C. C. Bliss, M.D.
C. C. Bliss, M. D., mayor of Delphos is one of Allen County's most prominent citizens and comes from a family which has been connected with the important event in this section of the country for more than a half century. Dr. Bliss was born in Lima, Allen County, Ohio, and is a son of Col. Lester and Aldulia (Curtis) Bliss, grandson of Dr. David Bliss and great-grandson of Samuel Bliss, a patriot of Revolutionary fame whose ancestry was both English and Dutch. Early records make Samuel Bliss a man of note in peace as well as in war.
Dr. David Bliss was born in Vermont and married Mary Van Trees, who came from an old Holland family that became established in New York at an early date. Dr. David Bliss was one of the pioneer physicians of Sparta, Morrow County, Ohio, and there he practiced his profession until his death in 1846, at the age of 60 years. He was a man of local prominence outside his profession, and served as a justice of the peace for very any years. The children of Dr. David Bliss and wife were: Morgan L., a physician; and Maria, Mason, Mahala, Porter, Lester and Mary A., who have passed off the scene of life's activities. In Col. Lester Bliss, the father of our subject, Ohio possessed a man of intellectual versatility, one who attained wide repute as a lawyer, soldier and statesman. The sixth child of his parents' family, his birth took place at Cooperstown, New York, August 10, 1817. His education was the most liberal that the time and locality afforded, his literary training being secured at Gambier, in Knox County, Ohio, and at Granville, in Licking County. At an early age he turned his attention to the study of the law, pursuing his studies under Hon. Henry B. Curtis, a leading attorney. While a resident of Lima, he was also interested for a time in a store and foundry business.
When Colonel Bliss removed to Delphos, he transferred his business to his new location and it was continued here for a number of years under he firm name of Bliss & Hover, his partner being a connection through his first marriage. In 1850 Colonel Bliss was elected the first mayor of Delphos and administered the affairs of the town to its benefit and became so generally popular with his fellow-citizens that in 1852 he was elected to the Legislature under the new State constitution. In 1853 he was nominated for the office of Lieutenant- Governor of Ohio, but before the final contest came he withdrew his name in the interest of party concord. It was during this memorable campaign that he lost his wife, who was the mother of our subject, a lady to whom he was devotedly attached and one upon whom he greatly depended for advice and counsel. Her death had much to with his loss of interest in political advancement.
Later Colonel Bliss accepted the position of superintendent of the Ohio & Indiana Railroad now a part of the Pennsylvania system, which position he filled for several years. In 1859 he disposed of his business a Delphos and moved upon a farm west of the city, on which he lived for some years, subsequently trading it for a beautiful property of 312 acres situated along the Auglaize River, some five miles south and east of Delphos, which he secured while at home on furlough fom his duties as an officer in the Civil War.
When the 118th Regiment, Ohio Vol. Inf., was recruited in 1862, Colonel Bliss was delegated to visit Governor David Tod in order to make arrangements for its efficiency in the field and the Governor immediately appointed Colonel Bliss as quartermaster, with rank of major. One year later he was commissioned lieutenant- colonel and with the regiment was sent to serve with General Burnside in the East. He took part in the siege of Knoxville and in many other engagements of a more or less serious character and continued in the service until his health, caused by army hardships, compelled him to resign in 1863. He returned to the quietude of his country home and resided there in retirement until his death in 1898.
Colonel Bliss was thrice married: first, in 1844, to Blinda Hover, who was a daughter of Emanuel and Caroline (Adgate) Hover, of Shawnee Township, Allen County. At her death in 1847, Mrs. Bliss left two sons, Viz.: David M., of Lima, who is associated with the Western & Southern Life Insurance Company; and Lester LeGrande, a veteran of the Civil War, who died at Fort Scott, Kansas. Colonel Bliss married second, Mrs. Aldulia Kennedy, who was a daughter of William Curtis and the widow of a prominent early attorney of Lima. The most estimable, beloved and admired lady passed away as above stated, leaving an only child, C. C. Bliss, of this record. The third marriage of Colonel Bliss was to a sister of his first wife. Mrs. Bliss still resides at Delphos. For many years Colonel Bliss was very active in the Methodist Episcopal Church and filled the greater number of the offices in the local church at Delphos. In political sentiment he began his political career as a Democrat; at the opening of the war he became identified with the party known as War Democrats; but in later years he became affiliated with the Republican party. He was a very prominent member of the G. A. R. Post at Delphos and, as he would have chosen, his funeral was conducted with military honors. C. C. Bliss came to Delphos in boyhood and first attended the public schools here and enjoyed still better advantages at Mount Vernon, in Knox County. Determining to become a physician, he studied and worked for three years under Dr. H. P. Wagner, of Delphos, as perceptor and in 1874 was graduated from the Bellevue Hospital, Medical College, of New York. His preceptor was a graduate of the same college, had enjoyed post-graduate work in Europe, was one of the censors of the Toledo Medical College, and came to what is now Delphos in 1847, settling in what was then known as " Section 10." After the death of Dr. Wagner, Dr. Bliss opened an office of his own and continued in practice for four years and then was interested in a paper mill which he purchased and operated for a time. Later he resumed practice for a short period, after which he engaged for some years in farming. In February, 1883, he again took up professional work and also entered into a drug business with J. W. Evans.
Dr. Bliss has always been active in politics and in 1899 he was elected, on the Republican ticket, mayor of Delphos. After serving two years in this position, he was succeeded by G. W. Wilson for one year, was then re-elected in 1902 and is still the incumbent. In his official life he has ever shown that he has the best interests of the community at heart and has demonstrated that he is a true friend of education, culture and progress.
Dr. Bliss was married to Sophronia O. Herrick, who was born at Mount Gilead, Ohio, and is a daughter of Simeon and Tirza (Nichols) Herrick. Fraternally Dr. Bliss is a Mason of very high degree and has filled many official positions. He is a director of the Commercial Bank at Delphos and secretary of the Delphos Building and Loan Association.