Philip P. Bliss

Early Life

Philip P. Bliss was born in Huston Township, near Penfield in the northwestern corner of Clearfield County, almost at the heart of the state of Pennsylvania. There is a historical marker on Pennsylvania Route 255, 2.2 miles northeast of Pennfield in the village of Hollywood, indicating where his birthplace may have once been. It reads, “Philip P. Bliss: The great singing evangelist and gospel song writer was born July 9, 1838, in a log house which stood a little distance from here. He lived and worked on the farm and in nearby lumber camps until the age of 16.” As Philip tells the story, his original first name was spelled with two “P”s at the end; he then took the final “P” and made it his middle initial. Since he referred to himself as “Sr.” and his oldest son, who was known as “Paul”, as “Jr.”, it stands to reason that his middle initial stood for “Paul”.