Background
Stephen Bliss was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on March 27, 1787. He was the third son of five born to his parents, who struggled to provide for the family.
Stephen Bliss was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on March 27, 1787. He was the third son of five born to his parents, who struggled to provide for the family.
Adopted by a pastor uncle, Bliss graduated from Middlebury College, but failed to get licensed to preach. Wood prepared Bliss for study at Middlebury College. Bliss graduated from there in 1812.
He then taught in New York before moving to Illinois along the Wabash River. Bliss also served two terms in the Illinois Senate. They later moved to Glover, Vermont.
Bliss then continued to study under Wood for two years, then applied to the Hopkinton Association for a license to preach.
However, the association denied the application, and Bliss decided to instead focus on teaching. Bliss" health began to fail in 1818, so he and May decided to move out west.
They settled in Palmyra, Edwards County, Illinois, a town 3 miles (48 km) north of Mount Carmel. On April 11, 1819, they opened a Sunday school, one of the first in the state.
Although Bliss did not seek it, his application with the Hopkinton Association was reviewed and he was approved for a license.
On August 3, 1823, Bliss gave his first sermon at the church. Bliss then traveled throughout the county to preach. He quickly earned a reputation and drew large crowds.
In 1824, Bliss was elected to the Illinois Senate.
Bliss assumed control of two vacant churches in Indiana—one in Carlisle and one in Fort Harrison—providing one sermon a month. He preached at the church in Edwards County on the other Sundays.
On August 4, 1825, Bliss was ordained at a meeting of the Presbytery in Vincennes, Indiana. Bliss was re-elected to the Illinois Senate in 1826, serving a final two-year term.
Bliss then spent the rest of his life preaching on a circuit in Illinois along the Wabash River.
He supported himself with a farm and church donations. Stephen Bliss married Elizabeth Worcester, the daughter of Noah Worcester, on April 20, 1821. Bliss died on December 6, 1847.