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Champaign County Genealogical Society

The old Bliss Cemetery is located in Sidney township, a mile and half east of Sidney, on the northside of Route 15. Located on a prominent knoll, it is fenced, but has no road leaving to it. The cemetery was transcribed by the D.A.R. in 1956, and is included with a lot map and photograph in "Cemeteries of Champaign County, Illinois: A Location Guide with Plat Maps" available from Fonda Baselt, ....

The land for the cemetery was sold to the county court of Champaign County by William P. Bliss, whose grave is here, on 11 Sep 1855 for twenty-five dollars. Cunningham's History of Champaign County says "William P. Bliss was killed in 1864 in a struggle growing out of his defense of the principles of Lincoln and the Republican Party." Among the names which appear on the stones are those of some of the earliest settlers in the county. Jacob Thomas and his brother, Joseph, came from Ohio in 1828 and entered land in Sidney Township. James Copeland also entered land in 1928. William and John Coddington took land in 1830-31. The name of Adam Thomas also appears on the first assessment roll for the county, dated 1833. Adam Thomas is said to have planted the first orchard in the township. Joseph Thomas was one of the first grand jurors, and John Coddington was a member of the first petit jury.

The first wife of Noah Knox, who was Mary Thomas, is buried here, and a child of his second wife, who was Persis St. John. He was a member of an early family that settled at "Nox's Point" - later Sidney.

The black preacher, Bob Gregory, who with five others was brought from the south by Lt. J. S. Freeman of Sidney, after the Civil War, is said to be buried here also. He preached in this vicinity to white people as well as the few blacks for a number of years.

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