Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Bliss, Ellen F. 1901 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net November 8, 2017, 6:14 pm Belding Banner, 11 Apr 1901, page 9; 18 Apr 1901, page 7 Drowned Herself. Mrs. Roswell Bliss Jumps Into Flat River. – Her Mind is Thought to Have Been Affected. One of the most shocking occurrences which has taken place in this city or vicinity for some time, was the discovery Tuesday of the drowning of Mrs. Roswell Bliss in the river, apparently by her own free act. The body was discovered floating in the pond at the Spencer E. L. & P. Co. dam a short distance below Smyrna along about 3 o’clock in the afternoon. It was removed at once but no one was found who could identify her for some time, but after a few hours a friend of Bliss from Belding who had been informed that Mrs. Bliss was missing, drove to Smyrna and at once identified her as that unfortunate lady. The Bliss home is a short distance from the Brink school house about three miles southeast of the city. Mrs. Bliss prepared dinner as usual for her husband and man and after eating the same they went to the fields to work. Mr. Bliss says he did not notice anything in the least unusual in her appearance, manner or actions only that he did notice that she appeared to be in a hurry for him to get away from the house to his work. A short time afterward he saw her leave the house and go down the road but thought nothing of it, supposing she was going to some of the neighbors. But it appears she made straight for the river which is about three miles from their place. People along the road report having seen her pass and say that she was walking quite fast. Her tracks have since been found leading down to the river bank and even the footprints from where she evidently took the fatal leap. This was at a point about one-half mile above Smyrna and the body floated down to the place where it was found as stated. And there is a peculiar feature that puzzled many and caused some question at first as to the manner of her taking off. It is customary, in all cases of drowning for the body to sink to the bottom and not come to the surface for anywhere from a week to two weeks, and some therefore thought she must have been dead before entering the water in which case the body most likely would float. Bur whatever the reason in this case the evidence seems to be absolutely plain that she deliberately went to the river bank and jumped in, and the coroner’s jury which was impanelled by justice Chas. Dumon rendered their verdict accordingly. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss have resided upon their farm many years and were both most highly respected by all their neighbors and acquaintances. They have only one child, a daughter, Miss Bertha, but a sister of Mrs. Bliss resided with them. They were fairly well to do, Mrs. Bliss having received quite a sum a few years ago from an eastern estate to which she was one of the heirs. Quite recently she had also received $3,000 additional in a similar manner. They were all believers in the Seventh Day Adventist doctrine and Mrs. Bliss and sister made a trip to Battle Creek to attend the big meetings of the followers of that faith in progress there. She carried with her $2,800 which it was understood she intended to place while there in some manner so as to give her fair returns. She returned from Battle Creek Monday noon, and when asked by her husband if she had placed her money all right did not seem to wish to say anything about it. Since her death no mortgages, notes, receipts or papers of any kind have been discovered to show for it and from these facts it is surmised that perhaps she had been led while there to make some disposal of her money which she had since regretted and which had preyed upon her mind until she had become mentally unbalanced and decided to commit the rash act which she did. Her sister who did not return with her may possibly be able to throw some light upon this part of it. She certainly had no other reason so far as known. It is a very sad affair and Mr. Bliss and the other friends have the deepest sympathy of many friends. She was about 56 years of age. Funeral services will be held at 1 o’clock Saturday from the home. ------------ Funeral of Mrs. Bliss. The funeral services of the late Mrs. Roswell E. Bliss were held from the home last Saturday afternoon being largely attended. Rev. W.G. Kneeland officiated. Elder Kneeland was born and raised in Orleans township and has been acquainted with the family from boyhood up. He is stationed in Dakota now but was in Michigan attending the conference at Battle Creek. The interment was in the River Ridge cemetery at Belding. At the time the Banner was printed last week there was considered to be a possibility that there might be something in her financial affairs which caused Mrs. Bliss to decide to make way with herself, but that has since been entirely disproved. When the daughter Miss Bertha, who was attending the academy at Cedar Lake, returned home, also Mrs. Bliss’s sister from Battle Creek, every dollar was accounted for. Mr. Bliss states that he can conceive of no reason whatever except that her mind became unbalanced. She had suffered a quite severe attack of the grip during the winter and also had a lighter relapse. Possibly that might have been the cause. It was a very sad affair. 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