BLOSS, William R. - 1890 Bio (1822-1906)

BLOSS, REINHARDT, ROBINSON, COLEBY, KENDALL, HAYES

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/27/2006 at 18:18:38

"Portrait & Biographical Album of Jefferson & Van Buren Counties", pub. 1890
Pages 225-226

WILLIAM R. BLOSS, one of the oldest carpenters in years of experience, in Fairfield, was born in Rockingham County, Va., Dec. 3, 1822, and claims an almost pure Germanic origin. His parents, Conrad and Margaret (REINHARDT) BLOSS, were both born in the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia, the father in 1797, the mother in 1805. His maternal grandfather owned a powder mill, and during the War of 1812, made powder for the United States troops. About 1828, Conrad BLOSS and wife removed from Virginia to Ohio, locating in Preble County, where he followed farming until his emigration to Iowa. In 1835, he made a tour westward, visiting several of the counties in this State, but making no location. Sixteen years later he and all his family went to Des Moines County, improved a farm, and there lived until about 1863, when he came to Fairfield, where he spent his last days. He died at the age of eighty, after suffering eighteen years with rheumatism, the last nine of which he was entirely helpless. His wife is still living in Fairfield at the advanced age of 85 years, but is very much enfeebled by paralysis, of which she has had two attacks. Both were zealous members of the Methodist Church for many years, and it was their daily endeavor to follow in the footsteps of him whom they acknowledged as their Saviour. There is a remarkable fact connected with their family, which consisted of eight daughters and three sons, all being yet alive save the youngest, who died at the age of forty years.

William R. BLOSS is the eldest of the family. He was reared to farm life, and as at an early age he had to aid in the support of his younger brothers and sisters, he had but little time to devote to education. Only a few months was he permitted to devote to study, and that in the old time subscription schools. Like a dutiful son, he gave his services to his father until he had attained to mature years, when he began work in his own interests. Learning the carpenter's trade, he worked at the same for $8 per month until 1848, when he came to Iowa, and located a land warrant of the Mexican War, in Penn Township, Jefferson County. He then resumed his labors as a carpenter, but while engaged in work, by accident he cut his knee, and was unable to do anything through the winter. Thoroughly discouraged, he started for Ohio, bidding, as he supposed, an everlasting farewell to Iowa, but on reaching Ohio, the old State seemed so rough and uninviting, that he accompanied the family to Des Moines County, in 1851. His first work was to build a house on his father's place, after which he secured a fair share of the work to be done in the neighborhood. After four years spent in Des Moines County, he came to Fairfield in 1855, and has here engaged in carpenter work continuously since. His first labors in this city was to build the Henn House, now the home of the President of Parson's (sic - Parsons) College. He also erected Risk's, Bright's, and Steele's business blocks, and has done the stair work on some of the finest residences in the city, being accounted a superior workman in that line. He is indeed proficient in all branches of the business, and well deserves the trade which is given him.

In Des Moines County, in March, 1857, Mr. BLOSS wedded Mrs. Mary ROBINSON, a native of Ohio. Her maiden name was COLEBY, and by her first marriage she had one son, Frank ROBINSON. By her second union were born four children: Estella, deceased wife of A. KENDALL; Harry, who is employed on the railroad; Elizabeth, who died at the age of three years; and William H., who is employed in the Fairfield Furniture Factory. In 1870, the mother of this family died, and three years later Mr. BLOSS married Miss Mary E. HAYES, a native of Maryland. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. BLOSS is a member of the Methodist Church, to which his first wife also belonged. Since 1886, he has in connection with his other business, carried on a greenhouse, the best in the city. He has lived some thirty-five years in Fairfield, where he has a pleasant home, and is in comfortable circumstances. He cast his first Presidential vote for Van Buren, and continued to support the Democratic party until 1884, since which time he has voted with the Prohibition party.

[Also posted to the Des Moines County Documents board]

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.