methodist, and a lady of many admirable qualities. Mr. BLISS is a Mason, belonging to Western Star Lodge No. 14, A.F. & A.M., and Janesville Chapter, No. 5, R.A.M., and he is also a member of W. H. Sergeant Post, No. 20, G.A.R. Politically he is a Republican. He is an honest, hard-working man, loving quiet, and devoted to the farm on which he lives and the work before him.