Death Of Calvin Bliss

Another of tlie early pioneers of this city uní county lias passed over the great river of Death, and will be seen among us no longer. Calvin Illiss, who came to this city in 1S34, and who luid been a continuóos resident ever since, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Alva T. Hill, on Saturday, having reached the age of 84. ïlie fullowing brief aocount of his life is aken from the Daily Times of Mouda'y: Mr. l!üss had a busy life, and to his industrions habits he owed hia success. He was bom at WhitestownN. Y., January 22, 1813, and was tl-.e son of Lieut. Nathan l!ü.s. who served nnder Gen. Washington in the revolutionary ■nar. At an early age he was apprenticed to a jeweler, at a time when the trade reqnired a workman to be able to make a watch and alsb he an engraver. After a time lie went to Palmyra, N. Y., where he finished his trade with Elihu Durfee, and in 1824 he started west, settlingin Ann Arbor, where lie started the first jewelry store. Gradually he expanded the venture until he owned alarge establishment, doing a general business in groceries, bools and shoes, dry goods, etc. He amassed a confortable fortune, but the panic of 1827 swept away his entire business and bis creditors reduced him to a state of poverty. Undaunted by business reverses, Bliss started again at the jewelry business and built up a lucrativa business, which he continued unlil 1890, when he retired. Mr. Bliss was a staunch abolitionist, and was one of the agents for the famous underground railway, which helped the slaves to escape into Canada. He was a charter meinber of the Ann Arbor Congregational church, which was founded in 1847, and receutly attended i te golden anniversary. In 1857, Mr. Bliss married Esther D. Billings, of Ann Arbor, and they had eight childreu, four of whom survive him. They are: Hale Bliss, of Chicago ; Munson W. Bliss, of Kansas City ; Mrs. Archibald Johnson, of St. Paul, and Mrs. A. T. Hill, of Detroit. The funeral was held at 11 o'clock Tuesday morning in Detroit, Kev. J. W. Bradshaw, of this city, officiating, and the remains were brought to Ann Arbor at 1 :55 Tuesday afternoon for interinent in Forest Hill cemetery.