EDWARD P. BLISS, merchant, Bloomville, was born in Ledyard, Cayuga Co., N. Y., July 1, 1833. His father, Parley Bliss, was drowned in Cayuga Lake, June 29, 1834; his widowed mother, Mrs. Polly Bliss, came to Scipio Township, this county, in 1835. Here our subject grew to maturity, receiving his education in the school of the home district. At eighteen years of age he began life for himself as clerk in a dry goods store, an occupation he followed until he embarked in business on his own account in 1857. He carried on a store in Republic, Ohio, until 1859, when he located in Bloomville, and established a store, well known to all of the older inhabitants, in the old Hunsicker Block. In 1863 he purchased the hotel building opposite, in which he carried on the store in connection with the hotel for about ten years. In 1873, in partnership with John T. Reid, he built the Commercial Block in Bloomville. This block was the beginning of the improvements of the town, and is still one of the best business buildings in the place. Mr. Bliss at once located in the store which he still occupies in this block, and has here the oldest dry goods establishment as well as the oldest business house, carried on continuously by the same proprietor in Bloomville. He has a full line of dry goods, boots, shoes, Bats, caps, notions, etc., and has built up an extensive trade, which he continues to hold above all competitors. November 16, 1854, Mr. Bliss was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Krilley, who died September 12, 1873, leaving four children: Melvin O., Malcolm E., Willie H. and Ginnella. Mr. Bliss married, on second occasion, December 2, 1874, Miss Nancy E. Turner, who died April 1, 1875. He afterward married, June 7, 1877, Miss Eliza A. Andrews, a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Bliss is a lifelong Republican and takes an active interest in public affairs.


Trancribed by Bonnie Walsh.
WARNER, BEERS & CO., 1886
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, Part IV, p.732-733
BLOOM TOWNSHIP