Ward Raymond Bliss (December 15, 1855 - January 6, 1905) was an American politician from

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

who served as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Delaware County from 1889 to 1906 and as

Majority Leader In U.S. politics (as well as in some other countries utilizing the presidential system), the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.

from 1903 to 1904.

Early life and education

Ward Raymond Bliss was born on December 15, 1855, in

Lewisburg, Pennsylvania Lewisburg is a borough in Union County, Pennsylvania, United States, south by southeast of Williamsport and north of Harrisburg. In the past, it was the commercial center for a fertile grain and general farming region. The population was 5,1 ...

, to George Ripley Bliss. He graduated from

Bucknell University Bucknell University is a private liberal arts college in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1846 as the University at Lewisburg, it now consists of the College of Arts and Sciences, Freeman College of Management, and the College of Engineering ...

in 1874 and was a member of the

Sigma Chi Sigma Chi () International Fraternity is one of the largest North American fraternal literary societies. The fraternity has 244 active (undergraduate) chapters and 152 alumni chapters across the United States and Canada and has initiated more t ...

fraternity.

Career

In 1874, Bliss moved to

Chester, Pennsylvania Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located within the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area, it is the only city in Delaware County and had a population of 32,605 as of the 2020 census. Incorporated in 1682, Chester i ...

. He worked as a teacher while studying law and was admitted to the Delaware County bar in 1878. In 1881, Bliss began publishing a weekly legal journal, of which 5 volumes were published in book form under the title "The Delaware County Reports". He also published a "Digest of the Local Laws of Delaware County". In 1882, Bliss became owner and editor of the ''Delaware County Republican'' newspaper in Chester, Pennsylvania and continued in that capacity until 1893. He was an incorporator of the Cumberland Telephone Company, later renamed the United Telephone Company. He worked as general counsel for the United Telephone Company. He had a law partnership with A. B. Geary. He worked as chair of the Delaware County Republican Committee in 1887 and was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Delaware County defeating Albert Magnin in 1889. Bliss was re-elected to serve eight consecutive terms, served as chairman of the committee of appropriations and as Majority Leader from 1903-1904. Bliss died in office and his vacancy was filled by Crosby M. Black.

Personal life

Bliss did not marry. His brothers were Robert E. Bliss, Tasker H. Bliss and H. H. Bliss. Bliss died following hospitalization for pneumonia in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, and is interred at the Lewisburg Cemetery in

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Bliss, Ward R. 1855 births 1905 deaths 19th-century American lawyers 19th-century American newspaper editors 19th-century American politicians 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century American politicians Bucknell University alumni Burials in Pennsylvania Editors of Pennsylvania newspapers Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Pennsylvania lawyers