Re: Edwin W. Bloss -- W.W.Bloss
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In reply to:
Edwin W. Bloss -- NH to NY
Denise Ready 9/09/00
I own a copy of this book and I have no relationship to this man, but did run across the Bloss name here and discovered no mention of this man, but one of his brother Edwin W. This is a much longer bio than the one on Edwin and is written as an autobiography. In it he never mentions his first name, and in all the other references to him in the book he is referred to as W.W.
I am posting here for those who might be interested. There is also a picture of him and his brother and his brothers farm in the book.
from: 1749-1878 History of St. Lawrence Co., NY, Illustrations and Biographical Sketches; some of its prominent men and pioneers
published by L.H. Evert's & Co. 714-16 Filbert Street, Philadelphia
republished 1982 with index for Saint Lawrence County Historical Association by Heart of the Lakes Publishing, Interlaken, NY ISBN # 0-932334-52-0
pg.330
W. W. BLOSS.
[AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.]
I was born in Grantham N.H., Nov. 29, 1808. My parents were Samuel and Achsah Bloss When I was three years old we removed to Irasburg, Vt., where I continued to reside with my parents till the death of my mother, Aug. 24, 1818, when I was bound out to a well-to-do farmer, named Kittredge, in Danville, Vt., and was to serve him faithfully ten months in each year during my minority - the other two months he was to send me to the district school, and at twenty-one to give me one hundred dollars' worth of grain or stock. Up to this time I bad attended school not more than twelve months all told. At the close of my two months' school I had been through every rule in " Adams' Arithmetic," but my knowledge of arithmetic was as yet very superficial. Feeling desirous to study grammar, an obstacle arose which to me looked formidable,-I bad no book, or money to buy one, and my time belonged to my master. He refused to get one, saying it would do me no good. I then obtained leave to pick blackberries on rainy days, which I did, and sold to ladies in the village for four cents per quart, and, with the money thus obtained, purchased a copy of Murray's English Grammar" for 75 cents. The followg winter I began its study, and, in order to keep up with my class in other branches, was under the necessity of getting my grammar lesson at home evenings. Candles were too expensive an indulgence, therefore I was forced to get my lessons by the light of the kitchen fire, which shone from beneath the firestick lying upon the andirons. Thus I spent two winters, making four months devoted to the study of grammar at a district school. At the age of eighteen I began to think that I could do better than to stay with my master, and effected a compromise with him, whereby the bond was given up and I was free. I left him Dec. 6, 1826, and Feb. 24, 1827, left Danville, in company with a neighbor named Bowers, who was then removing with his family to Parishville, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. I agreed to drive his ox-team and sled, loaded with household furniture, for the payment of my personal expenses. We arrived in Parishville March 6, being eleven days on the road. Soon after arriving here I engaged work on a farm for six months, at twelve dollars per month, grain pay (no money to be had for labor), and worked my time out, but lost onehalf of my wages. During the summer, in the absence of a clergyman, I used to read sermons to large congregations on the Sabbath in the old red school-house at Parishville Centre. In August I contracted for fifty acres of wild land, at four dollars per acre, being a part of mile square No. 16.
I went to school at the old St. Lawrence academy in Potsdam, and remained there till the lst day of December. I was then examined by the regular board of inspectors, received my license, and commenced school Dec. 3, 1827, being then nineteen years old. Taught this school eight months, and at its close was hired by the trustees in Parishville village to teach their school for one year, closing April 10, 1830, and averaging forty pupils per day. The remainder of the summer I worked on my land, and built a log house upon it. The 1st of September I went back to Vermont, and on the 19th was married to Miss Pamelia Lovewell, who, like myself, was an orphan, having lost both her parents at the tender age of ten years. We began housekeeping on our own lot Oct. 25, 1830, under trying circumstances. Our house was only partly finished; there were no stoves here then, and we suffered much with cold and smoke. Not a vestige of road for one mile east and two miles west, and no neighbor in sight. Here we spent the first winter of our married life, and again taught the Centre school. At the close of this school I heard of a place in Canada where they wanted an American teacher, and went to a place called Treadwell Seignory, in the township of L'Orignal, Ontario, Canada, on the Ottawa river, sixty-five miles above Montreal. Engaged the school, returned home, took my wife and a few articles of convenience, and started on my way back by way of St. Regis. In a few days we arrived safely at the place of our destination, weary and much worn in consequence of the badness of the roads and riding in a common lumber-wagon. Here we remained for four consecutive years, and taught the same school during the entire time. In June, 1835, we returned to our home in Parishville, and went to housekeeping directly. Having saved money enough to finish paying for our land, built a barn, and with the surplus left I now began in earnest to clear up the farm.
In the spring I was elected one of the board of inspectors of common schools, which position I held till 1842. When the office of town superintendent was created, in 1853, was elected to that office for two years, and re-elected in 1855, which position I held till the office of school commissioner superseded that of town superintendent. In the winter of 1856 I taught school in the district where I first taught in 1827, making in all thirty-two terms of three months each. I was also for five successive years one of the assessors of the town, and in 1859 was elected school commissioner for the 3d district to fill a vacancy, was reelected in 1860, holding the office over four years. I now hold, and have for a good many years, a State license to teach a common school anywhere in the State. Our farm consists of 160 acres, 100 cleared, with good fences and substantial b uildings, all paid for. Five years ago I divided my real estate between my two daughters (all the children we have). Maria H., the eldest, married Mr. W. W. Spear nineteen years ago; Zelia S. was married to Mr. J. A. Kelly nine years since. We are living at home on the old place with the last named daughter and her husband.
In religion, I am a Methodist; in politics, was an Old-Line Whig. At the formation of the Republican party, in 1856, I cast my lot with them. Have voted at every presidential election since I was twenty-one years old.
More Replies:
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Re: Edwin W. Bloss -- W.W.Bloss
2/25/02
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Re: Edwin W. Bloss -- W.W.Bloss
Martin Hall 2/25/02
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Re: Edwin W. Bloss -- W.W.Bloss