James Orville Bloss: September 30, 1847-December 15, 1918

Biography of Partner of John W Sterling

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=Leslie's history of the greater New York: Encyclopedia of New York Biography and Genealogy=

BLOSS, JAMES ORVILLE, head of the firm of J. O. Bloss & Company, cotton merchants, was elected President of the New York Cotton Exchange in 1892, and again in 1893, having previously, in 1890, been elected its Vice-President, and almost continuously since 1866, having been a member of its Board of Managers. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, is a trustee of the India Rubber and Gutta Percha Insulating Company, and a director of the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway Company, and has been a director of the Third National Bank. He was active in opposing the anti-option bill in Congress and quietly instrumental in establishing the plan of deliveries of cotton on contract by means of warehouse receipts and certificates of grade. Born in Rochester, N.Y. September 30, 1847, he is the son of the late James Orville Bloss and Eliza Ann, daughter of Roswell Lockwood and Thalia Oviatt, and is descended from Edmund Bloss, of an old family of Suffolk, England, who became one of the prominent men of Watertown, Mass., where he was admitted a freeman in 1639. Coming to New York City at eighteen years of age, Mr. Bloss for six years was with Norton, Slaughter & Company, banking and commission; then with Woodward & Stillman until 1875; with John Chester Inches as partner became then head of the cotton firm of Bloss & Inches; from 1881 to 1891 was a member of Gwathmey & Bloss, and since the latter date has been head of his present firm. He is a member of the Union and Metropolitan clubs.

TIMELINE

1898

Leslie’s History of the great New York includes Bloss bio

1892

elected President of the New York Cotton Exchange

1893

elected President of the New York Cotton Exchange

1891-1898 (etc?)

J. O. Bloss & Company, cotton merchants,

1890

elected Vice-President, New York Cotton Exchange

1881-1891

member of Gwathmey & Bloss

c. 1875-1881

with John Chester Inches as partner; became then head of the cotton firm of Bloss & Inches

c. 1871-1875

Woodward & Stillman

1866

member, Board of Managers, New York Cotton Exchange, almost continuously since 1866

1865-1871

Coming to New York City at eighteen years of age, Mr. Bloss for six years was with Norton, Slaughter & Company, banking and commission;

1847, September 30

Born in Rochester, N.Y. September 30, 1847; he is the son of the late James Orville Bloss and Eliza Ann, daughter of Roswell Lockwood and Thalia Oviatt, and is descended from Edmund Bloss, of an old family of Suffolk, England, who became one of the prominent men of Watertown, Mass., where he was admitted a freeman in 1639.

Bibliography, Alphabetical

Bloss & Company, J. O.: cotton merchants, 1891-1898 (etc?)

Bloss & Inches (see also Inches): c. 1875-1881--with John Chester Inches as partner; became then head of the cotton firm of Bloss & Inches

Chamber of Commerce, NYC (or U.S.?): member, no date

Cotton deliveries: he was quietly instrumental in establishing the plan of deliveries of cotton on contract by means of warehouse receipts and certificates of grade.

Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway Company: a director, no date

Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, 55 Street near 5th Avenue: 1918, December 18, funeral service

Gwathmey & Bloss: member, 1881-1891

Inches, John Chester Inches: c. 1875-1881--with John Chester Inches as partner; became then head of the cotton firm of Bloss & Inches

India Rubber and Gutta Percha Insulating Company: trustee, no date

Leslie’s History of the great New York (1898): includes Bloss bio

Metropolitan Club (NYC): member

New York Cotton Exchange: manager (1866-), president: 1890, 1892, 1893

Norton, Slaughter & Company (banking and commission): 1865-1871 (age 18 to 24)

Prominent Families of New York (1897): p. 66 on James Orville Bloss

Third National Bank: a director, no date.

Rochester, N.Y.: birthplace (1847). Interned in (1918).

U.S. Congress: he was active in opposing the anti-option bill, no date

Woodward & Stillman: c. 1871-1875

Prominent Families of New York (1897)

p. 66 on James Orville Bloss

check text

"early in life, he determined to devote himself to business pursuits, and with that end in view secured a thorough business training."

For six years, he was with Norton, Slaughter & Company, banking and commission;

then with Woodward & Stillman until 1875;

with John Chester Inches as partner

became then head of the cotton firm of Bloss & Inches;

from 1881 to 1891 was a member of Gwathmey & Bloss, 

and since the latter date has been head of his present firm.

In 1892, he was elected president of the New York Cotton Exchange and reelected to that honorable position in the following year. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce, a trustee of the India Rubber and Gutta Percha Insulating Company, and a director of the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Railway Company, and has been a director of the Third National Bank. He was active in opposing the anti-option bill in Congress and chiftly instrumental in establishing the plan of deliveries of cotton on contract by means of warehouse receipts and certificates of grade. "Although actively engaged in business for many years, he has found time and opportunity for extensive travel abroad. He is unmarried and resides in East Forty-Seven Street. His clubs are the Metropolitan and the Union League." He was interested in genealogy and wrote in 1887 about his family.

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