Emeline Bliss

As printed in 1898

EMELINE BLISS, of Northfield Center. — In a work of this character the pioneers deserve more ' than passing mention. To those sturdy men and women of a time now historical the present owes a debt of gratitude which is only augmented by the increase of years, a debt of whose significance future generations will be prepared to more adequately estimate. To the life work and influence of the venerable lady whose name heads this sketch the community of Northfield Center is inestimably indebted. Here her whole life has been passed, and the good she has done will live after her. Her work of love in the community will form an imperishable monument to her memory.

Emeline Palmer was born at Windsor. Conn., April 5, 1815, daughter of Hezekiah H. and Abagail (Taylor) Palmer, who were the original pioneers of Northfield Center, building the first log cabin there in 1832. Hezekiah Palmer was born in Windsor, Hartford county. Conn., January 19, 1781, was married May 29, 1811, to Abigail Taylor, who was born in Buckland, Mass., January \2, 1792. To them were born eight children, viz: Julia A., Emeline, Abigail T., William L., Horace H., Henry T., and two who died in infancy. The Palmers are of old Connecticut stock, who came over in the Mayflower, some were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Palmer first came to Ohio in 1822, locating at Willoughby. They were six weeks in making the journey in a large covered wagon drawn by two yoke of cattle and a horse. After a few years the family returned to their native town and state. In 1 831 Mr. Palmer came again to Ohio, purchasing 160 acres at the center of Northfield. Returning, he brought out his family in June, 1832. He built the first log house at the center of Northfield, in the woods, which in a few years was replaced by the frame house. Here the parents spent the remainder of their lives. Mrs. Palmer was a most exemplary woman, patiently enduring the labors and privations of pioneer life. She was truly a helpmeet for her husband. At sixteen years of age she united with the Baptist church, and for sixty-eight years was true to the church of her early choice. Mr. Palmer lived and died an honored and worthy citizen, upright in all his dealings, obliging and courteous to all.

Miss Emeline Palmer, the second child and daughter, was married in a log house at Northfield May 9, 1839, to Ambrose Williams Bliss, who was born December 6, 1806, at Jericho, Vt., a son of Timothy and Anne (Campbell) Bliss. Ambrose W. Bliss received a common-school education in his native state and learned the trades of millwright and carpenter. He came to Ohio in the fall of 1833 and for some years he worked at these trades in Cleveland, being engaged for some time as a foreman on the public works in Cleveland harbor and Black river. Previous to his marriage in 1839 he bought thirty acres of partially cleared land a half mile south of Northfield Center, where he resided for a few years. He and his brother, Lucien, had previously bought I 50 acres a mile west of the Center, which Lucien improved. In 1837 Ambrose W. bought 165 acres at what is now Northfield Center. Of this tract but a few acres had been cleared. He completed the task of clearing, and, about 1843, erected the present substantial homestead. This was the first large two-story frame house in Northfield and is still standing, a commodious and pleasant residence. Mr. Bliss was largely engaged in contracting and mechanical pursuits. He built many of the acqueducts and locks on the Ohio canal, also trestles and bridges, beside many buildings of a substantial character, having been engaged in nearly all the works of importance in his vicinity. In the true sense of the term, Ambrose W. Bliss was a self-made man. Through his own sturdy efforts and the assistance of his faithful wife, prosperity came, and at the time of his death he owned 240 acres of finely improved farming lands. In his political faith Mr. Bliss was an old-line whig, and a warm Union man, and was one of the original republicans of his county. By his upright manner of living he received the honors of his community and held, in his township, the offices of justice of the peace and township trustee. He also served the county six years as commissioner — from 1854 to 1860 — and was one of the directors of the Cleveland, Zanesville & Cincinnati (now C, A. & C. road). Mr. Bliss was an ardent friend of religion, and was a life member of the American Bible society. He was a well-read man, taking a lively interest in the affairs of the day. His excellent judgment in men's affairs, coupled with his unquestioned integrity, gave him a high place in the community of which he was so valued a member. The children of this family were Ellen, Lorin, Horace and George. Horace was a soldier in the Civil war, a private in company C, One Hundred and Fifteenth regiment Ohio volunteer infantry, and died February 20, 1863, of disease contracted in the service. Though quite young at the time of his enlistment, and of frail physique, his high patriotism impelled him to offer his services to his country, and against the wishes of his parents he heroically went to meet an untimely death. The daughter, Ellen Bliss, remains at home to care for her mother in her declining years. Miss Bliss is a lady of marked intelligence, refinement and grace, and is possessed of fine literary tastes. She acted as historian for the Western Reserve Historical society in the preparation of the work on "Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve." The family is very properly one of the most respected in the county. Mrs. Bliss, the venerable subject of this memoir, although now past the allotted three score and ten, possesses even excellent memory and vision; her mental faculties are unimpaired. She is one of the few remaining pioneers of the Western Reserve who have seen all this wonderful advance in the condition of the wilderness of her childhood, and her reminiscences of former times are interesting and valuable.

A brief glance at the history of the Bliss family will be interesting. This family is of old and noble Norman stock, and anciently possessed a coat of arms. The first of the name of whom record has been retained was Thomas Bliss, of Belstone parish, in the county of Devonshire, England, born about 1550. He was a wealthy land owner of the sect of the Puritans and was mercilessly subjected to all the severity of the persecution against that austere sect. He was the father of six children, of whom Thomas, of the second generation, was the founder of the Northfield family. Thomas was born at Belstone parish in 1580, and married a Miss Margaret Lawrence. The continued restrictions against the Puritans drove Thomas and his family to America in the autumn of 1635. They landed at Plymouth and temporarily located at Braintree, Mass., but later moved to Hartford, Conn., where he died in 1640. Thomas was the father of ten children, and has one grandson. Ebenezer Parsons was the first white child born at Northampton. Mass. He was born May i, 1655, and was killed by the Indians at Northfield, September 2, 1675. Mary, daughter of

Thomas Bliss, was this boy's mother. She was charged with witchcraft by envious neighbors, sent to Boston for trial, but was acquitted.

John, son of Thomas and Margaret Bliss, was born at Hartford, Conn., about 1640; was married at Springfield, Mass., October 7, 1667, to Patience, daughter of Henry and Ulalia Burt, of that place, and died at Longmeadow, Mass., September 10, 1702. Patience was born August 18, 1645, and died October 25,

Nathaniel, son of John and Patience Bliss, was born at Springfield, Mass., January 26, 1671, and died at Lebanon, Conn., in 1751. He married Mary Wright in Springfield, February 3, 1697.

Henry, of Lebanon (now Columbia), Conn., son of Nathaniel and Mary Bliss, was born October 25, 1701, married Bethiah Spafford, of Lebanon, in 1725, and died August 28, 1761.

Pelatiah, of Lebanon, son of Henry and Bethiah Bliss, was born May 6, 1725, and married Hepzibah Goodwin June 19, 1744.

Timothy, of Essex, Vt., son of Pelatiah and Hepzibah Bliss, was born March 22, 1745, married Zerviah Williams, and died May 3, 1817. He was a member of the convention called in 1791 to act on the adoption of the constitution of the United States.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Ambrose Williams Bliss was the founder of the Northfield Center homestead.

(h of Streetsboro township. Portage county, Ohio, descends from an early pioneer of the county. Hezekiah Ellsworth, the original settler here of that name, was born in Massachusetts, at Windsor, where he grew to maturity, and May 22, 1 8 16, married Eunice Gibson, and the children were Henry F.; Rufus G., born January 17, 1818; Amy E., born July 3, 18 19; Annie- — deceased, aged thirteen years. May 19, 1836; Josephine Aura, born May 7, 1820. Hezekiah Ellsworth had fought in the war of 1812, and came to Ohio in 1829, making the journey with an ox team, and was forty days on the way, being obliged to cut the road part of the way through the woods. He first settled in Aurora, at Geauga lake, and lived there one year. He then bought ten acres of land in the woods in Streetsboro township, where the homestead now is. He cut the first tree on the place, which was very thickly covered with very heavy timber, and by degrees he cleared up a small space and built a log cabin. He worked hard, and finally developed a good farm of sixty acres. He lived to be eighty-eight years old and died on his homestead.

Henry F. Ellsworth, first saw the light in Windsor, Conn., and was about nine years of age when he came to Ohio with his parents. He was always a farmer, and had a good common-school education and possessed an excellent memory. He married Betsy Meech, who was born September 9, 1823, in Chippewa township, Wayne county, a daughter of Abel and Charity (Meek) Meech. Abel Meech was born in Connecticut and married there, and his children were Althea, Polly, Amos, William, Aaron, Sallie, John, Abel, Katie A., Eunice, Betsy, George, Charity and Hannah. Mr. Meech was one of the pioneers of Wayne county, was a substantial farmer and cleared his farm from the woods, building a log house before he built a frame house. He was a hard-working pioneer and much respected citizen, lived to be about eighty years old, and died on his farm.

After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth settled on the old Ellsworth farm — and by his thrift and industry Mr. Ellsworth added to it until he owned 265 acres of good land and was a substantial and prosperous farmer. His children were Alvira, Westley and Henry L. His politics was democratic. He was a hardworking, industrious man and made his property by his own labor, and built the present residence. He lived to be seventy-seven years old and died on his farm.

Henry L. Ellsworth, son of Henry F. and wife, was born June 21, 1859, received a common education and has always been a farmer. He was married March 17, 1895, in Hudson township, to Lillian Washburn, who was born August 25, 1866, in Boston township, a daughter of V. D. and Ellen (Kelly) Washburn. Mr. and Mrs. Washburn were the parents of two daughters — Lillian and Marion. Mr. Washburn served through the Civil war and was wounded in battle. Mr. Ellsworth is now living on the old homestead, is a practical farmer and an industrious man, straightforward and honorable. In politics he is a democrat. Mr. Ellsworth is a member of the Congregational church of Hudson, and fraternally he is a member of K. of P. of Hudson.

*w ' C. ECKERT, one of the leading

1 liverymen in Kent, is a native of

M..r Portage county, Ohio, and was born in Ravenna township March 2, 1862, a son of Abram and Olive (Reed) Eckert, the

Eckert family coming from Pennsylvania.

The father is a farmer by occupation, and, in conjunction, for many years, was also engaged in running a threshing machine. H. C. Eckert was about eight years of age, only, when his mother died. He was brought up on the farm and was educated in the public schools. He began the activities of life for himself by running a dray and transfer wagon in Kent, doing a general transfer business, which he continued some three years, and then for one year was engaged in the dairy or milk business. Later, he was in the employ of Levi Reed, in the livery business, for one year, and then engaged in the livery business on his personal account, which he has continued for about ten years and has one of the best appointed establishments in the city of Kent.

Mr. Eckert was married, in 1880, to Miss Eliza Ayliffe. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Eckert have been born three children, viz: Olive, Harry and Ruth. Mr. Eckert is a member of Achilles lodge, No. 378, K. of P., is greatly honored by his fellow-members and he and wife are among the most highly esteemed residents of Kent, where the business of Mr. Eckert, which is of a semi-public character, causes him to be widely known, and where his obliging disposition and courteous department have won for him hosts of personal friends.

As printed in A portrait and biographical record of Portage and Summit counties, Ohio (1898). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.