My Grandmother on my Mother's side. Ophelia was born 27 April, 1852 in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of  LEONORA PITKIN and DAVID BLISS, JR.

Her family moved to Jefferson County, Iowa, where her Mother died when she was only 18 months old. When Ophelia was four years old, the family moved to Union County, IA. Eight years later her Father married her Mother's sister, CLARISSA. Ophelia married JOSHUA MADDEN on 15 December 1874, and they had eight children. Seven grew to adulthood -- one son passed away at the age of 18. Joshua died in 1908 and Ophelia passed away in 1933. At the time of her death she was probably the oldest settler in the county. Of the seven living children only two married and I (Jessie) was the only grandchild. She was known as Aunt Ophelia by old and young alike.