George W. Bliss, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1572-1573 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	GEORGE W. BLISS, M. D., of Valley Springs, was born in Cambria, 
Columbia county, Wisconsin, March 27, 1868. He is the son of John and 
Emma (Hodkinson) Bliss and at the age of twelve years accompanied these 
parents to South Dakota, where he grew to manhood and received his 
educational training. After attending the public schools of Minnehaha 
county until completing the elementary branches, he entered Sioux Falls 
College, where he pursued his studies until finishing the prescribed 
course, being graduated with a creditable record in the year 1900. 
During the ensuing two years he devoted his attention to teaching, 
spending one year as principal of the East Sioux Falls schools, and at 
the expiration of that time took up the study of medicine, which he had 
formerly decided upon as his life work. After his usual course of 
preliminary reading, he entered the medical department of the 
Minneapolis University, where he was graduated in 1895, immediately 
following which he served six months in the hospitals at that place, and 
then located at Valley Springs, South Dakota where he in due time built 
up the large and lucrative practice which he still commands. Dr. Bliss 
easily ranks with the leading men of his profession in South Dakota and 
his professional services both as a physician and surgeon have gained 
him a reputation far beyond the limits of the field to which his 
practice is principally confined. He is a member of the Sioux Valley 
Medical Association, the American Medical Association and other 
societies for the advancement of professional knowledge and efficiency, 
and takes an active interest in the deliberations of these bodies. 

	While making every other consideration subordinate to his 
professional duties, the Doctor is a public-spirited citizen, and as 
such has been interested in various enterprises, notable among which is 
the local telephone system, organized in the year 1902. He was one of 
the chief promoters of the company, invested considerable of his means 
and devoted much of his time to make it a success, and as president he 
has managed its affairs in a safe and business-like manner, making it 
one of the best local systems in the state. Being an educated man and 
appreciating the value of knowledge he has been untiring in his efforts 
to promote the cause of education in Valley Springs, and as president of 
the board of education he has been instrumental in advancing the 
interests of the schools of the city until they now compare favorably 
with those in any other part of the state. In addition to the official 
relations already referred to, he is treasurer of the Inter-state 
Ginseng Association, which is now attracting attention throughout the 
country. They are the largest growers in the northwest and are meeting 
with the greatest encouragement. 

	Doctor Bliss has been a consistent member of the Democratic party 
ever since old enough to exercise the rights and privileges of 
citizenship, and since locating at Valley Springs his influence has been 
felt in political circles as an organizer and successful campaigner. 

	The Doctor, on March 24, 1897, was happily married to Miss Lucy 
Udell and at this time his home circle includes, besides himself and 
amiable wife, one child, a daughter by the name of Rowena. Doctor Bliss 
is a man of strict business principles and his regard for professional 
courtesy has given him high standing among the leading physicians of the 
state in which he resides, also with the general public.