Warren Pitt Bissell was in his
active years a highly successful farmer in this county and for a time previous to
his demise lived retired in Manchester. He was born at Avon, Connecticut, November
21, 1837, a
son of Albert and Adelaide(Bishop) Bissell, the latter being
a daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. These families are of German and
Huguenot descent and are numbered among the oldest and most prominent in
Connecticut.
The subject of this review was one of a family of four children,
two of whom died when young.
Warren
P. Bissell was educated in public and private schools and when a
young man went west to Minnesota, locating at Medford, that state,
in August, 1862. He began farming on a small place near the town
and bought and sold stock in addition to conducting a lumberyard.
He remained at that place until 1891, when he came to Delaware
county and located on a two hundred and forty acre farm situated
near Oneida. He made a specialty of raising fine Holstein cattle,
being one of the first to own that breed in this section, and his
closing sale was considered one of the best ever held in the middle
western states. Much of his stock he purchased in
New York state and his animals were of high
grade. About 1897 he retired from active life, but continued to reside on the
farm until October, 1909, when he moved into
Manchester, purchasing the home where his
family still resides. He passed away March 30, 1911 and was laid to rest in
Medford, Minnesota.
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Warren Pitt Bissel |
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Mr. Bissell
was twice married. On
June 28, 1865, he wedded Almira
Stebbins, who died
September
25, 1878,
no children having been born to that union. His second union was with Miss
Florence N. Sanborn, whom he married November 8, 1893. She is a daughter of John and
Julia (Burgoon) Sanborn and her father, who was a
pioneer of Minnesota, saw much of the Indian troubles that
endangered the lives of the early settlers there. He and his wife were married
in Clinton county,
Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Bissell was born a
son, Warren Sanborn, whose natal day was November 16, 1896. He is now a high school student
and prominent in athletics.
Mr. Bissell
was a republican and while living in
Minnesota took an active part in public
affairs, serving two years on the board of equalization and holding other
positions of trust, but after removing to this county his failing health prevented
him from participating in politics to any great extent. He was a veteran of the
Civil war, having enlisted
August 11, 1862, in Company A, Tenth Minnesota
Infantry, and having served for three years. He took part in the battles around
Tupelo, Mississippi, and Nashville Tennessee. He was also engaged in fighting the
Indians in the northwest for some time and was honorably discharged at
St. Louis, May 25,
1865. He
was invariably as loyal to the best interests of his country in times of peace as
when he marched under the flag in war time and his honorable and upright life
won him the sincere respect of all who were associated with him.
He was a
member of Tadmor Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at
Greeley, and W. A. Morse Post, G. A. R., at
Manchester Mrs. Bissell resides in Manchester, where she has many friends and
where she takes part in a number of movements instituted for the benefit of the
community. She is a member of the Thirteen Club, a local organization of
the women, and takes a great interest in the affairs of that society, and is
also a member of the Outing Club.
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