THE DANIEL BLISS Jr. FAMILY
Ringgold County, Iowa
Charles Edward BLISS was born August 24, 1861 in Creston, Union County, Iowa, the son of David BLISS Jr. and Clarissa
(PITKIN) BLISS. He was married in 1883 to Emma Edmonds BRENT (1863-1943), and the couple were the parents of five children:
Howard A. (1884-1966), Bertha May (1888-1958), Harrison Sovereign (1892-?), Elmer Brent (1900-1986),
and Alice Clarissa (1906-?).
Charles and his family resided in Lincoln Township of Ringgold County where he farmed and bred horses.
Charles died September 26, 1950, Riverside, California, and was interred in Platte Township of Union County, Iowa.
David BLISS, Jr. was born April 25, 1807 in Calais, Vermont, the son of David and Lucy (BLANDING) BLISS. He was married
first December 3, 1834, Marshfield, Vermont to Leonora PITKIN (1809-1853), the daughter of Honorable Stephen PITKIN
(1772-1834) and Damaris (GOODWIN) PITKIN (1774-1852). From this first marriage, David Jr. was the father of 10 children:
Dararis G. (1835-1903), Lucy B. (1837-1913), Stephen Pitkin (1838-1888), William Henry Harrison (1840-1905), Horace
(1842-1897), Leonora (1846-1936), Asenath (1848-1928), Orlando (1850-1854), and, Orphelia (1852-1933).
In the Spring of 1856, the BLISS family moved west, taking a tow boat from Mercer County, Pennsylvania, then up the
Mississippi River on a steam boat from St. Louis, Missouri, landing at Keokuk, Iowa. David hired teamsters to take the
family to Fairfield, where they stayed with Leonora's brother William PITKIN for a few months before proceeding by
covered wagon to Libertyville, Union County, Iowa, driving cattle, hogs, sheep along the way. They also brought along
a dog and a cat and hauled chickens in a coop on the back of the wagon.
Leonora (PITKIN) BLISS, David's first wife, died September 2, 1853, Jefferson County, Iowa. She was interred at Brethren
Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa.
David BLISS, Jr. married second on September 6, 1860 to Clarissa PITKIN, Leonora's sister. One child, Charles Edward
BLISS was born to David's second marriage.
Clarissa (PITKIN) BLISS was born March 12, 1829, Marshfield, Vermont, and died in Ringgold County, Iowa, March 19, 1906.
Prior to her marriage, Clarissa owned and operated a tailor shop.
Horace BLISS (1842-1897), son of Daniel BLISS Jr. and his first wife Leonora PITKIN, farmed in Lincoln Township of Ringgold
County, Iowa. He enlisted on September 17, 1861 as a Private, St. Joseph, Missouri, and served with Company C of the Missouri
Cavalry which was attached to the 13th Missouri Volunteers, also known as Berry's Battalion Cavalry. Due to illness, Horace
was honorably discharged and mustered out of service January 31, 1862. Shortly afterward, Horace went west, spending four years
in the mines of Nevada and California. According to family legend, Horace went west, hoping that the climate there would cure
his ague (malaria) contracted during his service during the Civil War. Failing to regain his health, he came back to Iowa in
1866, sailing from San Francisco to the Panama Isthmus. He rode a mule across Panama, then sailed to New York City.
Upon his return to Iowa, Horace farmed first in Union County, Iowa, then in 1874, moved to Lincoln Township of Ringgold
County where he continued to farm.
Horace married in 1869 to Mary Ellen DAY, and was the father of seven children: George Day (1870-1956), Leonora (1872-1876), Fredric
Charles (1875-1963), John Albert (1877-1941), Ralph Kenneth (1880-1972), Edith Clara (1887-1962), and Frank Horace (1891-
1980).
Horace made several trips to Colorado, still seeking to regain his health. During one of those trips he died in
Colorado Springs on March 8, 1897.
To contribute to Ringgold County family pages, contact
The County Coordinator.
Please include the word "Ringgold" in the subject line. Thank you.
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