From the JKB 1905 Volume:
When Daniel Blish was about four years old, his father took the family to Essex County, New York. About nine years thereafter, he again moved, to Peru, New York. Daniel learned the mill-wrights trade, and in 1839, came west, and for some years followed his trade, at various points. He repaired his brother David's mill at Escanaba, Michigan, built a mill at Niles, Michigan, another at Summerville, Cass county, Michigan. His father-in-law, William B. Gilbert, gave him 80 acres of land in Silver Creek township, near his own, where he began the work of clearing off the timber and making a farm. After establishing himself here and getting his farm in shape, he bought more land, and put himself into comfortable circumstances. In 1854 he built a new house on the farm, and lived there until 1874, when he moved to Dowegiac. His wife, Julia Ann, died in 1886 and he afterwards made his home with his son David, until 1889, and then with his daughter Emily, until his death, which occurred November 5th, 1893. He was an industrious and economical man, though never niggardly. His mechanical skill and love of order was manifested in everything about his farm. He was very fond of music and a proficient performer on the flute. As a young man he used to play the fife on training days, and at celebrations on the fourth of July. He was a supervisor of Silver Creek township for ten years, and a Justice of the Peace for 15 years, until he refused re-election.
Julia Ann, his wife, was a very expert seamstress, with fine mechanical skill. It is related, that before her marriage, not being able to persuade her father to build a stairway to the upper rooms, she proceeded to built it herself, and did a creditable job. She was a helpful wife and a good mother, of whom her children are justly proud. Her father, William B. Gilbert, traced his ancestry to Sir Walter Gilbert. His grandfather was a sea-captain, and was captured by the British during the revolutionary war and thrown into prison, where he died. His father resided in New York City, where William B. was born. William B. Gilbert served in the war of 1812, and was in the battle of Kingston. His wife, Cynthia Sammons, was of German descent, and her father was a revolutionary soldier. William B. Gilbert came west in 1838, prospecting, and in 1839, brought his family to Michigan, consisting of his wife and six children. He was a slim man of iron constitution and widely known, and went by the name of "Uncle Tommy." He died in 1864, at the age of seventy-three.
His wife was one of those good-natured, patient German women, who could do the work of a large family, and at the same time do a good days work weaving. She died in 1866, at the age of seventy-one.
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