Born at Union Springs, Cayuga, County, New York, July 29; 1826, where he spent his younger days. He moved to. Sheffield, Ohio, in1834. He was educated in Kingsville Academy and taught school in Ohio and Kentucky. He learned the mercantile trade with a business firm in Ashtabula; Ohio, in the early fifties. Mr. Bliss was married to Ruth A Seymour in Plymouth, Ohio, in the summer of 1853. To this union were born three children. The next year after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bliss located in Grant county, Wisconsin, where he engaged in business for a time, and then moved to Elliota, Minnesota, and resided there until 1864, when the family moved to Iowa Falls. Soon after coming to this city, he re-engaged in business and later formed a partnership with William Wilde under the firm title of Wilde & Bliss. Mr. Bliss was a member of the Fourteenth General Assembly of Iowa and was a power in county and state politics for many years. He possessed a strong personality and forceful character and was positive in his views on all public issues but at all times held principle above party fealty. He was a kind man and a friend to all in need. He was a shrewd and capable business man and liberal for public good and never refused to assist in any worthy cause. He was an esteemed member of the Masonic Lodge.