William H. Blish

As printed in 1910

WILLIAM H. BLISH.

William H. Blish, whose long and loyal official services, whose business activity and integrity and whose high Christian character endeared him to all who knew him through the years of his residence in Henry county, was born at East Glastonbury, Connecticut, May 25, 181 2, and was a son of Colonel

Sylvester Blish, the founder of the family in Henry county. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade and at the age of twenty-five years he came to Illinois with the colony that was founded at Wethersfield, in 1837. He worked at his trade there to some extent and for several years lived on a farm west of the village, but afterward took up his above in the town and turned his attention to merchandising, conducting a store at the corner of Tenney and Church streets. About 1847 he was associated with his father in the building of a hotel just east of the store, and they conducted it for ten years, it being the only hotel in this section until after the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was built through Kewanee. It was the stopping place for the stage lines and the engineers of the railroad made it their headquarters for some time. Mr. Blish was also associated with other business interests, becoming connected, about 1855, with Zerah Chapin in building a gristmill, in which they conducted a large and profitable business until the failure of the wheat crops of 1860 and 1861. Later in company with Nathanial Mayhew Mr. Blish removed the mill to Neponset, Illinois, and as the venture there proved a losing one they sold out at a great sacrifice. Mr. Blish never allowed things to discourage him or to warp his kindly, genial nature, and his fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, called him again and again to public office, his official services covering forty years. He filled the position of county treasurer and acted as justice of the peace until he refused longer to hold the office. He was supervisor for several years, was chosen town collector year after year and for a quarter of a century acted as school treasurer and was town clerk for nearly as long a period. His office in the corner of his old hotel, which he occupied as long as he lived, was the headquarters for all town business and the people seemed to think they could not do business elsewhere. Here he was always to be found — genial, affable, sensible and level-headed; ready to make a deed or mortgage, draw a will or have a friendly conversation on any subject. He was himself a man of peace and very few suits begun in his court ever came to trial for he usually induced the litigants to settle their disputes in an amicable way without recourse to the law.

On the 25th of January, 1836, at Glastonbury, Connecticut, William H. Blish was married to Miss Eliza Hollister, who was born November 27, 181 1, in Manchester, Connecticut, and was the adopted daughter of Deacon Nehimiah Hollister. They became the parents of eight children: Charles Sylvester, who was born December 5, 1836, at Glastonbury, Connecticut; Helen Louise, who was born November 5, 1838, at Wethersfield, Illinois; John Giddings, born on the 23d of June, 1840; Adelaide Eliza, born December 22, 1842, and died October 14, 1854; Frank Cheney, who was born April 15, 1845, and died on the 17th of April, 1845; Prudence Knox, born March 10, 1847, and died October 11, 1860; Rhoda Cheney, who was born on the loth of June, 1850; and Addie Eliza, born June 14, 1855. The mother of these children passed away November 19, 1858, and on the 17th of April, 1860, William H. Blish wedded Hannah Gage, who was born September 27, 1833, at Fairfield, New York, and a daughter of Elijah Gage of that place. The four children of that marriage were: Margaret Gage, who was born April 1, 1861, and for a number of years has been a successful school teacher; William H., born January 14, 1863; Hannah Elizabeth, who was born November 15, 1872, and after teaching for some years in the schools of Kewanee and Chicago was married July 3, 1902, to Herbert Diller, of the latter city; and Belle Gage, who was born February 10, 1877, after teaching in the public schools of Kewanee was married June 17, 1903, to Thomas M. O'Connor. Mrs. Hannah Gage Blish died July 19, 1881, at Wethersfield, Illinois. The death of Mr. Blish occurred in his old home July 15, 1895, when he was in his eighty-fourth year. He was a life long member of the Congregational church and for a number of years its chorister. In the community where he lived he was held in the highest esteem for he was a kind and generous man, ever ready to lend a helping hand or to give words of cheer and sympathy. He left behind him a spotless record and his memory is revered and cherished by all who knew him.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.