BIO: Charles Bliven; formerly of Chenango Co., NY Submitted by Charles B. Stanley ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ Charles Bliven, Born Aug 10,1839 in the County of Chenango, New York State. Charles Bliven served in the NY Calvary in the Civil War. He was stationed at Fortress Monroe, Virginia where he met an married a Hampton, Va., girl named Jessie Virginia Hope. His father disowned him and he was not allowed to go home to see his family until after his father's death in 1883. His father and two of his brothers also served in the Civil War. The only contact Charles had with his NY family was through Rosa Bliven Shirwin, and her daughter Mrs. Seymore C. Hard who Lived in East Arlington, Vt. Charles Bliven from the Virginia Pilot-ledger Star, Norfolk, Va Mr Charles Bliven, one of Berkley's best known and most highly respected citizens, died last night at his residence, on Berkley Avenue, He was aged 59. The deceased was a native of New York, but has resided in Berkley for a number of years and has been actively identified with its development and growth. He established the Berkley Electric Light and Water Company, which has given to Berkley an abundant supply of pure and wholesome water. This act alone will be a monument to his memory. He also introduce fire plugs in various portions of the town, while the splendid wharf improvement adjoining Chestnut Street Ferry Bridge is evidence of his mechanical skill and of his ability to conceive and his courage to execute. In his death our community realizes the loss of one of its most enterprising citizens, the church one of its most generous members and those riven heats in their deep sorrow remain the custodians of his richest legacy-a good name. Charles Bliven He is over ready to listen to suggestions but weighs them well before acting and is very liable to follow the trend of his own convictions. He is a native of the Great Empire State having been born in the County of Chenango, New York. The time of his nativity was August 10, 1839. In early life he was sent to school, but because of surrounding circumstances, he received only a limited education. At the early age oOf ten and twelve years he displayed great mechanical ingenuity and was, therefore, soon put to a trade - that of millwright. In 1860 he left his home and migrated to the western part of the state, bringing up in Livingstone county, on the Genessee River, where he was contractor for and constructor of several lage buildings. He was quite successful in the business of his choice until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the army joining the 3rd New York Cavalry on the tenth day of august, 1861 and soon in active service in Virginia and North Carolina. He continued in this service for two years and nine months, when he was detached from his command and put to work construction and running mills for the government, near Fortress Monroe and paid in addition to his regular salary as soldier, $59 per month during the nine months that he was on detached duty. After his discharge he continued at the same place. In the service of the government, until the autumn of 1864, at a salary of $125 per month, and everything furnished. In October of that year general james, chief quartermaster of the department, secured his a position with J.S. Moody, who was putting up a Large mill in the town of Hampton. This position he held until the Following year, at the same salary he received from the government. He then bought property in hampton, built a mill and took a half interest in A hotel. In the following year he sold a half interest in the mill to James s. Darling, of New York City. The mill business not proving successful, Mr. Bliven withdrew from the firm and with his wife, whom he married in Hampton December 16, 1866, went to Norfolk, Va, where he engaged work in a sash and blind factory, owned by Mirdock Howell. In 1868 he entered business as contractor and thus continued for four years, constructing in that time some of the best residences built, drawing most of the plans and specifications himself. In 1871 the subject of this sketch went on a farm, but did not discontinue his regular business. In the following year he removed to Berkley, Va and engaged in the planing mill business, in norfolk serving at this for two years. Then he engaged with Tilley and Co. in the erection of a large saw and planing mill. He had charge of this mill until 1878. In 1879 he built the Lekies and Collins planing mill plant, now the property of the Cummer Lumber Company. For three years he continued in the millwright business, putting mills in Maryland and North Carolina. In the year 1882 he commenced wharf building and since then had constructed some of the most important wharves and piers, iron bridges, railroad bridges etc. in this section. Among his important works was the connection of the stone dry dock with the pumps of the Simpson Dry Dock, in the Norfolk navy yard.