The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-07-21
AARON T. BLISS.
Synopsis OF the Eventful Life Of
Michigan's Next Governor.

WE <AoAOh - Diooi VI ooS iuo"5
the nominee for governor on the Re-
publican ticket, is splendidly
equipped by his long and successful
business career, his wide knowledge
of men and affairs and is endowed
with a frank and genial spirit which
makes him favorite with all classes
Of people. Col. Bliss has a military
record which anyone might envy.
In 1861 at the age of "a, he enlisted
as private soldier in the Tenth
regiment, New York Volunteer in
fantry. His military record shows
three and one half years Of hard
fighting, six months suffering and
starvation as a prisoner of war and
well earned promotion from private
to the rank of captain.
He was taken prisoner at the head
of his company in an Engagement
against overwhelming odds on June
26, 1864, and ten days afterwards he
was consigned to the tortures of
Andersonville prison. Later he was
transferred to the Macon, Ca,
prison. Then he was again re-
moved, this time to the Charleston
prison, and placed under the fire of
the Union batteries. The colonel
describes the suffering of this jour
ney, which lasted two days without
any rations, as beyond the concep-
tion of anyone not actually partici-
pating in it. Many prisoners failed
to survive the ordeal and fell by the
wayslde. Finally, nerved by des-
peration, he escaped with several of
his companions on Nov. 29th and
after seventeen days OF tramping
through the wilderness and in immi-
nent danger of recapture, arrived
on Dec. 10th, ragged, footsore and
half starved at the Union lines near
Savannah.
He was born in Madison county,
N. Y, May 22, 1897. He spent most
of his life on his fathers farm and
in mercantile business up to the
time of his enlistment. At the
close of the war Col. Bliss settled
in Saginaw and engaged in the busi-
ness of numbering and was a potent
factor in developing that great in
terest which gained for Saginaw the
credit of being the greatest lumber
and salt depot in the world. But
while Col Bliss is today one of the
leading lumbermen and mill owners
he has in every sense been the archi-
tect of his own fortunes, beginning
at the bottom. In every movement
for the advancement OF the city and
county and state he has been prom
inently identified He was one of
the first to bring Canadian logs to
the Saginaw mills to be cut, and his
example being followed by many
others, thousands of Michigan work
men were kept in employment. Re-
Gently he attested his confidence in
the city and his public spiritedness
by the purchase of large blocks of
real estate upon which he has erect
ed residences, for lease. He is the
president of leading wholesale
establishment and founder OF the
Saginaw County Savings Bank, con-
ceded to be one of the most success
full institutions in that section of the
state. Not forsaking his early
training the colonel some time ago
purchased a farm of six hundred
acres near Saginaw, which under
his practical direction, is in high
state of cultivation, showing that
he is not theoretical but practi.
cal farmer.
In public life he has held the Of
fees of supervisor, alderman, state
senator and congressman, defeating
the redoubtable Tim Tarsney for
congress. He was treasurer of the
soldiers home at Grand Rapids
colonel on the staff Of Gov. Alger,
vice president and later treasurer
of the National Republican league OF
the United States.
He is a man of great public spirit
and has always taken the lead in the
promotion ofenterprises and general
advancement of public interests.
He ranks high as Mason and is
also member of the Maccabees,
which orders he has been for years
connected with. He is also a
Forester.
He has q state reputation as a
philanthropist, and few men have
given more in proportion to their
means than he. Although mem