The Hissem-Montague Family

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My Third-Great-Grandfather. Jesse was born in 1790 (1860, 1870 census), or 1791 (per his tombstone; died in 1875 aged 84 years), or between 1794 and 1804 (1820 census), or 1795 (1850 census). Based on the birth of his eldest child, Levi, on 30 April 1816, the earlier date is the more likely. The birth probably occurred just north of the Delaware Water Gap, in Lower Smithfield township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania.

I believe Jesse was the son of David Heysham and Elizabeth Bush, though I cannot prove this (there is no birth certificate or parish register). However, he was either David's son, or that of David's brother, Thomas. Both moved their families to Tyler county, West Virginia, where Jesse is found circa 1820. I think, however, that I can show it is more likely that he was David's child.

I do however have contrary evidence: Alan H. Hissem Jr. and James Olin Hissom, both members of the American Hissem family, have both taken a Y-DNA test, as I have. Alan has a genetic distance of 2 with me while James has a distance of 3. Alan is a descendent of Thomas Hissom and James is of David Heysham, Thomas' brother and my supposed ancestor. This seems to indicate that my most recent common ancestor is with Alan, i.e. Thomas Hissom, and that I share an ancestor with James at least a generation further in the past, i.e. Thomas and David's father, Thomas Hesom. What makes this DNA evidence less than conclusive however is that I have an English cousin, Crispin Heesom, who also took a Y-DNA test. He is also, like Alan, at a genetic distance of 2 from me. However, I know that Crispin's and my most recent common ancestor lived 4 generations further back from Thomas Hissom. So, my closest DNA relative should be James, then Alan and then Crispin, but it doesn't work out that way. I guess it's not a precise science.

Another contrary piece is that Jesse married Christine Welker. The sons of Thomas Hissom, Abner, John and Levi, all married Welker women. Does that mean that Jesse was probably a son of Thomas too? However, I have not been able to find room for Jesse in Thomas Hissom's household in the census and, unlike the other Hissems who married Welkers, Jesse moved to West Virginia.

The extended Heysham/Hissam family appears to have lived just northeast of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, at Marshall's Creek, in the northeast corner of today's Monroe county; see the mark "A" in the map to the right. Jesse's age as recorded in later census' might indicate that he was born as early as 1790, but age inflation in the census is fairly typical.

In another alternative, Jesse may have been born in Luzerne county. The following is from the pension application of Jesse's purported father, David:

"That soon after the Revolutionary War he [David] married and continued to reside in the county last aforesaid [Northampton], until about the year 1795 when he moved from Northampton and resided in Luzerne County Pa. three years . . ."

Soon after his birth Jesse's parents moved to the Wyoming valley, in Luzerne county, on the Susquehanna river, where they lived from about 1795 to 1798. The Wyoming valley was located across the Great Swamp from Lower Smithfield. In the map below, see Lower Smithfield in the lower right hand corner, and Wyoming in upper left hand corner. Remember that David Heysham had been part of the militia troop that led General Sullivan's army through the swamp during the Revolutionary War. The swamp would have held no terrors for David.

I don't know why they left the Wyoming valley, but the David Heysham family returned to Northampton county in time to be recorded in the 1800 census of Smithfield township. In David Hysham's household were 3 sons aged 0-10, Thomas, James, and Jesse, 1 son aged 10-16, Joab, a wife aged 26-45, Elizabeth, and 1 daughter aged 0-10, Elizabeth. The other surviving brothers of David, Thomas and John, had moved to western Pennsylvania by this time. Jesse's cousin, William, probably the son of his uncle John, remained in Northampton county, never moving west.

In about 1807 Jesse, 12, accompanied his father in his move west to Westmoreland county, in southwestern Pennsylvania, where they rejoined David's elder brother, Thomas, and step-brother, Levi Swartwout. Brother John was residing in Allegheny county, near Pittsburgh. The trip would have been a major undertaking of some weeks, though, by this time, the Indian threat was negligible. The route they took was probably back across the Great Swamp to the Wyoming valley, then down the Susquehanna river to pick up the Forbes trail at Harris Ferry. They probably left the trail around Fort Ligonier, making across country to the region of the Youghiogheny river, which is the western boundary of South Huntingdon township.

The following, while wrong in some details, tracks with the story I will tell here.

"His [Levi Hissem's] father, Jesse Hissem, was a native of Maryland [sic], who removed to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; and lived there a number of years before locating in Tyler County, West Virginia. Before his death in 1872 [actually 1875], he removed to Meigs County, Ohio." - from "Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky"

In the 1810 census of South Huntingdon township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania as a member of David Hissem's household. The census listed two boys under 10, David Jr. and Levi, another two who were 10 to 15, James and Jesse, 1 boy 16 to 25, Thomas, and a man 45 and over, David, who would have been 48 years old. I assume that Joab, 22 was on his own by this time, though I have'nt found his name in the census.

David recorded that he and his family lived in Westmoreland county for about three years, and then moved to Tyler county, in what is today West Virginia, which would be circa 1810. I believe this actually occurred later, perhaps mid-decade, but before 1820. I expect they traveled via the river, rafting down the Youghiogheny river, which forms the western boundary of the township. This river joins the Monogahela, which in turn joins the Allegheny, coming out of the north, at Pittsburgh, becoming the Ohio river. I wonder if David's family stopped in Pittsburgh to visit with elder brother John, who lived in Lawrenceville, on the Allegheny river side of Pittsburgh. The Ohio river then took the family to Tyler county, which is on the south bank of that river.

"Jesse Hissem, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Brown [Louisa J. Hissem, daugther of Jesse's son, Levi], was one of the pioneer settlers in this county [Tyler], coming with his family from Pennsylvania." - from "Hardesty's Biographical Atlas" of 1872

Note the relationship of Westmoreland county, in the map below, to Pittsburgh and, down the Ohio river, to Tyler county, West Virginia. Monroe county, Ohio, where the family of Jesse's brother, James, settled, is across the river from Tyler county. Meigs county, Ohio, where Jesse moved in about 1860, is just downriver.

During the War of 1812 Jesse's brothers joined local militias. His oldest brother, Joab, who had remained behind in Westmoreland county, was in a cavalry unit that mustered at Pittsburgh. This unit served in the Ohio territory under General Harrison, the future President. Brothers James and David, who was probably older than I currently show him, joined a Virginia infantry unit, originally sent into the Ohio territory, but which was diverted to Norfolk, Virginia at the end of 1812 to meet the threat of a British invasion of the Chesapeake. This seems conclusive that the family, minus Joab, had moved into Virginia before 1812. Jesse was 17 to 22 years old during the war, certainly old enough to enlist if he so desired.

Jesse Hissam married no later than 1815, in time for his son Levi to be born without scandal in 1816. Jesse would have been between 20 and 25 years old; born 1790-1795. Jesse married Christiana Welker, the daughter of Michael Welker and Elizabeth Wagoner. We know this from the death certificate of Eleanor Hissem Lee, the daughter of Jesse; the certificate's informant was Jesse's son, Abner. Her parents were listed as Jessy [sic] Hissem and Christine Welker. Christine was, if I've got this right, the sister of Mary, the wife of Abner Hissem (of Thomas). Abner's younger brothers, John and Levi, also married Welker women, nieces of Christine and Mary. According to the recollection of Jesse's son, Abner, as reflected in the census, she was born in Pennsylvania and was of German ancestry, as we know the Welkers were. I believe Christine was born in about 1790, or just a little bit later. In the 1850 census the wife of Jesse Hissam was Elizabeth, but this was a second wife he married in 1833, after all of Jesse's known children had been born.

Because Christine was a Welker of Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, I believe the marriage occurred there and that the move to Tyler county, West Virginia occurred soon after (not before).

Tyler County, West Virginia This county, pictured to the right, is located in the northwest of the state with the Ohio River forming its western boundary. Except for the river valley, the county's terrain is hilly and broken. Charles Wells was the first English settler in the area, building a cabin near the present site of Sistersville in 1776. The town, founded in 1815, was named after Charles' two daughters, Sarah and Deliah. A ferry across the Ohio, built in 1818, ensured the town's early success. In 1820, the first census of the county showed a population of 2,314. The economy depended almost entirely on agriculture until the 1890s when a great oil and gas boom developed. This boom lasted for a little over a decade after which the population began to decline. Below is a picture of the Ohio river, near Pleasantville, Tyler county, West Virginia in the mid-1800s.

In the 1820 census of Tyler county, Virginia as Jesse Hissem. The census is somewhat alphabetical and lists the Hissem family leaders together. The dates in parentheses are the range of the probable year of birth, based on the age range shown in the census, i.e. Levi Hissem, a man 16-26 years old in 1820 was therefore born between 1794 and 1804.

Levi Hissem (1794-1804) [on the previous page of the census, the first s looks like a p or f]
- 1 man 16-26, 1 girl under 10, 1 woman 16-26
. . .
Hyde John P.
Hassan John (1775-1794) [was this "Hissam John" from the 1825 Tax List, below?]
- 2 boys under 10, 1 man 26-45 [John?], 1 girl under 10, 1 woman 26-45, 1 woman 45+ [mother-in-law?]
Hyatt Elzey
Hissem Thomas (?-1775) [the first s looks like a p or f]
- 3 boys under 10, 2 boys 10-16, 1 man 45+, 3 girls under 10, 1 girl 10-16, 1 woman 26-45
Hissem Thomas Jr. (1775-1794) [Thomas Sr.'s son] [the first s looks like a p or f]
- 1 man 26-45, 1 girl under 10, 1 woman 16-26,
Hissem Jesse (1794-1804) [David's son] [the first s looks like a j]
- 1 boy under 10, 1 man 16-26, 1 girl under 10, 1 woman 16-26
Hissem David (?-1775) [the first s looks just like an s]
- 1 boy 10-16, 1 man 26-45, 1 man 45+, 2 girls under 10, 1 girl 10-16, 1 woman 45+
Hoge James
. . .

Jesse Hissem was 25 years old in 1820 and, so, was, most likely, married. Who this woman was has not been recorded, but Jesse's youngest son, Abner, remembered that she was of German ancestry. This may indicate that she and Jesse married in Pennsylvania where there was a large German immigrant population. Jesse's other two sons, Levi and Thomas, only remembered that both parents came from Pennsylvania.

In the Tyler county Personal Property Tax List of 1825 were listed,

Hissam? Thomas (the 2nd)
Hissam John
Hewit Daniel
Hughes Jackson
Hanes Nathan
Hains Robert (Exempt)
Hissam David
Hissam Jesse
Hissam Levi
Howel Daniel
Hains William
Hains Benjamin
Hanes John
Hissam Thomas (the 3rd)

I do not see Jesse in the 1830 census, nor his brother Levi. This census was also recorded in somewhat alphabetical order, yet I still do not see Jesse. There was a Jesse Sisson living in Brooke county, Virginia, which is well north of Tyler county, though still on the Ohio river. This doesn't appear right however. There is a David Hisum, whom I've identified as Jesse's younger brother, David Jr., living in Jackson township, Monroe county, Ohio. Interestingly, there was a Levi Swarthwood [Swathwood in Ancestry.com], aged 50-60, living there as well. Was this David's step-brother? The 1830 census of Tyler county:

Hisam Thomas Senr.(c1740-50) [Hsam in Ancestry.com]
- 1 man 80-90, 1 woman 70-80
. . .
Hisam David (c1760-70) [Hsam in Ancestry.com]
- 1 man 60-70, 1 woman 20-30, 1 woman 50-60
. . .
Hisam Thomas of Thomas (c1780-1790) [Tomas of Thomas Hsam in Ancestry.com - Thomas' son]
- 1 boy under 5, 1 boy 5-10, 2 boys 10-15, 1 boy 5-20, 1 man 40-50, 1 girl under 5, 2 girls 10-15, 2 girls 15-20, 1 woman 40-50
. . .
- Hisam Thomas Jr.(c1790-1800) [Hissem in Ancestry.com - David's son]
2 boys under 5, 1 boy 5-10, 1 man 30-40, 1 girl under 5, 1 girl 10-15, 1 woman 30-40

If Jesse lived for a time outside Tyler county, he soon returned.

Joseph McCoy deeded to "Jesse Hissam 1833 156 A. on Big Buffalo Run." - from the 1833 Deed Book #5, page 16

Jesse's wife, Christine Welker, died sometime between 1830, when their last child, Abner, was born and 1833, when Jesse married Elizabeth Flemming. With a such a young child Jesse would want to remarry quickly. Christine would only have been about 40 years old at the time of her death, but had borne five children still living, and probably others that did not survive.

Jesse Heysham married Elizabeth Flemming in 1833 in Tyler county, Virginia - from the West Virginia Marriage Index, 1785-1971. Jesse would have been 38 years old at the time, meaning this was a second marriage. Young Abner would have been just 3 years old, and Thomas 6 at this time. Levi, on the other hand, would have been a mature 17. He would have had clear memories of his own mother and was probably less accepting of this new woman in the house. This was not the Jesse Heysham who died in 1834, see below. Jesse and Elizabeth are both in the 1850 and 1860 census. The following refers to this couples' marriage bond.

Also in 1834 there is, confusingly, the report of the death of a Jesse Heysham. Jesse's name was written as both Jesse Heysham and Jesse Hisam (in the same paragraph!).

"Appraisment Bill of the personal Estate of Jesse Heysham decd.

Pursuant to an order of the County Court of Tyler to us directed after being first Sworn as the Law directs we proceeded to appaise the property of Jesse Hisam decd. as followeth towit.
1 Skillet & lid $1.00
1 axe 2.00
1 Tea Kettle 1.12 1/2
1 Mattock 1.50
1 pair of Martingills .75
1 note of hand on John Virden 8.00

The above List presents the true valuation of all the property Shown us by the aministrator given under our hands this 26th day of April 1834.

William Martin
Samuel Love
John Martin" - from the Tyler County Will Book, 1A, pages 274-275

Who might this Jesse be? There are two lines of the Heysham/Hissam family in Tyler county, that of David and his elder brother, Thomas; brother John had remained in Pittsburgh. As discussed above, this Jesse could be the son of David, making our Jesse the son of elder brother Thomas. Or, conceivably, he could be a young son from the next generation who is otherwise unknown.

If there were two Jesse's in Tyler county, why does only one show up on any one record? Perhaps because he was too young to show up before the time of his death. The name Jesse Heysham continued to show up after 1834.

By the way, both John Hissom/Hessom, of Pittsburgh, and David Heysham/Hissam, of Tyler county, died in 1834. The first in March and the second in September.

Another land deal was recorded in 1834,

"7 November 1834. Location: Tyler County. Description: 150 acres on waters of the left fork of Big Buffaloe [sic] Run. Jesse Hissam, grantee." - from the University of Virginia database, Virginia State Land Office, Grants A-Z: Land Officer Grants No. 84, 1834-1836

Beginning in 1836 land was sold by Jesse on various occasions (with various spellings of his name). Most of these deeds were Jesse to Leonard Kelch [who married Jane Hissam, perhaps Jesse's sister, in 1837], to Levi Heysham, and to "Friend Cochran," to name a few. From the Survey Record I, 1816-1838, Tyler County, located at the Tyler County Courthouse, Middlebourne, West Virginia, page 295:

"April 21, 1838 Surveyed for Jesse Hisham 125 A. of land in Tyler County by virtue of 2 Treasury Warrants first 100 acres on a Warrant for 1000 acres No. 1267h Issued the 27th of Aug. 1836 to Isaac Hoge Jr. who assigned the same to Joseph McCoy who assigned the same to J(abbrev.) [Jesse?] Hisham and 25 acres on a Warrant for 1000 acres No. 1300 [h or b] issued the 11th Aug 1837 to William F. Peterson who assigned the same to Isaac Hoge Jr. who assigned 25 A. to J(abbrev.) Hisham situated on waters of Sheet's Run. (desc.)."
Joseph McCoy STC

The following refers to the 1834 and 1838 land deals and uses both the Hissam and Hisham spelling, very close to the Hysham used in the 1790 and 1800 census.

"Hisham, Jesse (Hissam) 125 Sheet's Run 1838
Hisham, Jesse (Hissam) 150 Buffalo Creek 1834
Hissam-See Hisham" - from the "Sims Index to Land Grants in West Virginia"

"Deed of 09 October 1839, Tyler county, West Virginia, Jacob Lewis {Coffenberry} and Mary Lewis sold 75 acres to Levi Heysham for $50. Land adjoining William Trippet and Jesse Heysham on the waters of Middle Island Creek. Beginning at a white oak." - from the Tyler County WV Deed Book 9 81+ SLC 854767"

The 1840 census of Tyler county has a Jessee Hissem, just a couple of entries below that of his brother Levi Heysham. The household contains six children. 1 son born 1810-1820, Levi, 2 sons born 1825-1830, Thomas and Abner, and 3 daughters born 1820-1825, Eleanor and ?. Jesse is shown as 50-60 years old [I think he was actually 45 years old at the time]. His wife was 40 to 50 years old.

From the Tyler County WV Deed Book 9 81+ SLC 854767:
- "Deed: 31 March 1845 Jacob Lewis aka Jacob Lewis Coffenberry (126, 4G Grf) (1755-1840); Tyler Co., West Virginia; Caveat on this records - OS-10-46 (& 47) John Lewis and Catharine his wife, Eli Ferrell and Rachel his wife, John Weekley and Jane his wife, heirs of Jacob Lewis deceased sold to Jesse Hissem for $100 land formerly occupied by Jacob Lewis situated on North side of Sheets run, a branch of Middle Island. 70 acres. The caveat is that John's wife was Mary; Ibid.; Tyler County WV Deed Book 10 46+ SLC 854767."

In the 1850 Federal census Jesse was listed as Jesse Hissam of the 61st district, Tyler county, West Virginia. He was a farmer, aged 55 [1795], born in Pennsylvania, with a wife, Elizabeth, aged 53, born in Virginia, a daughter Eleanor, 23, and a son, Abner, a farmer, aged 20. The value of Jesse's real estate was $2000. District 61 covered the entire county.

"19 937 908 Hissam Jesse 55 M Farmer 2,000 Pennsylvania
20 937 908 Hissam Elizabeth 53 F Virginia
21 938 908 Hissam Eleanor 23 F Virginia
22 938 908 Hissam Abner 20 M Farmer Virginia" - from Tyler County, VA 1850 Federal Census

Legend: Line number, House number, Family number, Last name, First name, Age, Sex, Occupation, Property Value, Birthplace

By 1850 Jesse's son, Thomas, had moved down the Ohio river to Mason county, West Virginia. In the fall of 1850, that is just after the census above was taken, his youngest son, Abner, still a bachelor, moved to Meigs county, Ohio, which is just across the Ohio river from Mason county. By 1860, and perhaps as early as the fall of 1850, Jesse and Elizabeth had also moved to Meigs county, Ohio. They lived in Lebanon township, which is east, and upriver, from Letart township where their youngest son, Abner, moved. In the map below, Letart township is the "penisula" hanging off the bottom of the county, while Lebanon is the penisula just to its east.

There is a source that claims that Jesse died on 28 September 1853, though I am not sure what this is based on.

The 1860 census for Great Bend Post Office, Lebanon township, Meigs county, which is east of Letart township, lists Jesse Hissam, a 70 year old farmer [1790], born in Pennsylvania. Living with him were his wife, Elizabeth, 66, also born in Pennsylvania, Jane Hissam, 33 [1826], born in Virginia, and William Hissam, 13 [1847], born in Ohio. Neither Jesse nor Elizabeth could read or write. Who was Jane? We know that Jesse had more than one daughter, though we previoulsy only knew the name of one of them, Eleanor. If Jane was Jesse's daughter, then who was William? He's too young to be a son of Jesse and Elizabeth. If William were Jane's son he must have been illegitimate because all of Jesse's sons and their wives are accounted for. I do not see a William Hissam of the right age, under any of the usual naming variations, in the 1870 census anywhere in the country.

In 1860 Jesse's eldest son, Levi, was still living in Tyler county, near Russell Mills. His middle son, Thomas, had moved on to Iowa. His youngest son, Abner, was living in Letart township, Meigs county, Ohio, just around the bend of the river from Jesse.

Jesse Hissam's residence in Lebanon township, Meigs county, Ohio (map circa 1877) - North is to the left

I'm not certain what effect the Civil War may have had on Jesse; none of his sons served as far as I know; Levi was in his 40's, Thomas had gone to Iowa, which had no draft, and Abner, in his 30's, was raising a family in Ohio. The one great event of the war for Meigs county, and the only significant engagement fought in Ohio, was the Battle of Buffington Island, on 19 July 1863. Union forces had been chasing Confederate General John Hunt Morgan, who had been raiding through Indiana and into Ohio, hoping to divert forces from the Union advance into Tennessee. After a series of running skirmishes across the width of southern Ohio, Union forces caught up with Morgan at Portland, Ohio, just 4 miles north of Jesse Hissam's farm. Morgan sought to cross the Ohio river at this point, but was stopped by three Federal gunboats. Confederate forces were surronded by Union cavalry resulting in a Confederate rout. Morgan escaped with 700 men, but was forced to surrender seven days later after the Battle of Salineville. The raid had been of little military value, but spread terror among the population of southern and eastern Ohio.

One of the interesting sights Jesse would have been able to see from his farmstead during the war would have been the Federal gunboats patrolling the Ohio river. At right is the ST. CLAIR, a converted riverboat, which would have been seen often on this stretch of the river.

In the 1860's Jesse's family dispersed. By 1860 Thomas was in Iowa and by the fall of 1865 Abner had joined him there. Jessee's daughter, Eleanor, was in Iowa as well with her new husband, John Lee, arriving sometime between 1863 and 1866. Sometime between 1867 and 1870 Jesse's oldest boy, Levi, had moved downriver to the riverside town of California, Kentucky.

Jesse's second wife, Elizabeth Flemming, died in the early 1860's. "Jesse Hissum or Hissom" then married, for a third time, to Elizabeth Reynolds Winters on 4 September 1864 at Great Bend, in Meigs county, Ohio. She was 20 years Jesse's junior. Elizabeth was the widow of William S. Winters (c1812), who had died on 5 December 1861 in Meigs county, Ohio. Elizabeth's youngest child was Gaston, born in 1845, or 19 years old at the time of the wedding.

The Theodore Winters above was the son of William S. and Elizabeth Winters. He was 18 at the time of the 1860 census of Lebanon township, Meigs county, Ohio and, at that time, living at home with his parents. The Great Bend post office was just north of Jesse's farm on the map above.

In the 1870 census of Lebanon township, Meigs county, Ohio as Jesse Hissem [Jessa Hissom in Ancestry.com], an 80 year old farmer. Living with him was Elisabeth, 55 [1815], and a domestic servant, Rebecca Lowry, 15. Both Jesse and Elizabeth were born in Pennsylvania. Note that the Sayre family lived nearby (actually the Sayre family was pretty thick all along the Ohio river in Meigs county). Jesse's son, Abner, had married Serena Sayre.

Jesse Hissem died on 18 May 1875 and was buried in the Bethlehem church cemetery, Lebanon township, Meigs county, Ohio. This cemetery is just over the northern border of Letart township. His tombstone:

"Jesse Hissem
Died
May 18, 1875
Aged 84 Yr" - from usgwarchives.net

In the 1880 census of Letart township, Meigs county, Ohio as Elizabeth Hissem [Hissinn in Ancestry.com], 64, of Ohio. She was living with the family of her son, Theodore Winters, 37, and his wife, Mary A., 38, and son, Jordan A., 14. Elizabeth was listed as mother of the head of the household.

Elizabeth Reynolds Winters Hyssom died in 1893 and was buried in the Bethlehem cemetary. Elizabeth was buried under the name Winters, with her previous husband, William, who had died in 1861, and sons, John W. and Rylent, both of whom pre-deceased her.

Hyssom, Elizabeth: 4/14/1815-6/15/1893 - from Meigs County Ohio - Bethlehem Cemetery

Jesse and his first wife, name unknown, had the following children,
(23) Levi Hissam (1816), male line dies out in generation (25)
(23) Eleanor Hissem (1824)
(23) Jane Hissam (1826)
(23) Thomas Hissem (1827), male line dies out in generation (26)
(23) Abner Hissam (1830), the surviving male line (that's me!)

Levi Hissam (Hissem) was the son of Jesse Hissam and Christine Welker. Note, from a biography of William Jackson Hissem printed in 1896: "His father Levi Hissem, was a native of Westmorland Pennsylvania and removed with his father (Jesse) to what is now Tyler County West Virginia when four years of age." Levi was born on 30 April 1816 according to Hardesty's Biographical Atlas and the Levi Hissam family bible. Most sources claim that he was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania and moved to Tyler County, West Virginia with his father circa 1820, when he was 4 years old. However, the recollections of his grandfather, David Hissam, were that the family moved from Northampton county to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania in 1807 and stayed there only three years before moving to Tyler county, West Virginia. I believe that Levi was actually born in the latter place. There are no birth records for this period in either county.

"Jesse Hissem, paternal grandfather of Mrs. [Louisa J. Hissem] Brown, was one of the pioneer settlers in this county [Tyler county], coming with his family from Pennsylvania." - from Hardesty's Biographical Atlas of 1872

In the 1820 census of Tyler county, Virginia the household of Jesse Hissem contained 1 boy under 10 years of age, Levi.

There is a contrary theory that Jesse was from Maryland and that Levi was the grandson of a Martin Hissem of Holland.

"Levi was born April 30, 1816 in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, to Jesse Hissem born about 1790 in Maryland. Jesse died in Meigs County Ohio in 1872 [sic]. Jesse' father was Martin Hissem, who came to America from Holland and served in the Revolutionary War." - from the family files at the Campbell County [Kentucky] Historical Society

As for Martin Hissem, I've looked for him in all of the Revolutionary War veteran lists, under all of the surname variations, and failed to find anything. That doesn't mean he didn't exist, but I haven't found him in the Maryland census either so there is no evidence, outside the above, that confirms Martin's existence. I have found a number of Hissem's in Westmoreland, and nearby Allegheny, counties in Pennsylvania, that could be Jesse's father, but these are John, Thomas and David, the sons of Thomas Hesom. I admit that I don't know for certain that Jesse was the son of David, but he was that or of John or Thomas. I don't see a fourth alternative.

I suspect that the family, forgetting their past, concocted the Holland story based on their surname's similarity to some Dutch names [there is a Hissem import company in The Netherlands today] and passed this on to their heirs. In the same fashion my father thought our family was German. As I discuss on the John Hissom page, the wives of Thomas Hesom and his son David, Catherina Kleyn and Elizabeth Bosch/Bush, were both of Dutch ancestry and probably taught their sons the Dutch language as their mother-tongue. Those sons may have thought of themselves as more Dutch than English. Their surnames too had been made Dutch during the stay in the Dutch communities of the Minisinck Valley, changing from Heesom/Hesom to Hissom/Hissem.

Jesse Hissem and his family, including Levi, are not found in the 1830 census.

In the 1840 census of Tyler county, Virginia the household of Jessee Hissem contained six children, including a son aged 20 to 30 years old, that is, born between 1810 and 1820. Levi would have been 24.

Levi married Elizabeth Holmes Morgan on 11 December 1840 in Tyler county. Below is their marriage bond.

Elizabeth was born on 13 June 1820 in Virginia, the daughter of John G. Morgan. John was born in Monongahelia county, West Virginia on 6 November 1792 and died in Tyler county in 1884, at the age of 92. John had been a soldier in the War of 1812.

Levi and Elizabeth were members of the Methodist church. Early Methodists were drawn from all levels of society, but the Methodist preachers took the message to labourers and criminals who tended to be left outside organised religion at that time. It became the religion of many slaves who later formed black churches in the Methodist tradition. Levi was a farmer and interested in the woolen, flour and lumber business. See below for other evidence that Levi was a miller, co-owner of a woolen mill, and superintendent of elections, and maybe Justice of the Peace. I don't see any lumber interests, but it looks like Levi was a successful businessman with his fingers in many pies. According to one of his obituaries,

"Mr. Hissem in his early days, was engaged in produce-boating to the South, but he gave up this occupation and went to Middle Island Creek, W. Va., where he spent many years in the milling business."

A daughter, Louisa, was born in 1842, and in 1845 Levi's son, Martin, was born. According to Martin's later recollection this was in Russell Mills in Tyer county. This appears to be near, or on, Middle Island creek.

In the 1850 census of District 61, Tyler county, West Virginia as Levi Hissam, a miller, born in Pennsylvania, aged 34. His name is written with several confusing flourishes. The 'H' has a curlicue that looks like an 'e' and the initial 's' looks like an 'f' [similar to the way the letter is written in the U.S. Constitution] - think Heifsam. Living with him were his wife, Elizabeth, 30, Louisa, 8, Martin, 5, and Morgan, 1/12. He had real property worth $3000. It appears that Levi was living in the same residence as Benjamin Morgan, his brother-in-law.

Levi's grandmother, Elizabeth Heysham, made a request on 9 June 1855 to receive her husband David's bounty land warrant as his widow. A Levi Hissem, Justice of the Peace, witnessed her statement and provided support as to her credibility and that she was who she claimed to be. Could this be our Levi? He would have been about 39 years old at this time and, as a miller with $3000 in real property, one of the wealthier and more settled members of the community. By the way, I don't think any legal training was assumed in this title.

But would Elizabeth be allowed to conduct legal business with her own grandson? Also in the court document Levi said that he had no interest in the claim. While that may have been strictly true, his grandmother was going to get the money, not he, it seems to be skating very close to the edge of a lie.

I think the answer lies in a process of elimination. David Heysham had a son, Levi, born in about 1800, but he disappears from the census after 1840. David's brother, Thomas, had a son, Levi, but he was living in Shannon county, Missouri by this time. Thomas also had a grandson, Levi, through his son Thomas J., but he would have been only 22 years old in 1855, a little young to be a JP. So unless we posit another, unknown Levi, then this must be our man.

The 1860 census of Russell Mills Post Office, Tyler county lists Levi Hissem, a miller aged 44, with a wife, Elizabeth, 44, and children Louisa J., 18, Martin L., 15, and Silas M. [Morgan], 10. Levi had real property worth $5000 and other property worth $1350. It sounds like he was doing well. He had been born in Pennsylvania and his wife in Virginia. Levi was a Democrat before the Civil War, but afterwards became an enthusiastic and consistent Republican. His interests rubbed off on his son, William Jackson, who had a political career.

The following also looks like the duty for a JP:

"October Election, 1863.
Schedule.
Superintendents of the Election for the County of
. . .
Tyler.--Z Peirpoint, Levi Heysham, and Robert Strathers." - from "Acts of of the Legislature of West Virginia."

In 1864 Levi Hissem of Tyler county was taxed on his business, referred to as Watter Craft, valued at $2000 and tax due of $40 - from Ancestry.com. This may have related to the barges that were used to deliver the mill's produce to market - see especially the woolen mill, below, which later went bankrupt due to transportation problems. See also the reference above about "produce-boating" which is also probably relevant. In another document about taxes in 1864, Levi is shown as involved in Retail Sales, but no valuation is shown. The tax was $10.

Levi lived in and helped build Shiloh, West Virginia, which is located on Middle Island Creek, near Sheet's Run.

"Some of the early families who lived in Shiloh were Efrem Martin, Nelson Brown, Levi Hissam, and Granville Flesher. The people in the community thought that Levi Hissam suggested naming the town Shiloh after Shiloh in the Bible.

The old church was built by Granville Flesher and Levi Hissam. The pastor at that time was a man named Steel. The first church was Methodist.

A woolen mill was built and completed on 16 September 1865. The factory was four stories high. The first story was devoted to scouring and dying the wool. The second was for carding and spinning. The third for weaving, and the fourth was for the storage of wool. The factory wove blankets and cloth called jeans and yarn cloth called flannel.

There were 800 shares sold at $20 each. Some of the stockholders were: Zenes Martin 152 shares, N. H. Brown 150, Jacob Hugus 51, E. B. Brennen 50, S. E. Steele 25, T. D. Gorrell 18, D. C. Sweeney 15, Wilson Long 12, A. L. Morgan 7, Smiley Maxwell 5, G. C. Flesher 5, Isaac Moore 5, and Mrs. I. H. Johnson 5. I. B. Brennen was president. Superintendent and secretary was J. H. Johnson.

The factory caused the town to prosper for a while. Its failure was due to a lack of sufficient means of transportation for their products. Delivery of goods was made by wagon. The factory was sold to Dave Alkire in 1904 and it was torn down shortly after.

The store owned by Ashers contained two rooms and was built by the woolen mill people (People's Manufacturing Company). The upper story of the store was a lodge of the G. A. R. (Grand Army of the Republic) and also the Odd Fellows. The Shiloh band also held practices there." - from the "History of Shiloh," by Sara Kathryn Flanagan Cornell.

"The People's Manufacturing Company

I, Granville D. Hall, secretary of the state of West Virginia, hereby certify that an agreement, duly acknowledged and accompanied by the proper affidavits, has been this day delivered to me; which agreement is in the words and figures following:

The undersigned agree to become a corporation by the name of 'The People's Manufacturing Company,' for the purpose of carrying on the grist and saw mill business, and the trading necessarily connected therewith; also, the manufacture of wool or cotton, or both, and the trading necessarily connected therewith; which corporation shall keeps its principal office or place of business at Shilo [Shiloh], (Pleasant Mills,) in Tyler county, West Virginia . . . The capital subscribed is divided into shares of twenty dollars each, which are held by the undersigned, respectively, as follows: that is to say, by Jacob T. Galloway, of Tyler county, West Virginia, thirty shares; by Levi Hissim, of the same place, one hundred shares; by Nelson H. Brown [he married Louisa J., the daughter of Levi Hissem], of same place, one hundred shares; by S.E. Steele, of same place, twenty-five shares; by Martin L. Hissim, of same place, twenty-five shares; . . .

Given under our hands, this eleventh day of September, eighteen hundred and sixty-five.
[Signed.]
. . .
Levi Hissim
. . .
Martin L. Hissim
. . ."
- from "Acts of the Legislature of West Virginia"

In 1870 Levi moved his family to the town of California, on the Ohio river, in Campbell county, Kentucky, where Levi farmed and operated a store. The town was a short way up-river from Cincinnati, Ohio. The family had a significant enough impact on the community to have a Hissem road in the county named after them, as well as a Hissem avenue in nearby Alexandria, Kentucky.

See M.L. Hissem's residence on Jackson St., just west of Jefferson St.
On the southeast corner of town was the public landing, where the steamboats would dock

In the 1870 census of Carthage, Campbell county, Kentucky as Levi Hissem [Leai Hipern in Ancestry.com]. It is true that the 'v' in Levi appears closed, like an 'a,' and that the initial 's' in Hissem looks like an 'f,' or combined with the second 's,' like a 'p.' Levi was a 54 year old merchant, born in Pennsylvania - according to Campbell county, Kentucky records, in Westmoreland county. His personal estate was valued at $1,500. Living with him were Elizabeth H., 50, Silas M., 20, a music teacher, and Willie J., 7. Silas and Willie were both born in Virginia. Susan E. Reeder, 22, a houseworker, was living with them. Levi's son Martin lived 'next-door.' Carthage was a district southeast of Alexandria, the county seat. It is between Alexandria and California. In the context of the census this may have referred merely to the nearest post-office. I think Levi lived in what became the town of California.

The following land sale was from Levi Hissem to the father-in-law of Levi's daughter. Louisa Hissem had married Nelson H. Brown and continued to live in Tyler county after her father left.

"In 1860 Lewis S. Brown conveyed to William Stealey an adjoining tract of 125 acres and 115 poles and in 1875, Levi Hissem conveyed to him 187 acres nearby. This land was later owned by John Seckman of Middle Island. " - from "The Conaways of Marion and Tyler Counties, West Virginia" by Orrin Bryte Conaway

In an 1877 plat map for California there is a spot labeled for M. Hissem, but not for Levi.

In the 1880 census of Carthage, Campbell county, Kentucky as Levi Hissem [Hessem in Ancestry.com and Familysearch.org], a farmer, aged 64, born in Pennsylvania. Living with him were his wife, Elizabeth, 60, and son, Willey, 17. Note that Levi's father was shown as born in Pennsylvania [not Maryland]. A niece, Emma Riggs, a 16 year old teacher, of Virginia, was also living with Levi.

The following shows that Levi maintained contacts with Tyler county.

"Suit in equity brought in October, 1882, in the Circuit Court of Tyler county by Levi Hissem, and others against D.D. Johnson and M.M. Johnson, his wife and others. The plaintiffs are judgement creditors of the defendent D.D. Johnson, and the object of the suit is to subject a tract of about seventy-one acres of land in said county to the payment of the plaintiff's judgements." - from "The American Reports" by Isaac Grant Thompson and Irving Browne

An 1883 plat map of the region around California show properties for L. and M.L. Hissem just north of town, between the river and the Cincinnati railroad. J.M. Morgan, a relative, had the property just south, between the town and a small creek. This property can be seen in the map above, though the Hissems' cannot.

Levi died on 22 March 1898, aged 80. A marker for Levi, as well as his wife Elizabeth and grandson Wilmot, are located at Grandview cemetery, Mentor, Campbell county, Kentucky. Mentor is near the town of California. The following snippet may be an obituary for Levi, being published in 1899.

"Mr. Levi Hissem, father of Captain M L. Hissem of the steamer Tacoma, died at his residence at California, Ky, Tuesday night, aged 82 years He had been ill only three days of Bright's disease [nephritis, a kidney ailment]. Mr. Hissem in his early days, was engaged in produce-boating to the South, but he gave up this occupation and went to Middle Island Creek, W. Va., where he spent many years in the milling business. In 1870 he moved to California and lived there ever since on a farm. Three of his children -- Captain M.L. Hissem, owner and master of the steamer Tacoma; Senator W.J. Hissem of Newport and Mrs. N.H. Brown of Shiloh, W. Va., -- survive him." - from The Public Ledger of Maysville, Kentucky, 25 March 1898

". . . Having been the pastor of Levi Hissem twice, and closely acquainted with him since until his death, I speak of him from long and close observation, his house having been my home when in the village. He was born, brought up, married, converted, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in West Virginia. His wife, through whose influence he was converted, was Elizabeth Morgan. They removed to California, Ky., in 1870, and lived there until his death. Levi Hissem was well endowed, both in body and mind. His memory was excellent, perception keen, judgment sound, and imagination . . ." - from the "Western Christian Advocate" of 1899

"NEWPORT
Death of Levi Hissem

Levi Hissem, the venerable father of Senator Hissem, died late Tuesday evening at his home at California Ky. of Bright's disease. He was a resident of Campbell County for the past 30 years, having moved here from West Virginia. Mr. Hissem was a man of excellent character, whose life speaks for itself. He had been active in business until a few months ago, when his health failed him. He was a man of very strong character, who was spoken well of by all who knew him as a man possessed of upright principles.

He was 82 years of age. Mr. Hissem was the father of Captain M L Hissem, W J Hissem and Mrs. Louisa Brewer [sic, Brown], and the husband of Elizabeth Hissem, aged 77 years. Twenty five years ago, he fell from the gable of a church in California to the ground, dislocating his knee. He had been slightly lame every since.

The funeral will take place this morning from the California M E Church." - from the Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 March 1898, page 8

In the 1900 census of California, Campbell county, Kentucky was Levi's widow, Elizabeth H. Hissem, a 79 year old widow boarding in the house of Robert Pickens. Robert was the father of Elizabeth's daughter-in-law, Nettie. There is another reference to Elizabeth in the 1900 census. Apparently she was visiting her daughter, Louisa, in Tyler county and got counted again. In the 1900 census of Union township, Tyler county, West Virginia as Elizabeth H. Hissem, 79 [June 1820], the mother-in-law of Nelson Brown and his wife, Louisa J., 58.

Elizabeth H. Hissem died on 30 April 1901, per her tombstone, aged 80.

The Levi Hissem family bible is in the Campbell County Historical Society:

"Births

Martha Galloway-April 12, 1812
Jacob T Galloway- August 25, 1812
Mary Elizabeth Galloway-December 11, 1814
Levi Hissem-April 30, 1816
Elizabeth Hissem-June 13, 1820 [nee Morgan, Levi's wife]
Nelson H Brown-August 8, 1833
Sarah Jane Flesher-March 18, 1835
Theodore Galloway-April 10, 1837
Ellis M Galloway-April 12, 1838
Martha A Galloway-December 11, 1841
Louisa J Brown-September 11, 1841
Rachel Galloway-October 11, 1844
Martin Luther Hissem-May 3, 1845
Lizzie B Brown-April 3, 1862
Willey J Hissem-March 12, 1863
Ida V Brown-June 5, 1864
Wilmot T Hissem-November 2, 1866
Marian R Brown-August 3, 1867
Charles M Brown-November 9, 1870
Nettie Pickens Hissem-January 19, 1868
Lacy M DeMoss-July 25, 1868
Mary Hissem-July 27, 1871
Leona Hissem-April 6, 1888
Leva Hissem-June 13, 1888
Ethel Hissem-April 27, 1890
Helen Hissem-June 25, 1892
Robert Hissem Haag-May 3, 1913
Virginia Lee Wilson-April 24, 1913
Helen Elisabeth Haag-August 11, 1915
Jean Louise Wilson-Feb 27, 1916

Deaths

Martha Galloway-March 17, 1895, 82y 11m 5d
Jacob T Galloway-August 24, 1891, 79y less one day
Elizabeth Hissem-April 17, 1901, 80 y 10m 4d [nee Morgan, Levi's wife]
Levi Hissem-March 22, 1898, 80y 1m 8d
Sarah Jane Flesher-either 1893 or 1894
Theodore Galloway-1875
Martha A Galloway-March 5, 1924
Louisa J Brown-June 15, 1904, 62y 9m 4d
Rachel Galloway Hissem-January 8, 1928
Wilmot T Hissem-August 9, 1900, 33y 8m 7d
Nelson H Brown-June 23, 1914, 80y 10m 15d
Herman Haag-June 5, 1926
John J Morgan-January 7, 1902
Emma J Morgan-January 14, 1911, 76y"

Louisa was born on 11 September 1841 in Virginia. In the 1850 census of District 61, Tyler county, West Virginia as Louisa Hissam, 8, of Virginia. In the 1860 census of Tyler county as Louisa J. Hissem, 18.

Louisa J. Hissem, 19, the daughter of Levi and Elizabeth [Morgan] Hissem, married Nelson H. Brown, a 27 year old millwright, of Cheanago, New York, the son of Lewis S. and Rocksy [Hill] Brown, on 2 May 1861 in Tyler county, West Virginia. Nelson was born on 8 August 1833. At the age of eleven he accompanied his parents, Lewis S. Brown and Roxy Hill to Tyler county, West Virginia.

From Hardesty's Biographical Atlas, Tyler county, West Virginia:

"The ancestors of Mr. Brown were of English birth. His great-grandfather was a captain and lost at sea, his grandfather was a soldier in the Revoltionary War, and his father one of America's defenders in the 1812 war. His father was born in New York, October 3, 1795, and died in Tyler county, West Virgina, March 19, 1879. His mother, born November 29, 1801, died Febraury 20, 1875. Levi and Elizabeth (Morgan) Hissam, the parents of Mrs. Brown, now live in Campbell County, Kentucky. Her father was born April 30, 1816, and her mother's birth was on the 13th of June 1820. Her grandfather, John G. Morgan, was born in Monongalia County, Virginia, November 6, 1792, is still livng and a most remarkable instance of longevity. He has never been sick, and the only dose of medicine he ever took was one administered to him against his will in the 1812 war. Jesse Hissem, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Brown, was one of the pioneer settlers in this county, coming with his family from Pennsylvania. Nelson H. Brown has been living in the village of Shiloh since 1861. He is a manufacturer of woolen goods, and has been connected with the woolen factory here since it started. His address is Littles Mills, Tyler county, West Virginia."

In the 1870 census of Union township, Tyler county, West Virginia as Louisa Brown, 29. Her husband was Nelson Brown, 36. His occupation was given as carding, in the woolen mill I suppose. Her children were Bell, 8, Ida, 5, and Marion, 2.

Nelson H. Brown continued to hold shares in the People's Manufacturing Company after his father-in-law, Levi Hissam, moved to Campbell county, Kentucky. He and other shareholders were sued for libel by I.H. Johnson, the superintendent of the company, in 1875. It need not be said that there were counter-suits as well as the company foundered.

In the 1880 census of Union township, Tyler county, West Virginia as Louisa J. Brown, 38. Her husband was Nelson [Nelsen in Ancestry.com] H. Brown, a 46 year old Manager of the Woolen Mill. Their children were Lizzie [Lizzie-Bell?], 18, Ida W., 16, Marion R. [a son], 12, and Charley M., 9. The three eldest children worked in the mill.

In the 1900 census of Union township, Tyler county, West Virginia as Louisa J. Brown, 58 [September 1841], the wife of Nelson Brown. Living with them was her mother, Elizabeth H. Hissem, 79.

Louisa died on 15 June 1904, at the age of 62. Nelson died on 23 June 1914, at the age of 80. Their children were Lizzie B. (b. 3 April 1862), Ida V. (b. 5 June 1864), Marian R. (b. 3 August 1867), and Charles M. (b. 9 November 1870).

Also spelled as Hissam, Hissim or Hissom. Martin Luther Hissem was born on 3 May 1845 in Russell Mills, Tyler County, West Virginia, the son of Levi Hissam and Elizabeth Morgan. His given name may refer to the Lutheran reformer, but it may also be a reference to the Martin family. Efrem Martin founded the town of Shiloh with Martin's father, Levi, and the Martin's intermarried with the Hissem family.

For those interested, the Historical Society of Campbell County, Kentucky has two scrapbooks put together by Martin's daughter, Mary. One deals with Mary's life and the other with Martin's. The latter includes letters from Martin's brother, William. The handwriting of these is more beautiful than readable. Unfortunately, many are also in rhyme. Look for these scrapbooks under Steamboats, for Martin's career.

In the 1850 census of District 61, Tyler county, West Virginia as Martin Hissam, 5, of Virginia. In the 1860 census of Tyler county as Martin L. Hissem, 15.

In 1865 Martin L. Hissim was one of the co-owners of the woolen mill in Shiloh, West Virginia. Other owners included Martin's father, Levi.

Martin L. Hissem, 21, the son of Levi and Elizabeth Hissem, married Rachel Galloway, 21, the daughter of Jacob T. and Martha Galloway, on 31 October 1865 in Tyler county, West Virginia. S. E. Steele officiated. Rachel was born on 11 October 1844.

Martin moved to Campbell county, Kentucky with his parents and brothers, Silas and William, sometime after January 1870 when his brother, Silas, had a letter printed in the "Scientific American" magazine. In the 1870 census of Carthage precinct, Campbell county, Kentucky as Martin L. Hissem, a 25 year old merchant. Living with him were her wife, Rachael G., 25, and son, Wilmott T., 3, of West Virginia. Martin was living 'next-door' to his father, Levi.

In the 1880 census of Carthage, Campbell county, Kentucky as Martin Hissem [Hissene in Ancestry.com]. He was a 35 year old farmer. Living with him were his wife, Rachel, 36, and children, Wilmot, a 13 year old farm hand, and Mary, 8, who was at school. Martin's parents were listed as born in Virginia.

Martin had, seemingly, grown tired of farming and earned his steamboat licence in 1879. He became a riverboat Captain and the owner of the TACOMA, a paddle wheel steamer operating on the Ohio river.

The TACOMA The ship was a stern wheeled, wooden hulled vessel, similar to the painting at the right, 180 feet long, with three boilers. It was launched in 1883 and operated continously for the next 39 years. TACOMA was first operated, from 1883-90, by the Ohio River Packet Company owned by David Gibson and N.C. Vanderbilt. It was operated from 1890 to 14 April 1901 by the Tacoma Transportation Company, Martin L. Hissem, President. It was destroyed on 4 November 1922 by a fire that leapt from the MORNING STAR to other ships at the pier, destroying a total of four ships.

The career of Captain Hissem, in his own words:

"I received my first license in 1879 and bought the steamer TEMPEST at Wheeling, W Va. and entered the trading business operating between Cincinnati and Newport to Wheeling, remaining one year. I then went pilot on the steamer W P THOMPSON in the Cincinnati & Chiloh [Chilo, Ohio] trade and remained perhaps 2 years. I then bought the steamer BURNSIDE and entered the Cincinnati & California (Ky.) trade, and after a few months traded for the steamer T D DALE, and continued in the trade through summer and fall season when I sold my boat and bought an interest in the steamer TACOMA and her trade, and took command.

At this time I bought the steamer OLIVET and sent her to the Cumberland River trade, remaining myself, on the TACOMA about one year, then I brought the steamer CLARKSVILLE, continuing in the Cumberland trade, myself in command for two years [the Cumberland river runs west through southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee, joing the Tennessee river before it meets the Ohio]. Then I entered the Green river trade with the CLARKSVILLE, continuing about 20 months, the closing of the Government locks for repairs induced me to sell out [the Green river runs west through central Kentucky where, after meeting many other rivers, it joins the Ohio at Henderson county].

I then built the steamer LEE H BROOKS [below], an excursion boat, and ran one season in the excursion business between Cincinnati and Coney Island and sold her."

An excursion boat drops off passengers at Coney Island, Cincinnati, Ohio
[This was the ISLAND QUEEN which burned in the same fire that destroyed the TACOMA]

'Captain' Martin L. Hissem, steamboat captain, and Mary, his daughter, resided at 321 Parret street in Evansville, Indiana in 1890, according to the Evansville Directory of 1888-1892. Where was Rachel? Soon after the family seems to have moved to Cincinnati where the children, Wilmot and Mary, could pursue their education at the Cincinnati College.

"Here I entered the Cincinnati & Chilo trade in charge of the TACOMA, having bought a half of the stock. After some little time I bought the entire interest and rebuilt the boat, which I think was 1894."

In 1898 Martin's father, Levi, died.

In the 1900 census . . . ?

Martin's son, Wilmot, gave his address as Newport, Campbell county, Kentucky in 1896 and his daughter, Mary, was living in Newport at the time of that census. However, 1900 was a hectic year for Martin. His son, Wilmot, died and his daughter, Mary, moved to New York City to further her vocal career.

Captain Hissem's recitation of his career continues,

"Continuing in this trade until 1902, when I sold boat and trade to the Louisville & Cincinnati trade, being in command.

After one season there, I went to Vevay, Indiana, and kept the wharf boat in the interest of the L & C Packet company, and remained three years. This brings me to 1906."

The Wharf Boat A Wharf Boat, actually a floating warehouse, on the Ohio River at Cincinnati loads a steamboat.

Up to 1902 Martin had been both owner and captain of his boat, or boats, and then he sold out. What happened? During the latter half of the 19th century the railroads had been successfully exerting competitive pressure on the river trade, this included brutal price wars and bribery to get favored treatment and government funding for new rail. While the river trade never disappeared, it fell from the prominent position it had previously held. One of the results of this was that Cincinnati, built on the river trade, was ecliped as a trade nexus by the railroad dominated Chicago. Martin's small company may not have been able to handle the pressure.

"The Steamer Levi J. Workum, has been sold to Capt. Hissem, of Pomeroy, Ohio, but will continue in the Madison and Cincinnati trade as an independent packet." - from the Boone County Recorder of 12 September 1906.

"In 1908 I bought the steamer LEVI J WORKUM, an opposition boat, running from Cincinnati to Madison Indiana, a distance of 100 miles. Operating this boat one year, I put this boat's machinery into a new hull and named her KENTUCKY and continued her in the trade until . . ."

In the 1910 census of California, Campbell county, Kentucky as Martin L. Hissem, a 64 year old captain of a Steam Boat. Living with him was his wife, Richell [sic] G. Hissem, aged 65.

"Capt. Hissem, of the Kentucky, reports that both passenger and freight business continues good. He brought a lot of freight for Madison merchants this morning." - from the Madison Daily Herald of 20 May 1913

"Captain Hissem is having a new wharf for Vevay built at Higginsport, Ohio." - from Vevay newspapers of 1914

"The Louisville, with Capt. Hissem in command, did not arrive until 7 o'clock this morning on account of heavy freight business. She was at Capt. Laidley's wharf boat for about an hour putting off and taking on freight." - from the Madison Daily Herald of 19 January 1916

". . . until 1917, when the breaking up of the ice, destroyed almost the entire fleet of boats operated by the company."

"While I have given a general account of my employment, it is not to a day, or to a boat, for I was transferred from one boat to another of the same line, which included the BONANZA, LIZZIE DAY, and CITY OF LOUISVILLE. The time operating my own boats was about 23 years. The aggregate is correct extending from 1879 to 1917.

Bought the steamer TEMPEST in 1879-ran in the Cincinnati and Wheeling trade
HARRY in 1881-Towing trade in Harbor
BURNSIDE in 1882-Cincinnati to California
T D DALE in 1882-Cincinnati to California
OLIVET in 1887-Cumberland river trade
CLARKSVILLE in 1888-Green river trade
Built the LEE H BROOKS in 1891-Coney Island excursions
TACOMA in 1894-Cincinnati & Chilo

Sold boat & trade to Cincinnati & Louisville Packet Co and entered their service in 1902
Kept Vevay wharf boat in 1903
Sold Vevay wharf boat in 1908
Bought LEVI J WORKUM in 1908
Built steamer KENTUCKY in 1909
Left the company's employ in 1917

During this 15 years employment, I was working in the trades of the Company between Cincinnati & Louisville Ky. & the Madison Cincinnati trade, on various boats, viz. BONANZA, LIZZIE BAY, LEVI J WORKUM, KENTUCKY, CITY OF LOUISVILLE, CITY OF CINCINNATI, & TACOMA. My service ended when their boats were destroyed by the heavy ice flow of 1917." from the Campbell County Historical Society.

Martin's daughter, Mary, wrote that

"Pa came to Verona [New Jersey] winters with mother in 1913 to 1917."

After the L&C Packet companies' river boat fleet was "destroyed by the heavy ice flow of 1917," Martin did not work the river again. He was 71 years old and the company, now short of billets for captains, if not in bankruptcy, probably let him go.

In the aftermath of this forced retirement Martin and Rachel moved to New York City, where their daughter, Mary, lived. The following is from notes that Mary Hissem DeMoss made on the inside cover of a book, "Mark Twain's Scrap Book."

"Pa went to Columbia in 1922.
Pa left Columbia June 1933
Came to NY 1917 to stay
Quit Ohio River then
Lived with Mary first at 106 West 90th from Sep to last
of Oct same year (1917)
When she moved to 8 West 91st
Mary moved to 531 W. 124 Aug 8. 1929

In 1925 Martin was working at Columbia University.

"Some people remember their friends at holiday time with greeting cards. M.L. Hissem, red-cheeked at sixty-four [he was actually 80], says it with apples.

Hissem is elevator man in one of the Columbia University buildings. Every under-graduate in the building is his friend.

Last Thanksgiving he passed out hundreds of apples and if the supply holds out he is going to do it again for New Years.

Hissem, a native of West Virginia, was formerly a pilot on the Ohio River." - from the 16 December 1925 "Indiana Evening Gazette" of Indiana, Pennsylvania

Martin received another commendation in 1927.

25 May 1927.
"Dear Mr. Updike:

Mr. M.L. Hissem, who has run the elevator in Havemeyer for five years and who is now running the elevator in the Chandler Laboratory, is a case of one of your employees to whom I wish to direct your attention.

Mr. Hissem was a steamboat captain of an Ohio River steamboat until a flood destroyed the Ohio River fleet, and he was beyond the age of getting a good job again.

He is a most faithful man and does his work well. He is a model for other employees, and even professor. He is a most likable man and a man of high character.

I wish you could see your way clear to give his a raise in salary, not only because his strenuous work deserves it, but such a man is an asset to the Laboratories. It is pretty hard for him to keep himself and wife on the $75 per month in New York City. I happen to know that he is using his bank account to a large extent for actual living.

I am sure every man in the Department would urge that this old gentleman receive an increase in his pay.

Very sincerely yours

Thomas B. Freas

A reference from Rootsweb,

"The Frank Preston leaves for New Richmond, Chilo and Moscow every day except Sunday from the foot of Vine street at 3:30 pm in command of Captain Hissem and Chief Clerk W T Hissem in the office. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~. Rachel Galloway Hissem died 8 Jan 1928 in "

Martin's wife, Rachel, died on 8 January 1928. The following is from her obituary in the New York Times.

"Mrs. Rachel G. Hissem.

Mrs. Rachel G. Hissem, wife of Martin G. [sic] Hissem, elevator operator in Havemeyer Hall, Columbia University, died yesterday at her home, 9 West Ninety-first Street. Her husband is well known among the students and teachers at Columbia for his annual gifts of "Thanksgiving apples" to the hundred or more persons most of them connected with the chemistry department, whom he invites to call at Havemeyer Hall during his lunch hour. Mrs. Hissem also left a daughter, Mrs. Mary H. de Moss. Services will be held at the home at 10:00 o'clock tomorrow morning." - from the New York Times of 9 January 1928

In the 1930 census of Manhattan, New York City as Marten [sic] Hissem, an 84 year old College "E[levator] Operator." He was living with Lacy Demoss, a 62 year old railroad clerk, and his wife, Martin's daughter, Mary, 58.

The Chicago Tribune of 21 September 1933 had the followinng news items about Martin Hissem.

"Jerseyite, 88, Flies to Fair After Iowa Youngster of 80

Capt. Martin L. Hissem of Newark N.J. read in a newspaper that Loren Morrison of Council Bluffs, Ia., at the age of 80, took his first ride in an airplane coming to the Fair, and smoked his first cigaret. "Morrison is just a young fellow," Capt. Hissem said when he landed at Chicago airport in a United Air Lines plane yesterday. "I am 88 years old, and this was my first ride in an airplane, all the way from Newark."

In the City Directory of Montclair, New Jersey of 1937, 1939 and 1941 as "Hissem, Martin L. r 274 Linden av." The citation for the last year notes, "died May 10 1939 age 94."

Per an handwritten note found in Mary Hissem DeMoss's scrapbook, Martin died on 3 May 1945. Since this was exactly 100 years after his birth, I think there is a mistake here. See also above. I recently found the following,

"A New York Herald Tribune story records the death of Columbia University's famous "Apple Santa Claus." He was Captain Martin L. Hissem, a former Ohio River boatman who obtained a job in 1922 as elevator operator at Havemeyer . . ." - from the "Columbia Alumni News" of 1939

I got an interesting email from Jay Sniatkowski recently. He wrote,

"I was doing some floor construction yesterday (March 4th 2012) and came across some old newspapers that were used to insulate the floor. Though the papers were in poor condition one thing stood out and that was an obituary for Martin Hissam from May 11th 1939. I currently live in Verona [New Jersey] and the headline mentioned both Mr. Hissam and Verona so I had to read it. It says he lived at 274 Linden Ave which I live close to and am familiar with. Very interesting stuff but I can confirm that paper was from may of 1939. I found your page with the family history very interesting."

"The obituary my brother and I discovered and read couldn't be pulled off the back of the flooring we ripped up. It was too fragile so we were only able to read it. It was definitely from the date I mentioned . The obituary said he was 77 years of age but it did go out of the way to mentioned that he lied about his age to get a job as an elevator operator. All of that information you have in your tree. The home he lived at in Verona still stands and I assume you can just Google Earth 275 Linden Ave, Verona, NJ to see the home today. If not, I can take a photo of it and send it. Verona is located in Essex County, NJ about 12 miles or 20 minutes (on a good day) from New York City. I would say Newark, Montclair, the Oranges are the biggest cities in our area. It says he was living with his daughter Mary Hissem DeMoss Lyons in Verona at the time of his passing. The tree mentions Mary performed at the Methodist Church in East Orange which stands today . Here is that address for Google Earth. St Paul Ame Church 15 Sanford St # 21, East Orange, NJ"

From another source that found old pictures of the Captain.

"Recalls Capt. Hissem

Mrs. C. A. Smith, Clarington, a relative of Capt. Martin Hissem, who operated the packet Tacoma out of Cincinnatti and later resided in New York City, recently found some rare pictures of Capt. Hissem, while checking the contents of an old trunk. In an old photograph album, Mrs. Smith found an early picture of the Tacoma and another of the Tacoma's cabin. Her son, Bob Smith, who is with J. and L. at Aliquippa, is greatly interested in river matters, and secured a Tacoma picture from Capt. Fred Way." - from "The Waterway Journal" volume 80, of 1966

Martin's children were,
(25) Wilmot Tyson Hissem (1866)
(25) Nettie Hissem (1868), born 19 January 1868 in Tyler county per the Campbell county, Kentucky Historical Society
(25) Mary H. Hissem (1871)

Nicknamed Ott. Wilmot Tyson Hissem, the son of Martin L. Hissem, a farmer, and his wife Rachel, was born on 2 November 1866 in Union district, Tyler county, West Virginia. In the 1870 census of Carthage precinct, Campbell county, Kentucky as Wilmott T. Hissem, 3, of West Virginia. In the 1880 census of Carthage, Campbell county, Kentucky as Wilmot Hissem, a 13 year old farm hand.

W. T. Hissem married Beulah Pickens [another Pickens relative? See William Jackson Hissem, below] on 14 April 1887 in Campbell county, Kentucky.

Wilmot was a captain of his father's steamship company.

"The Tacoma . . . Bought by the Tacoma Transportation Company in 1890, Martin Hissem rebuilt and captained it with son Wilmot." - from the "Images of America: New Richmond" by Cheryl Crowell

Wilmot was a licensed master and pilot of a steamship no later than 30 January 1892. Since his father, Martin, was licensed in 1879 per his own recollections, I think this was either a new requirement or one revisited each year.

"Masters and pilots licensed during the year endind December 31, 1892 - Cinicinnati, Ohio

Hissem, Wilmot T. . . . [Grade] Master and Pilot . . . [No. of License] A18452 . . . [Issue] 3 4 . . . [Date of Issue] Jan. 30

Hissem, Martin L. . . . Master and Pilot . . . A18557 . . . 11 13 . . . May 14"

- from the "Proceedings of the Forty-First Annual Meeting of the Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam Vessels" of January 1893

The following refers to an Ott Hissom, but clearly meant Wilmot Hissem. However, I believe there is some confusion with the activities of his father, Martin.

"Name: Hissom, Ott
Boats: shortly after 1890, purchased T.D. DALE
: 1890, built the LEE H. BROOKS for Short trades around Cincinnati."

"Name: T.D. DALE
Type: Sternwheel wooden hull packet. Size: 111.6' X 19.7' X 3.2'.
Power: Engines, 9"- 3-1/2'
Launched: 1884, Harmar, Oh.
Destroyed: 1902, dismantled at Parkersburg.
Area: Short trade on uper Ohio R.
: 1885 or so, occasional trips to Marietta-Zanesville, Capt. O.J. Stowe.
: Also ran Cinciannati-New Richmond, Capt. Ott Hissom.
: Was a local out of Wheeling for a time.
: Late 1890s-1902, Charleston-Winfield
Owners: 1890s early, Capt. Ott Hisson
: 1890s, late, bought by L.A. Carr of Charleston, W. Va.
: 1900, purchased by Austin Beaver of Racine, Oh.
: 1902, purchased by Capt. Gorden C. Green who dismantled her for her machinery.
Captains: 1885, O.J. Stone
: Later Capt. Hissom
Comments: Named for president of Ohio Trust Co., a Marietta oilfield opererator.
: Mentioned in this 1884 Article
: Machinery went to the EVERGREEN and later to GREENDALE
Hull became a barge on the Big Sandy R."

- from Riverboat Captains

In the early 1890's the family moved to Cincinnati where Wilmot's sister, Mary, attended the College of Music and where Wilmot probably did both his pre-Law and Law degrees.

"Junior Class
. . .
Wilmot Tyson Hissem . . . California, Ky." - from the "Catalogue of the Officers and Students of the Law School of the Cincinnati College" 1894-5

Wilmot graduated from the Law School of the Cincinnati College and was a member of the school's Hamilton Chapter of the Phil Delta Phi fraternity of the class of 1896. He would have been 30 years old.

"Phi Delta Phi
Hamilton Chapter
in the
Law School
of the
Cincinnati College
and the
Law Department of the University of Cincinnati
. . .
Class of 1896
. . .
Wilmot Tyson Hissem, Cincinnati, O.
Born Shiloh, Tyler Co., W. Va., Nov. 2, 1866. (Res. S.W. cor. Fifth and Overton Sts., Newport, Ky.) Sec. Tacoma Transportation Co., foot of Vine. St." - from "Catalogue of the Legal Fraternity of Phi Delta Phi" by George Anthony Katzenberger

8 June 1896. "The following graduates of the Cincinnnati Law School were admitted to the Bar: . . . William Tyson Hissem, Cincinnati; . . ." - from "The Ohio Law Bulletin, Volumes 35-36"

Just three years later "The Courier-Journal" newspaper of Louisville, Kentucky reported in 18 July 1899 that,

"Capt. W. T. Hissem. clerk and part owner of the Tacoma. has typhoid fever."

"Capt. Wilmot T. Hissem, son of Capt. and Mrs. M. L. Hissem. Newport, Ky., died after an illness of about a year." - from "The Waterways Journal"

"Capt. W T Hissem Died in Newport
The Well Known River Man Passed Away Thursday Night
He Had Been a Steamboat Man All His Life

Capt. Wilmot T Hissem, 33, one of the best known and most popular river men of this section died late Thursday night at his residence, 609 Monroe Street, Newport after a lengthy illness. He and his father, Capt. M L Hissem were the joint owners of the steamer Tacoma upon which the deceased had been a clerk.

Capt. Hissem had been identified with the river trade all his life, holding licenses both as master and pilot. He was a brother of the celebrated soloist Mrs. Mamie Hissem DeMoss, and a nephew of Senator W J Hissem.

His funeral will take place Saturday afternoon at the California M E Church, of which the dead man was a devout member. Rev Riffe, the pastor, will conduct the services."

In the 1900 census as . . . where is Beulah?

Wilmot and Beulah's children were,
(26) Martha Hissem (1888)
(26) Helen Hunt Hissem (1892)

Martha Hissem, the daughter of Wilmot T. Hissem and Beaulah Pickens, was born on 6 April 1888 in Kentucky. Martha Hissem, 27, married Merle N. Riggs, 27, of Newport, Kentucky, the son of Elias Riggs and Elvira Newhouse, on 24 December 1915 in Hamilton county, Ohio. Francis C. Montfort officiated. Merle Newhouse Riggs was born on 30 July 1888 in Newport, Kentucky.

Merle Newhouse Riggs, 29, registered for the draft in 1918. He lived in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was tall and slender, with blue eyes and brown hair.

Merle Newhouse Riggs, 53, registered for the draft in 1942. He lived in Indian Hill Village, Hamilton county, Ohio. He was living with his wife, Martha.

Helen Hunt Hissem was born on 23 June 1892 in California, Kentucky. Helen Hunt Hissem, of 12 The Madrid, attended the McMicken College of Liberal Arts, University of Cincinnati, as an Evening Student, 1913/14. In 1916 Helen H. Hissem served as Secretary to the Director of Admissions. She was living at 8 The Metamora and still in the McMicken College, though now as a Day Student.

Helen Hunt Hissem, 23, the daughter of W.T. Hissem and Bealuh Pickens, married Edward Paul Reusch, 27, a export accountant, of Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Edward Reusch [Rush] and Elizabeth Aborn [Abom], on 11 March 1916. Edward Paul was born on 28 March 1888.

Edward Paul Rush, the divorced husband of Hellen Hunt Hisseum [sic], died of a coronary occulusion on 14 October 1948.

Also known as Mamie/Mabel. Mary "Mamie" Hissem, the daughter of Captain Martin L. Hissem and Rachael Galloway, was born on 27 July 1871 in California, Kentucky - from her biography in "The Encycolpedia of Northern Kentucky," edited by Paul A. Tenkotte. In the 1880 census of Carthage, Campbell county, Kentucky as Mary Hissem, 8, at school.

Mary Hissem married Lacy M. De Moss on 29 March 1894 at Grace United Methodist church in Newport, Kentucky. Lacy was born on 25 July 1868, the son of John Calvin Demoss and Isophene F. Sallie [Sallee]. John De Moss was a partner in the dry goods shop of DeMoss and Jolly, in California. Mamie became a fairly famous singer. Her biography:

"Mary Hissem-DeMoss, singer, was born at California, Ky. July 27, 1871, daughter of Martin Luther and Rachel (Galloway) Hissem, and a descendant of Martin Hissem [sic], a native of Holland who came to American early in the seventeenth century and settled in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. His son Levi, born in Pennsylvania in 1816 moved to Campbell County in 1870, along with his son, Martin L who is the father of the subject of this sketch.

She also traces her descent from Andrew Galloway, her great grandmother, a native of Scotland, who settled in Baltimore, MD, early in the seventeenth century.

Mrs. DeMoss was educated in the public schools of New Richmond, Ohio, and having developed vocal powers at an early age, she was sent to the College of Music in Cincinnati [today's University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music], Ohio and was graduated there in 1893. While at this college she gave instruction in singing and remained until 1895, having received a scholarship for the voice, and taking a two years post-graduate course."

Another source notes that she "[s]tudied at Cincinnati Coll. of Music with L. Mattioli, 1892-5; between 1900-12 she continued her studies at various times with I. Luckstone, A. Mees, Mrs. H. Brown, Marie Bissell and Mrs. A. Wolf in New York. She made her debut int Cincinnati, Dec., 1899, with the Cincinnati Symph. Orch; came to New York in 1900 as solo soprano at the 5th Ave. Presb. Church, a position she still holds (1916);" - from "Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians" by Theodore Baker. Her favorite roles were in Handel's Elijah, Messiah and Creation. In 1914 she played Tatiana in a concert version of Tchaikovsky's Eugen Onegin.

"Her first position was as soloist at Christ Episcopal Church in Cincinnati. In 1900 she moved to New York City and became soloist at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Probably no singer of recent years has made more rapid strides in the oratorio and concert field than Mrs. DeMoss, who since her debut she has become known as one of the best equipped sopranos in America. She has sung under the baton of Theadore Thomas, Walter Damrosch, Emil Paur, Victor Herbert and Frank van der Stucken, and in 1898 she made a tour to the Pacific coast with the New York Symphony orchestra under Walter Damrouch.

Her voice is a clear soprano of excellent quality, full of mellowness with almost unlimited power in the upper register, brilliant in tone, elastic in quality and always under control. H E Krehbiel, musical critic of The New York Tribune has referred to her as "a sympathetic personage with a voice at once lovely in quality, flexible and penetrating, a taste that seems the fruit of musicianly instincts. And although but a few years before the public she has already reached the very first rank of American singers. She has appeared as leading soloist at the Worcester Music Festival, the Cincinnati May Festival and the Bethlehem Bach Festival. She has also sung with the Boston Handel & Baybin, and Apollo club, the Apollo club of Chicago, the St. Cecelia Society of Boston, and with the Boston Symphony, the Cincinnati Symphony, the New York Symphony, Philadelphia Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Brooklyn Symphony, and the Baltimore Symphony orchestras.

She was married at Newport March 29, 1894, to Lacy M DeMoss." - from The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Volume 14

In the 1900 census of Newport, Campbell county, Kentucky as Lacy M. Demoss [Demore in Ancestry.com], a 31 year old [July 1868] money [garbled] clerk, of Kentucky. Living with him was his wife, Mary H., a 28 year old [July 1871] vocal artist.

In 1900 Mary made her professional singing debut under the direction of Frank Damrosch at Carnegie Hall. Damrosch was chorus master at the Metropolitan Opera House for many years. In 1898 he became conductor of the Oratorio Society, a position he held until 1912.

The following description and photo, right, is from a promotional brochure prepared by Mary's agents, the New York Grand Concert Company, 1904, from the University of Iowa Library:

"No singer in recent years has made a more artistic success in the oratorio and concert field than has Mary Hissem de Moss. Since she made her debut in New York, five years ago, triumph has followed triumph, and her services have always been in great demand . . . Mrs. de Moss has had five return engagements to the great Bach Festivals as principal soprano soloist and has appeared at the Cincinnati May Festival, Worcester Festival, Cincinnati Symphony, New York Oratorio Society, Pittsburg Symphony, St. Louis Choral Symphony . . . Aside from her concert engagements, Mrs. de Moss has the distinction of being the highest salaried church singer in New York City, receiving $2,500 for her Sunday services."

"Successful Singer is From Newport
Mrs. Hissem De Moss Making a Decided Hit

Mrs. Mamie Hissem De Moss, formerly of Newport but now of New York is making a decided hit in concerts. Sig. leno Mattiololi, of the College of Music, Cincinnati, received a list of his former pupils engagements as follows: March 15, Providence RI, recital; March 17, Pittsburg, Mozart Club; March 20, New Haven CT, Bach "Passion"; April 10, Washington, "Elijah"; April 12, Chattanooga, Tenn. "Elijah"; April 15, Covington Ky. Polyshoic Club; April 19, Derby Ct. Choral Club; April 28, Pittsburgh, Appollo Club; April 5, Brooklyn "Persian Garden" Brooklyn Institute.

Mrs. De Moss was formerly a singer in the First Presbyterian Church, Newport and has been the soloist at the Fifth Avenue Methodist Church, New York, and has just been engaged at the Methodist Church at East Orange NJ. She is one of the most popular church and concert singers in the East, and Newport friends are delighted with her success." - from the 14 March 1904 Kentucky Post

On 25 August 1906 Mary Hissem de Moss, 35, of New York departed from Hamburg, Germany on the ship PRETORIA to return home. - from the Hamburg Passenger Lists of 1850-1934. I suppose she had been concertizing on the continent. She may have been escorted by C. Buchanon, 45, also of New York. He was located just above Mary on the manifest.

Mary sang under the baton of such greats as Max Fiedler, Leopold Stowkowski, Victor Herbert, and Walter Damrosch.

In the 1910 census of Manhattan, New York as Lacy M. De Mose, a 41 year old clerk in an office, of Kentucky. Living with him was his wife, Mary, a 38 year old vocalist, of Kentucky. She had no children. They did have a maid, Anne Fleming, 24. Below is a later photograph of Madame Hissem-DeMoss.

They were living in New York City on West 90th street in 1916.

"DeMoss Lacy M bkpr h106 W90th
"Mary H h106 W90th" - from New York City Directory 1916

In the 1920 census of Manhattan, New York as Mary Demoss, 48. Living with her was her husband, Lacy, a 51 year old clerk, and her parents, Martin [Marthe in Ancestry.com] Hissem, 75, and Rachel, 75. Rachel died on 8 January 1928.

In the 1930 census of Manhattan, New York City as Mary Demoss, 58. She was living with her husband, Lacy Demoss, a 62 year old railroad clerk, and her father, Marten [sic] Hissem, an 84 year old College "E[levator] Operator." They were living on West 124th street.

Mary retired from the concert stage in 1933.

Lacy died in 1936. Mary later married singer Frederick D. Lyon and lived at 274 Linden avenue in Verona, New Jersey. Frederick died there in 1952. Mary continued to give private voice lessons until a year before her death on 22 August 1960 in Montclair, New Jersey. She was 89 years old. Mary and Frederick were buried at Woodlawn cemetery in the Bronx.

He was born in 1850 in Virginia. I don't see him in the family bible, however. His middle name was in honor of his mother's family. In the 1850 census of District 61, Tyler county, West Virginia as Morgan Hissam, 1/12. In the 1860 census of Tyler county, West Virginia as Silas M. Hissem, 10.

Silas began to suffer from an illness that his doctors could not diagnose. The following is a rather pathetic letter that Silas wrote to the Scientific American in 1870.

A Physiological Problem.

"Messrs. Editors :--Will some of your scientific correspondents please philosophize upon and give the causes of this--to me--strange phenomena?

During last March I became paralyzed--wholly--at the age of 19. I was not stricken, but taken gradually. When my arms became so weak that I could not raise either of them separately to my face, by connecting or joining them, I could raise them very easily for a day, until I became too badly paralyzed. And when I began to mend I could raised [sic] my hands, joined, many days before I could raise either separately. Why was this?

Silas M. Hissem.
Shiloh, W. Va." - from the "Scientific American, Volume XXII, Number 4" of 22 January 1870

Soon after Silas moved to Kentucky with his parents.

In the 1870 census of Carthage, Campbell county, Kentucky as Silas M. Hissem [Hipern], a 20 year old music teacher, living with his father, Levi. His brother, Martin L., lived "next-door."

Silas was also a song-writer, of religious themed songs for students. One of his songs was included in "Song-Crowned King: A collection of new and beautiful music, originnal and selected, for the use of the singing school, home circle, and revivals," published in 1870.

Silas M. Hissem, born 5 May 1850, died on 23 January 1871 and was buried in the Mount Gilead Methodist Evangelical Church in Carthage, Campbell county, Kentucky.

There is a hymnal, called The Coronet, right, edited by Silas M. Hissem, that was published in 1874, after his death.

William Jackson Hissem was born in Tyler County, West Virgina on 12 March 1863. The Campbell County Historical Society treats him as a son of Martin Luther Hissem, which makes some sense considering that he was 18 years younger than Martin, but I show him as Levi's son, as does the "Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky," 1896.

Known to his family as Willey J. His great-grandfather was noted to be a Revolutionary War soldier [was this David Heysham or his Morgan grandfather?]. At the age of seven he moved with his parents to Campbell county, Kentucky where his father "engaged in agriculture and mercantile pursuits." In the 1870 census of Carthage, Campbell county, Kentucky living with his parents, Levi and Elizabeth H. Hissem. "Willie J." was 7 years old.

In the 1880 Federal census Willey was still living at home with his father, Levi, in Carthage, Campbell county, Kentucky. He was called Willey Hissem and, at the age of 17, was a farm laborer. As a young man he worked in his father's store behind the counter and also on his farm. Later he attended a business school in Cincinnati. He engaged in the mercantile trade himself and served in local political offices. Of Newport, Kentucky. An attorney-at-law and State Senator from Campbell County. A map of Newport, Kentucky is below. The town is located on the south shore of the Ohio river, with the Licking river and the town of Covington to the west

He married Nettie M. Pickens in 1887. She was born on 19 January 1868, the daughter of Robert P. & Eliza Pickens of Campbell county. Nettie was 2 years old at the time of the 1870 Precinct 3, Greenup county, Kentucky census. In 1880 the Pickens family was living in Jackson county, Missouri. William and Nettie had two daughters, Leva and Ethel.

In 1891 William was nominated by the Republican party to run for the legislature. He served in what became known as the "long parliament" and afterwards was nominated by acclamation for the State Senate, and elected, defeating an emininent lawyer and jurist. He was the youngest member of the Senate and was re-elected in November 1895 by the largest majority recored in the county.

After taking a course of law [probably the law school in Cincinnati] he was admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals in 1894 and practiced from his home in Newport, Kentucky. A Businessman, county Judge, Assistant Newport Postmaster, and State Legislator (1891). He also owned the W. J. Hissem Brick Works and Coal and Lumber Co.

"Friday Senator Hissem retired to become Assistant Postmaster of Newport." - from "The Bourbon News" of 3 August 1897.

In the 1900 census of Newport, Campbell county, Kentucky as Willey Hissem, a 37 year old attorney at law. Living with him were his wife, Nettie M., 32, and children Leva E., 11, and Ethel, 10.

William Hissem left Campbell County about 1908 to serve as the representative of an eastern publishing house in the state of California. He did not stay there long. The Kentucky Times-Star reported in February 1913 that he had died in Stockton, California, but it turned out he was only very ill and he recovered.

In the 1910 census of Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri as William J. Hissem [Hessen in Ancestry.com], a 46 year old attorney, of West Virginia. His father was from Pennsylvania and his mother from Maryland. Living with him was his wife, Nettie M., 42.

In the 1920 census of Rosedale, Wyandotte county, Kansas William was shown as Willey J. Hissem, 56. He was living with his daugther Leva, but the census indicates he was still married, i.e. not widowed. His occupation was None. His wife, Nettie, was living with their daughter, Ethel Haag, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Nettie died on 19 March 1928. Her obituary was published in the Kentucky Times-Star on 21 March 1928.

In the 1930 census of Kansas City, Wyandotte county, Kansas as William Hissem, 65, a widower, born in West Virginia. He was living with his widowed daughter, Ethel.

William died in Kansas City on 11 August 1952.

"William Jackson Hissem

From the Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, published by the John M Gresman Company, Chicago-Philadelphia 1896

W Jackson Hissem of Newport, attorney-at-law and State Senator from Campbell County was born in Tyler County, West Virginia March 12, 1863. He is a descendant of ancestry who were active soldiers of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. He has some of the blood in his veins of the old Pennsylvania Dutch stock, from which state his grandparents moved in the beginning of this century in the wilds of West Virginia. When the subject of this sketch was seven years of age he moved with his parents to Campbell County, this state, where his father was engaged actively in agricultural and mercantile pursuits. Young Hissem was of great service to his father, where he worked with might and main during the spring, summer and autumn, attending the public school during the winter. He later attended a business college in Cincinnati, where he more firmly laid the foundation for a business career; engaged in mercantile business for himself, when he reached his majority; often served in local offices, where he was chosen by his fellow citizens.

In 1891 he was nominated by the Republicans to make the race for the Legislature; was elected and served during the Long Parliament, as that session is known. At the end of that session he was nominated by acclamation in the convention of his party for the State Senate and elected, defeating an eminent lawyer and jurist. He was the youngest member of that body and having drawn the short term, was re-elected in November 1895 by the largest majority ever accorded a candidate in the county.

After a course of law covering a considerable period, Mr. Hissem was admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals in 1894, since which time he has practiced his profession at his home in Newport. He has never been defeated for any office to which he aspired. He has always been active in the councils of the Republican Party.

He was married in 1887 to Nettie M Pickens, daughter of Robert P Pickens of Campbell County. They have two daughters as the fruit of that union; Leva, aged seven and Ethel, aged five.

His father Levi Hissem, was a native of Westmoreland Pennsylvania and removed with his father (Jesse) to what is now Tyler County West Virginia when four years of age and lived there until 1870 when he came to Campbell County. While in West Virginia he was a farmer and largely interested in the woolen, flour and lumber business. He was a Democrat prior to the Civil War, but since that time he has been an enthusiastic and consistent Republican. While deeply interested in political questions, he has never been a politician. His father, Jesse Hissem was a native of Maryland [a confusion with his father-in-law's family], who removed to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; and lived there a number of years before locating in Tyler County, Virginia. Before his death in 1872, he removed to Meigs County Ohio. His ancestors, as far as known, were Americans, having been among the first settlers in the United States. W J Hissem's great-grandfather [David] was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

Elizabeth Morgan Hissem (mother) was born in Virginia in 1820 and is living with her husband in Campbell County. They are members of the Methodist Church and have been identified with the church work for over a half century.

Joseph Morgan (maternal grandfather) was born in Monongalia County (now) West Virginia in 1792 and died in Tyler County, West Virginia in 1884, aged ninety-two years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was a relative of Morgan, the Indian fighter, mentioned in his history. He was a farmer, a large dealer in cattle and a very successful business man."

William's children were,
(25) Leva E. Hissem (1888)
(25) Ethel Hissem (1890)

Leva E. Hissem was born on 13 June 1888 in Kentucky. In the 1900 census of Newport City, Campbell county, Kentucky as Leva Hissem, living with her parents, Willie J. and Nettie M. Hissem.

Leva E. Hissem, of Newport, Kentucky, married Fred S. Wilson, of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, on 29 June 1909 in Newport, Campbell county, Kentucky. Fred was the son of Louis H. and Sallie Wilson. Like her sister, below, Leva's family moved to Missouri and then Kansas. In the 1920 census of Rosedale, Wyandotte county, Kansas as Fred S. Wilson, a 31 year old architect in a realty company, of Kentucky. Living with him was his wife, Leva E., 31, of Kentucky, children, Virginia Lee, 7 3/12, of Missouri, and Louise J., 3 10/12, of Kansas, and his father-in-law, Willey J. Hissem, 56, of West Virginia.

In the 1930 census . . .

Leva died on 15 December 1971 in the District of Columbia [I think].

Ethel J. Hissem was born on 27 April 1890 in Kentucky. In the 1900 census of Newport City, Campbell county, Kentucky as Ethel Hissem, living with her parents, Willie J. and Nettie M. Hissem.

Ethel married Herman Haag. In the 1920 census of Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri as Ethel J. Haag, 29. She was living with her husband, Herman F., a 32 year old Civil Engineer with the railroad, children, Helen E., 5, and James M., 2 5/12, and her mother, Nettie M. Hissem, 51.

The family moved to Kansas circa 1922. Herman F. Haag died on 5 June 1926, per the Hissem family bible. In the 1930 census of Kansas City, Wyndotte county, Kansas as Ethel Haag, a 36 year old widow, of Kentucky, working with the rail road as a draghtsman. Living with her were children Helen, 15, and James, 13, of Missouri, and William, 8, and Margaret, 5, of Kansas. Ethel's father, William Hissem, a 65 year old widower, of West Virginia, was living with them.

Eleanor Hissem, the daughter of Jesse Hissem and Christine Welker, was born on 21 July 1824, per her tombstone (the 1850 census would indicate 1827), in Tyler County, West Virginia. In the 1840 census of Tyler county in the household of Jessee Hissem as one of 3 daughters born 1820-1825. In the 1850 census of the 61st district, Tyler county, West Virginia as Eleanor Hissam, 23, living at home with her parents, Jesse and Elizabeth, and brother, Abner.

Eleanor Hissem (1824), of Virginia, married John Lee (1809), of Maryland, date unknown, but probably in 1857. One document appears to imply the marriage occurred in Iowa, but this seems to have meant only that they later lived in Iowa. This was John's second marriage. In the 1850 census of Lebanon, Meigs county, John Lee, of Maryland, had a wife, Matilda, of Ohio. Matilda Lee died on 6 August 1855 and was buried in the Shahan cemetery, Meigs county, Ohio.

I received the following from Marian Cox:

"Steve

Don't know whether this will be of any help or not:

In my search for my Lee family I found the following family who may or may not be related to my Lees.

Lee John b ca 1810 Maryland

Eleanor b ca 1824 Virginia [This is Eleanor Hissom/Hissem]

Possible children are:

John M Lee ca 1858 Ohio
Elizabeth J ca 1860 Ohio
Francis M Ca 1863 Ohio
Laura ca 1866 Iowa

According to another researcher, this John Lee was in Meigs Co Ohio. His first wife died, but they had a daughter Julia Ann Lee b 1832 Meigs Co Ohio m Simon M Pickens. Looks like they were in Van Buren Co by 1866.

Eleanor Hissom/Hissem was John Lee's 2nd wife. There is an anecdote that two of his sons died in the Ohio River on their journey to Iowa. It is not known if this is true or which sons it was.

I suspect Eleanor is relation to your line. This is just about all I know of them. Hope it is of some help.

Marian Cox"

In the 1860 census of Lebanon township, Meigs county, Ohio as John Lee, 53, of Maryland. His wife, Eleanor, was shown as Elsa, 35, of Virginia. They had children, John, 2, and Elizabeth, 1/12, both of Ohio. They were living "next door" to Eleanor's parents, Jesse and Elizabeth Hissam. John Lee's children by his previous wife were Julia Ann, Martha A., and Rachael. Julia Ann had married Simon Pickens [might he be related to Nettie Pickens, above?] on 16 May 1853 in Meigs county and moved to Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa no later than 1870. Martha A. Lee had married Josiah Huntly on 12 June 1856 in Meigs county and remained there through at least 1880. Rachael Lee was living with John McKay and his family, "next door" to her father, John Lee, at the time of the 1860 census. She may be in the Ottumwa, Iowa census of 1880 as Rachel Lee, 39, a dress maker.

Eleanor accompanied her brother Abner to Iowa. In the 1870 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as John and Elleanor Lee. He was 56, of Maryland, and she 46, of Virginia. Their children were John M., 12, Elizabeth J., 10, and Francis M., 7, of Ohio, and Laura, 4, of Iowa. So John and Eleanor moved to Iowa between 1863 and 1866.

In the 1880 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as John and Eleanor Lee [Gee in Ancestry.com]. She was 55, of Virginia, and he 70, of Maryland. Their children were, John M., 22, Elizabeth, 20, and Francis M. [a son], 18, of Ohio, and Lovian P., 14, of Iowa.

In the 1885 state census of Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as John and Eleanor Lee. He was from Maryland and she from Virginia, aged 61. Their children were John M., Francis M., and Lavina. They were living "next door" to Abner and Caroline Hissam.

In the 1875 plat for Chesquest township J. [John] Lee had an 80 acre farm just west of his brother-in-law, A. Hissom [sic].

John Lee died on 24 September 1889. In the 1895 state census of Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Eleanor Lee, aged 70, of Virginia.

In a plat map of Chequest township dated 1897 Eleanor Lee had a 30 acre farm just west of her brother, Abner. Her son, J. [John] M. Lee, had a 40 acre farm just north of Abner.

In the 1900 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Eleanor Lee [Cleanos Lee in Ancestry.com], a 75 year old widow, of West Virginia. Her parents were listed as both from Pennsylvania. Living with her was her son, John M., 42. She was listed as having 4 children, all still living.

In the 1905 state census of Douds Leando, Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Eleanor Lee. Eleanor's son, John M. Lee, was living with her. She died on 23 September 1905 and was buried in the Troy cemetery, Davis county, Iowa.

I just recently found Eleanor's death certificate and it confirms that her father was Jessy [Jesse] Hissem. The happy surprise is that her mother is named and she's a Welker, Christine Welker. Could she be a relative of the wives of Abner, John and Levi Hissem? I do have a Christiana Welker (c1786), the daughter of Michael Welker and Elizabeth Wagoner, who may fit. Michael and Elizabeth Welker were also the parents of Abner Hissem's wife, Mary Welker.

Eleanor's children were,
(24) John Milton Lee (1857)
(24) Jane Elizabeth Lee (1860)
(24) Francis M. Lee (1862)
(24) Laura Lee (1866), or Lovian or Lavina

If she existed, Jane would have been the daughter of Jesse Hissem and Christine Welker. The 1860 census for Lebanon township, Meigs county, Ohio lists Jane Hissam, 33, born in Virginia, living with Jesse and Elizabeth Hissam, of Pennsylvania. This census did not delineate relationships so Jane may have been a daughter-in-law, but I don't have any Hissem sons available for her. I also cannot explain where she was in 1850.

Jane Hissem married Samuel M. Williamson on 3 March 1861 in Meigs county, Ohio. H. Barnes, a minister of the gospel, officiated. Samuel had lived in Lebanon township, Meigs county since at least 1840. He was a Civil War veteran, a Private serving in Company A of the 24th Ohio Infantry Regiment. This was at least his second marriage. His previous wife was also named Jane, per the 1850 census, who died before the time of the 1860 census.

In the 1870 census for Lebanon, Meigs county, Ohio as Jane Williamson, 45. She was living with her husband, Samuel M., 60, and the children from his prior marriage, Isaac P., 23, Zachariah T., 22, and her own child, Estelle B., 4.

Saml. M. Williamson, of Lebanon, Ohio, born circa 1809, died of Typhoid Fever on 21 November 1870, at the age of 61, in Kansas City, Missouri - from the Record of Deaths, Probate Court, Meigs county, Ohio. Jane Hissem Williamson died . . .

In the 1860 census of Lebanon township, Meigs county, Ohio as William Hissam, 13 [1847], born in Ohio. He was living with Jesse and Elizabeth Hissam, of Pennsylvania, and Jane Hissem, 33. A possibly illegitimate son of Jane Hissam [?]. I don't think he can be the son of Jesse and Elizabeth, both because of the latters' advanced age, but because they were living in Virginia at the time of William's birth. He disappears after this. Why wasn't he in the 1850 census?

Thomas Hissem, the son of Jesse Hissam and Christine Welker, was born on 18 November 1827, in Tyler county, Virginia. His tombstone, however, says that he was born on 8 October 1827. Perhaps the November date was when he was baptized. I don't really know whether he is a son of Jesse's, I have no reference indicating that. Of course I don't have birth certificates for any of Jesse's sons. I'm certain, however, that he and Abner, below, were brothers. Abner followed Thomas to Chequest Township in Van Buren county, Iowa when no other Hissems lived in the state. I suppose the elder told the younger about Iowa and induced him to relocate with his family.

I haven't found Jesse Hissam or his sons in the 1830 census.

Thomas would be the first of two sons born to Jesse and Elizabeth between 1825-1830 per the 1840 census. There was also an elder son, Levi, born 1810-1820. Thomas was not present in Jesse's house during the 1850 Tyler county census when childrens' names were first listed.

A Thomas Haysham married Sarah Cassaday on 12 May 1850 in Mason county, [West] Virginia, George Seurs officiating.

In the 1850 census of District 38, Mason county, Virginia there was Thomas Hissem, a 23 year old laborer, of Virginia. Living with him was his wife, Sarah, 24, of Pennsylvania. Per the census, they had been married within the last year. Sarah could not read or write, but Thomas could. District 38, termed an enumeration district, comprised the whole county in 1850.

If this was the right Thomas, then Sarah soon died because we next find him a single man. I have not, however, found any doucmentation of her death. Perhaps as a result of her death, Thomas moved west to Iowa.

In the 1860 Census of the Portland post office, Chequest township, Van Buren county as Thomas Hissam, a 33 year old farmer, of Virginia. He was living and working on the farm of Moses Haney. He had $325 in personal property and was single. What would $325 of personal property look like? Were these farm implements perhaps? Portland later became known as Leando. It was located on the south side of the Des Moines river, directly across for the town of Douds Station.

Moses Haney had purchased 40 acres of land in Van Buren County, Iowa; 5th Principal Meridian - 069N-011W [Chequest township] - SW1/4NW1/4 - Section 4. He was not related to the Haney family that married into his brother's family. Moses was the son of William Haney (1751) and Sarah Preston (1764), born in Somerset, Pennsylvania in 1804. He was living with his grand-daughter, Anna Wicks Cole, in Pittsburg, Van Buren county, Iowa in 1880.

Thomas married Arvilla Jane Buckles in about 1865 - this was about the same time that Thomas' younger brother, Abner, arrived in Iowa. According to a Hissem nephew this was Thomas' second marriage, which would align with the earlier marriage to Sarah Cassaday above. Arvilla [also as Aurilla, Arrila, Arrvelia] was born on 19 April 1842, per her tombstone, in Iowa.

In the 1850 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa there was a Thomas Buckles, 32, and wife, Susanah, 30, of Ohio, who had a daughter Arrvelia, aged 8, of Iowa. In the 1860 census of Salt Creek township, Davis county, Iowa as Jane Buckels, an 18 year old "week laborer" working in the house of George and Rhoda Houad [Howard?].

In the 1870 census of Douds Station, Chequest township, Van Buren county as Thomas Hissom [Hissone in Ancestry.com], a 43 year old farmer, of Virginia. He had real property worth $3600 and personal property worth $360. Living with him were his wife, Arvila J. [Amilda in the LDS database], 30, and children, Jesse T., 3, and Sussan E., 2, all of Iowa. Chequest township is on the western edge of Van Buren county. Settlers in the region had a mailing address at the Doud's Station post office. Douds is on the Des Moines river, in the northwest of the county, in Village township.

I don't see Thomas Hissem on the 1875 plat map of Chequest township, though his brother Abner is listed in section 5, see below. Thomas may have shared the farm with Abner, per the 1878 Chequest township Biographical Directory of Citizens: "Hissom, T., far., Sec. 5" and "Hissem, Abner, farmer, Sec. 5."

In the 1880 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Thomas Hissem [Hissenn in Ancestry.com], a 53 year old farmer, of Virginia. Living with him were his wife, A. J., 38, and children, Jesse T., 13, Susan E., 11, and George A. 5/12, all of Iowa.

In the 1885 state census as Thomas Hissem, 58, of Virginia. Living with him were his wife, Arrilla J., 42, Jessie, 18, Susan E., 16, and George A., 5, all of Iowa.

The families of Thomas and Abner Hissem settled just southwest of Leando, across the river from Douds Station. Below are the plat maps for Village and Chequest townships. The town of Leando was shown at this time as Portland.

On the map above, Abner Hissem's farm was west of the building shown in Section 5, on both sides of the diagonal road. The farm of his brother, Thomas, was at the southeast end of the diagonal road, just where it turns south. Note that in the plains states, which included Iowa, the government surveyed a six mile square as a "township" which was then broken into 36 one-mile squares, called "sections." The sections were numbered 1 to 36, starting at the northeast corner. Section 5 would have been on the top row near the northwest corner. A new farmer applied to homestead a quarter section, or a 1/2 mile by 1/2 mile square of 160 acres. An additional 80 acres, an eighth of a section, was added if the farmer promised to plant 80 acres in trees. The approximately 100 farmers who comprised a township elected a board to determine policy on schools, roads, bridges, etc.

In the 1895 state census as Thomas Hissem, 68, who was born in West Virginia, and then residing in Chequest township. Living with him were his wife, Jane [this, I believe, was Arvilla J.], 52 [1843]. Also living with him were Sudie [Sussan], 27, and George, 15. They were all noted as being born in Van Buren county.

In plat maps of 1897, below, Thomas and his son, J.T., are shown with farms in the region described above.

Thomas died on 22 February 1898 and was buried in the Troy cemetary, Davis county, Iowa, which is just west of Chequest township.

In the 1900 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Jane Hissem, a widow aged 58 [April 1842], of Iowa. Living with her were Sudie, 32 [February 1868], and George A., 20 [December 1879]. The census shows that Jane had two children [sic], still living.

In the 1905 state census of Village township, Van Buren county as Jane, Sudie, and George A. Hissem, of Douds Leando.

In the 1910 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as A. Jane Hissem, a 68 year old widow, of Iowa. She was living with her son, George A. Hissem, 30, and his wife, Verna M., 23. She was shown as having 3 children, all still living.

In the 1915 state census of Douds Leando, Chequest township, Van Buren county as Jane Hissem, 73. She had 8 years of schooling. She was a Baptist. Her father was from Indiana and her mother was from Ohio. Jane claimed to have lived in Iowa for 71 years leading me to wonder where she was born. I had thought it was in Iowa.

The plat map of Chequest township for 1918 shows that Thomas' son, Geo. A., had the 160 acre farm just west of his father's old place, in Section 8, and another 80 acres just south of there in Section 17. At the same time Thomas [really his widow] had retired to a 40 acre section in the northeast section of the old property. Son J.T. now farmed his 1897 farm and the remaining 120 acres of Thomas. A. W. Hissem [Arthur] had 80 acres straddling Sections 8 and 5, just below that of the Nicklins. Other neighbors included the Plowmans and Haneys. A church and a school were also included in Section 5. These properties were all north of Chequest creek.

.........................................................................

In the 1920 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Jane Hissem, a 79 year old widow, of Iowa. She was living with her grandson, Will H. Hissem, 24. Also living there were Will's wife, Ethel M., 22, and child, Ada L., 2 8/12.

Aurilla Jane Hissem died on 9 November 1927, apparently in Jackson, Jones county, Iowa, and was buried next to Thomas in the Troy cemetary, in Davis county, Iowa. She was 85 years old at the time. Thomas and Arvilla share a tombstone:

"Arrila born Apr. 19. 1842 died Nov. 9. 1927
Thomas born Oct. 8. 1827 died Feb. 2. 1898
Hissem"

Thomas had three children:
(24) Jesse Thomas Hissem (1866)
(24) Sussan E. Hissem (1868), known as Sudie,
(24) George Abner Hissem (1879), dsp.

Jesse was born on 30 August 1866 in Troy, Davis county, Iowa, the son of Thomas Hissem, of Virginia, and Jane Buckles. Also known as 'J.T.,' though his name is sometimes spelled Jessie. I suppose he was named for his grandfather, Jesse, and father, Thomas. In the 1870 census of Douds Station, Chequest township, Van Buren county as Jesse T. Hissom, 3, of Iowa. In the 1880 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Jesse T. Hissem, 13, of Iowa.

In the Iowa state census of 1885 he was a single man, 18 years old, living in Chequest township, Van Buren county with his parents, Thomas and Arrilla J. Hissem. He had no occupation at this time. Jesse later became a school teacher and, then, a farmer and carpenter.

Jesse T. Hissom [sic], 20, the son of Thomas Hissom, married Mary C. Downing, 19, the daughter of Reuben [Rube] Downing, on 15 May [September per his obituary in the "Ottumwa Tri-Weekly Courier" of 17 November 1910] 1887 in Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa. Mary was born on 14 January 1868 in Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa.

In the 1895 state census as J.T. Hissem, 28. He was born in Davis county, Iowa. Living with him were his wife, Mary, 26, and children, Maud, 6, George W., 4, Royal L., 3, and William H., 0, all of whom were born in Van Buren county, Iowa.

In the 1900 census for Chequest township as Jesse Hissem, a 33 year old farmer. Living with him were his wife, Mary, 32, and children, Maud, 11, Weldon, 10, Royal, 8, Willie, 6, Earle, 3, and Annie, 1.

J. T. Hissem was the Chequest township Assessor for Douds in 1902 and 1903.

"Mr. and Mrs. Rube Downing spent Sunday with their son-in-law, Jesse Hissem, and family." - from the Ottumwa Daily Courier of 22 May 1903

In 1905 L.P. Plowman, President, and J.T. Hissem, Secretary, were officers of the Chequest Farmer's Telephone Company - there were a lot of them. The total valuation of the company was $159.75 - from "Report of the Taxable Valuation of Telegraph and Telephone Property" by the Iowa Tax Commission. J.T. was replaced by G.G. Hissem [I think they meant George Abner Hissem, Jesse's brother].

In the 1905 state census of Chequest township as Jesse T., Mary C., Maud E., Weldon G., Royale L., Wille H., Thomas E., Anna J., and Mable Hissem, of Douds Leando.

In the 1910 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Jesse T. Hissem, a 43 year old farmer. Living with him were his wife, Mary C., 42, and children, Weldon G. [Welden in Ancestry.com], 20, Royal L. [I in Ancestry.com], 18, Willie H. [Millie H. in Ancestry.com], 15, Thomas E., 13, Annie J., 11, and Mabelle, M., 8. It was the first marriage for both Jesse and Mary. Mary had 8 children, 7 still living. Nellie, born in 1900, had died in infancy.

Mary Downing Hissem died in their home in Leando of kidney disease on 10 November 1910. She was just 42 years old. A Hissem nephew tells that "all of the children filed by and told her goodbye right before she died." She and Jesse had eight children.

J.T. Hissom [sic] next married Nettie C. Israel (a Baptist by the way), the daughter of Joseph D. and Juliet Israel, on 9 September 1912 in Van Buren county, Iowa. She was a very gifted artist and world traveller. The marriage took place at the First Baptist church in Chicago, the Reverend Johnston Myers officiating - from "The Daily Gate City and Constitution-Democrat" of 27 September 1917.

In the 1915 state census Chequest township as J. T. Hissem, a 48 year old farmer. He had 8 years of schooling. His house and farm were valued at $12,650 with no mortgage. He was a Baptist. His father was from Virginia and his mother from Iowa. There was also a return for Nettie Hissem, 47. She had 8 years of grammar school and 4 years of high school. No wonder the locals thought she was gifted. She was a Baptist. Her father was from Ohio and her mother was from Pennsylvania.

Nettie died an untimely death by choking to death. Nettie Israel Hissem, born on 28 November 1867 in Van Buren county, Iowa, and died on 18 September 1917, was buried in Dibble cemetery, Utica, Van Buren county, Iowa - per Nettie's death record.

"Mrs. Nettie Israel Hissem - Died September 18, 1917, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Israel, early settlers in Harrisburg Twp., Van Buren Co. Born in Harrisburg Twp. November 28, 1867. Moved to Bonaparte. Married J. T. Hissem of Chequest Twp. a few years ago. Leaves husband, 2 sisters: Mrs. J. C. Frye of KS: Mrs. W. F. Proper of Bonaparte. Also 3 brothers: J. C. of MO and George of Fairfield, IA."

J.T. Hissem, the son of Thos. Hissem and Aurilla Buckles, then married Alice Rump [Theoria Alice Morrow], known as Grandma Alice to the children, the daughter of G.W. Morrow and R. Sampson, on 12 February 1919 in Ottumwa, Wapello county, Iowa. Alice was born on 15 November 1882 near Douds. This was her second marriage and his third. Alice had first married Frank Henry Rump on 21 April 1908. Alice's two sons from this marriage, Frank and Morris, were living with J.T. in 1920. J.T. and Alice appear to have had only one child together, Jesse T. Jr, in 1922.

In the 1920 census of Village township, Van Buren county as Jessie T. Hissem, a 53 year old cashier at the Rural Bank. Living with him was his wife, Alice [Theoria], 37, daughter, Mabel, 17, and stepsons, Frank, 10, and Morris, 8. The latter two were listed as Hissems in the census.

In the 1925 state census of Jackson township, Van Buren county as J. T. Hissem, 58. Living with him were his wife, Theoria A., 42, and children, Mable, 23, and J. T. Junior, 3. Jesse and Theoria both had 8 years of schooling.

In the 1930 census of Jackson township, Van Buren county, Iowa is Jesse T. Hissem, a 63 year old farmer. Living with him are his wife, Theoria A. [Cheoria in Ancestry.com], 47, and Jesse T. Jr., 8. He owned his own farm. Jesse had first been married when he was 21 and Theoria when she was 25.

In the Ottumwa City Directory of 1939 as Jesse T. Hissem, wife Alice, a carpenter living at 442 North Jefferson. This appears to now be an apartment building. Jesse's sons, Earl T. and Jesse T. Jr., lived there as well. Earl, with wife Leta M., was a traveling salesman and Jesse Jr. a driver. Jr. lived at home with his folks. Jesse Sr. was also in the 1943, 1947, 1951 and 1954 Directories at the same address.

In the 1940 census of Ottumwa, Center township, Wapello county, Iowa as Jesse T. Hissem, 73. Also living with him were his wife, [Theoria] Alice, 57, and his son, Jesse T., 18.

Jesse Thomas Hissem died on 13 October 1954 and was buried in the Leando cemetery, in Douds, Iowa.

"JESSE T. HISSEM

Jesse Thomas Hissem, 88, died at 4 p.m. Wednesday at his home at 442 North Jefferson after a three-year illness.

He was born August 30, 1866, in Troy, the son of Thomas and Jane Buckles Hissem. He was reared on a farm in Van Buren county. He was a school teacher and later a farmer and carpenter. He was a member of the Providence Baptist church, where he was Sunday school superintendent and teacher for many years.

He was married September 15, 1887, to Mary C. Downing, who died November 10, 1910, at their home near Douds. They were the parents of eight children. He was married November 9, 1912, to Nettie Israel, who died November 10, 1917. He was married February 12, 1919, to Alice Morrow Rump, who survives. To them one son was born.

Besides his wife he leaves three daughters, Mrs. Maude Vaughn and Mrs. Anna Lasley of Corning, Calif., and Mrs. Mabel Bonner of Milton; five sons, Weldon G. of Douds, Royale H. of Selma, Will H. of Milton, Jesse T. Hissem, Jr., of Ottumwa and Earl T. Hissem of Santa Monica, Calif.; two step-sons, Frank Rump of Jefferson City, Mo., and Maurice Rump of Ottumwa; a brother, George A. Hissem of Douds; 17 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a daughter in infancy and by a sister, Mrs. Sudie Erickson.

The body was taken from the Campbell funeral home at Eldon today at the Hissem residence and will be moved at 12:30 p.m. Friday to the Leando Methodist church. The service will be held there at 2 p.m. The Rev. A.D. Pringle of Ottumwa will be in charge. Burial will be in the Leando cemetery." - from the Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book D, Page 254, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA

"Section B Row 22 going south
HISSEM
Jesse T. 30 Aug. 1866-13 Oct. 1954
Mary C. 14 Jan. 1868-10 Nov. 1910 his wife [DOWNING]"

Theoria died on 10 January 1976 at Highland Center, Iowa and was buried in the Calvary Cemetery, Ottumwa, Iowa. Jesse's children with Mary C. Downing were,
(25) Maud E. Hissem (1888)
(25) George Weldon Hissem (1890)
(25) Royale Lee Hissem (1891)
(25) William Horace Hissem (1894)
(25) Earle Thomas Hissem (1896)
(25) Anna Jane Hissem (1899)
(25) Nellie Hissem (1900), who died in infancy, Dec 27, 1900 to Apr 10, 1901 Dau of J & Mary, her tombstone in the Union township, Davis county cemetery:

Maud Hissem was born on 9 August 1888 in Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa. In the 1895 state census of Van Buren county, Iowa as Maud Hissem, living with her parents, J.T. and Mary Hissem. In the 1900 census for Chequest township as Maud Hissem [Hissam in Ancestry.com], 11, of Iowa. In the 1905 state census of Van Buren county, Iowa as Maude E. Hissem, 16.

Maude E. Hissem, the daughter of J.T. Hissem and Mary Downing, married Roy Vaughn, the son of W.H. [William Henry] Vaughn and Mary [Ellen] Harmon, on 18 April 1908 in Ottumwa, Wapello county, Iowa. Roy was born on 27 October 1888 in Davis county, Iowa. He was a graduate of Southern Iowa Normal College at Bloomfield.

The couple moved to Omaha, Nebraska where Roy was a bookeeper in a bank.

The couple later lived in California. Roy died in 1937. Maude E. Vaughn, whose father was a Hissem and mother a Downing, died on 22 May 1982 in Corning, Tehama county, California. This is a pretty sparsely populated region between Redding and Chico, in northern California. They were both buried in the Sunset Hill cemetery in Corning. Maud's younger sister, Anna Jane Hissem Lasley, below, was buried there as well.

George Weldon Hissem was born on 2 March 1890. Known in his youth as George Weldon, he later went by the name Weldon George. This may have been in deference to his uncle, George Abner, only 11 years his senior, who lived in close proximity. In the 1895 state census of Van Buren county, Iowa as George W. Hissem, 5, living with his parents, J.T. and Mary Hissem. In the 1900 census for Chequest township as Weldon Hissem [Hissam in Ancestry.com], 10. In the 1905 state census of Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa a Weldon G. Hissem, 15. In the 1910 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Weldon G. Hissem, 20.

Weldon G. Hissem, the son of J.T. Hissem and Mary C. Downing, married Alma B. [Beatrice] Plowman, the daughter of L.P. Plowman and Laura Wooley, on 26 June 1912 in Van Buren county, Iowa. She was born in 1888, the daughter of Lewis Paul Plowman and Laura I. Wooley of Leando, Iowa. They had married when he was 22 and she was 23. Her sister, Verna, married his uncle, George A. Hissem. For a period they both taught school and perhaps that was how they met. The following, about Weldon's father, may show that the Plowman's and Hissem's lived nearby each other.

Chequest. "L.A. Plowman and J.T. Hissem are getting out rocks prepatory to building new dwellings in the spring." - from the Ottumwa Daily Courier of 14 January 1903

In the 1915 state census of Douds Leando, Chequest township as Weldon G. Hissem, a 25 year old farmer, of Iowa. He had 8 yeras of grammar school and 2 years of high school [though this latter looks like its been lined out]. He was a Methodist. Also listed was Alma Hissem, 26, of Iowa. She had 8 years of education. Weldon G. Hissem signed a number of the state forms, including his own. Was he a census official?

George Weldon Hissem registered for the draft on 5 June 1917 at the local draft board in Keosauqua, Iowa. He was born on 2 March 1890 in Douds Leando, Iowa. He was then 27 years old, a self-employed farmer living in Douds Leando, Iowa. He was described as of medium build and height, with light gray eyes and red hair. He claimed a physical disability - dependents. There's a joke there, but perhaps he meant that he had both a disability and children, not that his children were his disability. His nearest relative was his wife.

Weldon George Hissem was a veteran of World War I, enlisting on 20 September 1917 in Keosauqua, aged 27. He rose to the rank of Sergeant in the Quartermaster Division at Camp Dodge near Des Moines. There is no indication he ever left the states. While there Weldon's wife, Alma, lived in Des Moines to be close to him. He was discharged on 10 February 1919. Weldon was said to be a very colorful storyteller who used to tell his nephew tales about the war when he was a little boy.

Camp Dodge

In the 1920 census for Chequest township, Van Buren county as George W. Hissem, a 29 year old farmer. Living with him was his wife, Alma B., 31.

In the 1925 state census of Chequest township as Weldon G. Hissem [Hissam in Ancestry.com], 38. Living with him was his wife, Alma B., 36.

In the 1930 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Weldon G. Hissem, a 40 year old farmer. Living with him is his wife, Alma B., 41. They had no children. He owned his own farm and they had a radio.

In 1934 the Iowa General Assembley passed a law creating an Old Age Assistance Commission to oversee the care of the State's needy aged; assistance was to be provided to indigent applicants over the age of 65. A tax of $1 a head, the first year, and $2 a head annually thereafter was collected from all persons over the age of 21 to fund this aid. The names of those to be taxed included:

Taxpayer: Hissem, Alma B. Birthplace: Leando. Birthdate: 1888 Nov 6. Father: Plowman, Lewis. Mother: Wooley, Laura. Residence: Cheq

Taxpayer: Hissem, Weldon, G. Birthplace: Leando. Birthdate: 1890 Mar 2. Father: Hissem, Jesse. Mother: Downing, Mary. Residence: Keo

In the 1940 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowas as Weldon G. Hissem, a 50 year old farmer. Living with him was his wife, Alma B., 51.

The local draft board issued the following notice on 7 November 1940.

"Given below is the listing of 1255 registrants in Van Buren county Iowa for possible military training subject to call before the local draft board. The board will pass upon each registrant individually. Although a great deal of effort has been expended to make this list conform exactly to the order in which the men will be called, the list is not official and may contain errors."

George Weldon Hissem, of Douds, 52, again registered for the draft on 27 April 1942. His point of contact was Dilber Plowman, of Douds, his brother-in-law. He was self-employed. He was 5'8" tall and weighted 165 pounds. His eyes were gray and his hair was brown. George's uncle, George A. Hissem, was the registrar.

In the 1960 plat of Chequest township a Welden Hissen was shown with a property in section 10.

Alma died in 1965. Her obituary:

"Alma Beatrice Hissem, daughter of Lewis and Laura Woolley Plowman, was born November 6, 1888, on a farm south of Douds and departed this life Wednesday October 27, 1965, at the Van Buren County Memorial Hospital in Keosauqua at the age of 76. She had been a patient in the hospital nearly a year. Her entire life was spent in the same neighborhood, except for a period during World War I when she lived in Des Moines, while her husband was stationed there in service. While living in Des Moines she was employed in the office of the Secretary of State. "

"As a young lady she taught school for a number of years and was a director of music in local churches."

"On June 26, 1912, she was married to Weldon G. Hissem. Survivors are her husband, two sisters, Mrs. Verna Hissem of Douds, and Miss Willa Plowman of Nora Springs; two brothers, Delber Plowman of Douds and Wilmer Plowman of Ottumwa; a nephew, David Plowman and a niece, Mary Plowman. Mrs. Hissem was a long time member of Christ Methodist church at Douds. "

"Funeral Services were held Saturday, October 30, at 2 p.m. at Christ Methodist Church with the pastor, the Rev. G. Basil Tadlock officiating. Vocalists were Mrs. Keith A. Smith and Mrs. Robert Pedrick, accompanied by Mrs. Robinson. Bearers were Dewey Harryman, Harvey Harryman, Bruce Harryman, Sr., Floyd Haney, Wilbur Strait and Noble Plowman. Interment was in Leando Cemetery. Arrangements were in charge of Pedrick Funeral Home."

George W. Hissem, the son of Jess Hissem and Mary Downing, died on 28 February 1978 in Knoxville, Marion county, Iowa. Weldon's obituary:

"Weldon G. Hissem, a long time resident of the Douds community departed this life February 28, 1978 at Veterans Hospital in Knoxville, Iowa. The son of Jesse and Mary Downing Hissem, he was born March 3, 1890."

"On June 26, 1912 he was married to Alma B. Plowman. She died in 1965. Weldon was a very busy person. He taught school, operated a saw mill and threshing machine with his brother Royale, and spent most of his life operating his farm southwest of Douds. In addition he did carpenter work, having learned the trade from his father as a boy."

"He was among the first men to leave Van Buren County for the Army at the outbreak of World War I. He rose to the rank of Sergeant in the Quartermaster Division at Camp Dodge near Des Moines. While he was in the service, his wife Alma, lived in Des Moines, where she was employed by the Homestead Magazine Co., and as secretary to the Iowa Secretary of State. After the war they returned to their farm."

"Feeling it was his duty to help in community affairs he served many years on the rural school board, rural telephone company and Leando Cemetery Boards. He served seven years on the Van Buren County Selective Service Board. Due to the loss of his wife October 27, 1965, his age, and failing health, he left his farm home in December, 1970, to live at the Ballingall Hotel in Ottumwa. He later entered the Veterans Hospital in Knoxville. He was a member of the Christ United Methodist Church and a charter member of John Hyson Reneker Post No. 494, American Legion, both at Douds."

"Surviving are a sister, Maude Vaughn and a brother, Earl Hissem, both in Californa, a half-brother, Jesse Hissem of Ottumwa, and a number of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Two brothers, Royale and Will and two sisters, Anna Lasley and Mabel Bonar preceded him in death."

"Funeral services were held Thursday, March 2, 1978 at 3 P.M. at Christ Methodist Church in Douds with the Rev. L. C. Brown officiating. Interment was in Leando Cemetery. Arrangements were in charge of Pedrick Funeral Home, Douds."

"Section C Row 5 going south
HISSEM
Alma B. 1888-1965 [PLOWMAN]
Weldon G. 1890-1978 WWI flagholder"

Sometimes spelled Royle or Royal and pronounced 'royal,' not, as you might imagine, the fancy-schmanzy royale. Royale Lee Hissem, the son of J.T. Hissem and Mary C. Downing, was born on 14 December 1891 in Douds, Chequest county, Iowa. In the 1895 state census as Royal L. [S in Ancestry.com] Hissem, 3, born in Van Buren county, Iowa. In the 1900 census for Chequest township as Royal Hissem [Hissam in Ancestry.com], 8. In the 1905 state census of Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Royale L. Hissem, 13. In the 1910 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Royal L. Hissem, 18.

Royale L. Hissem, the son of J.T. Hissem and Mary Downing, married Etta V. Smith, the daughter of E.E. [Ellis Eugene] Smith and Margory [Alice] Carson, on 8 April 1914 in Wapello county, Iowa. She was born on 9 March 1894 in Selma, Van Buren county, Iowa.

In the 1915 state census of Douds Leando, Chequest township as Royale L. Hissem, a 23 year old farmer. He had 8 years of grammar school and 7/12 years of high school. His house and farm were valued at $2150.

Royale Lee Hissem, 25, a self-employed farmer living in Killbourne, Iowa, registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. He had been born on 14 December 1891 in Douds-Leando, Iowa. He had a wife and one child at the time. He claimed a physical disability, but he may have only meant his dependents. He was described as tall with a medium build, and light brown eyes and light brown hair. Apparently he did not enlist.

In the 1920 census for Van Buren township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Royale Hissem, a 28 year old farmer. Living with him were his wife Etta, 25, and daughter Esther K. [Katherine], 2 7/12.

In the 1925 state census of Van Buren township, Van Buren county as R. L. Hissem, 33. Living with him were his wife, Anna V., 30, and daughter, Catherine, 7. Royale had 9 years of schooling and Anna 11.

In the 1930 census of Salt Creek township, Davis county, Iowa as Royale L. Hissem [Hissam in Ancestry.com], a 38 year old farmer. He had a radio and owned his own home. Living with him were his wife, Etta V., 36, and C. [Catherine] Esther, 13.

In the 1940 census of Salt creek township, Davis county, Iowa as Royal Hissem, a 40 year old farmer. Living with him was his wife, Etta, 46. Esther had married the year before.

Royale Lee Hissem, 50, of Salt Creek township, Davis county, Iowa, registered for the draft again on 27 April 1942. He was 5'10" and weighed 170 pounds. His eyes were brown and hair was now grey. His point of contact was his wife, Etta Hissem. He was self-employed.

Royale died in September 1964 and was buried at Mt Moriah cemetery, 4 miles northwest of Douds, Van Buren, Iowa. Dad remembers "Royal" as his uncle and Grandpa Leo's cousin. He was a farmer. Etta died on 23 June 1983. Their only child was,
(26) Katherine Esther Hissem (1918)

Also as Kathryn. Katharine Esther Hissem, the daughter of Royal Lee Hissem and Etta Vivian Smith, was born on 5 March 1917 in Van Buren township, Iowa. In the 1920 census for Van Buren township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Esther K. Hissem, 2 7/12. In the 1925 state census of Van Buren township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Catherine Hissem, 7, the daughter of R. L. and Anna V. Hissem. In the 1930 census of Salt Creek township, Davis county, Iowa as C. [Catheine] Esther Hissem [Hissam in Ancestry.com], 13.

Kathryn Hissem married Noble D. Carroll on 4 June 1939. Noble D. Carroll, the son of Clare C. and Enna V. (Lanman) Carroll, was born on 18 February 1918 in Davis county, Iowa. Kathryn and Noble had two children, Carolyn Hannam and Kay (Kathryn Yevette) Boyd.

Kathryn died on 14 November 1994 at the age of 77. Noble died on 18 October 2010 in Ft. Myers, Florida at the age of 92. His obituary,

"Noble D. Carroll, 92, of Ottumwa, died at 1:45 am Oct. 18, 2010, at Fr. Myers, Fla.

He was born Feb. 18, 1918, in Davis County to Charles Clair and Emma Virona Lanman Carroll. He married Kathryn Esther Hissem June 4, 1939. She preceded him in death Nov. 14, 1994.

He was a veteran of World War ll, serving with the Army Air Corps. He worked for Roberts and Dybdahl, retiring as manager.

He had been a member of North Court Baptist Church since 1946, where he served as deacon for several years.

Surviving are two daughters, Carolyn(Bill)Hannam of Cape Fair, Mo., and Kay Boyd of Blakesburg; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a dear friend, Beverly Roberts of West Des Moines.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Esther; a grandson; two great-granddaughters; three brothers, Charles, Max and Lowell Carroll; and a son-in-law, Tom Boyd.

Funeral services will be 1pm Saturday at North Court Baptist Church with Pastor Roger Hemmings officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Moriah Cemetery near Douds. Visitation will begin at 1 pm. Friday at Reece Funeral Home with the family present from 6-8pm Friday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to North Court Baptist Church or Hospice, Ottumwa, Iowa."

Known as Will or Willie. The fourth child of Jesse Thomas Hissem. He was born in 21 May 1894 according to his WWI draft registration. In the 1895 state census as William H. Hissem, 0, born in Van Buren county, Iowa, living at home with his parents, J.T. and Mary Hissem. In the 1900 census for Chequest township as Willie Hissem [Hissam in Ancestry.com], 6. In the 1905 state census of Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Willie H. Hissem, 10. In the 1910 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Willie H. [Millie in Ancestry.com] Hissem, 15. In the 1915 state census of Douds Leando, Chequest township as Willie H. Hissem, 21. He was living with his parents. He had 8 years of schooling. He was a Methodist.

William H. Hissem, the son of J.T. Hissem and Mary Downing, married Ethel M. [May] Brewer, the daughter of John W. Brewer and Ada Griest, on 17 February 1915 in Van Buren county, Iowa. Ethel was born on 30 March 1897 and was 18 when they married.

William Horace Hissem registered for the draft on 5 June 1917. He was born on 21 May 1894 in Douds Leando, Iowa. He was then 23 years old, a farm laborer working on the farm of J. E. Morrison in Stockport, Iowa. He was described as of medium height and build, with light blue eyes and light brown hair. He was living in Douds Leando, Iowa with a wife and one child, for whom he asked a deferment. He did not serve in World War I, perhaps because he had just married.

In the 1920 Federal census for Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Will H. Hissem, a 24 year old farmer. Living with him were his wife, Ethel, 22, daughter, Ada L., 2 8/12, and Jane, 79, his widowed grandmother.

In the 1925 state census of Van Buren township, Van Buren county, Iowa as W. H. Hissem, 30. Living with him were his wife, Ethel, 27, and children, Louise, 7, Marie, 4, and Maxine, 2. William had 6 years of schooling, Ethel 8, and daughter, Louise, 3.

Will was listed as having a phone in the Keosauqua directory for 1925, but not in the 1930 edition. Evidence of income loss due to the Depression or that he moved?

In the 1930 Federal census for Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Will H. Hissem, a 35 year old farmer. Living with him were his wife, Ethel M., 32, and children, Louisa A. [Ada?], 12, Alice M., 9, Mary M., 7, and Ned W., 2 1/2. Ada B. Brewer, 63, Will's mother-in-law, was living with him as well. It appears he was renting his farm. Will and Ethel Hissem farmed and lived around the Milton and Douds areas for many years.

In 1934 the Iowa General Assembley passed a law creating an Old Age Assistance Commission to oversee the care of the State's needy aged; assistance was to be provided to indigent applicants over the age of 65. A tax of $1 a head, the first year, and $2 a head annually thereafter was collected from all persons over the age of 21 to fund this aid. The names of those to be taxed included:

Taxpayer: Hissem, William Horace. Birthplace: Douds. Birthdate: 1894 May 21. Father: Hissem, Jessie. Mother: Downing, Mary. Residence: Cheq

Taxpayer: Hissem, Ethel May. Birthplace: Lebanon. Birthdate: 1897 Mar 30. Father: Brewer, J W. Mother: Griest, Ada. Residence: Cheq

In the 1940 census of Libertyville, Liberty township, Jefferson county, Iowa as Will H. Hissem, a 45 year old farmer. Living with him were his wife, Ethel, 43, and his children, Mary M., 17, Ned W., 12, and Carol Jean, 4.

Will Horace Hissem, a 47 year old self-employed carpenter, of Libertyville, registered for the draft again on 27 April 1942. The document shows his birth year as 1896, but that can't be right since he was listed in the 1895 state census. His point of contact was his wife, Mrs. Ethel Hissem. He was 5'9" tall and weighed 185 pounds. He had blue eyes and brown hair. Lots of blue eyes in the Hissem family.

Will died in September 1970 in Milton, Iowa. Ethel died on 5 March 1991. Both were buried in the Sunnyside cemetery in Milton, Iowa.

Ada Louise Hissem, the daughter of Willie Horace Hissem and Ethel May Brewer, was born on 8 May 1917 in Stockport, Van Buren county, Iowa. In the 1920 Federal census for Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Ada L. Hissem, 2 8/12, of Iowa, living with her parents, Will H. Hissem and Ethel M. Hissem. In the 1925 state census of Van Buren township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Loouis Hissem, 7, living with her parents, W. H. Hissem, 30, and Ethel, 27. In the 1930 Federal census for Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Louisa A. [Ada?] Hissem, 12.

Ada married Clarence L. Wells. He was born in 1916 and died in 2002. Ada Louise Hissem Wells died on 30 May 2002, per the Hawkeye newspaper of Columbus Junction, Iowa, and was buried in the Sunnyside cemetery in Milton, Van Buren county, Iowa.

She may have been named after "Grandma Alice," Jessie Thomas' third wife. Alice Marie Hissem, the daughter of Will H. Hissem and Ethel May Brewer, was born on 29 July 1920 in Iowa. In the 1925 state census of Van Buren township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Marie Hissem, 4, living with her parents, W. H. Hissem, 30, and Ethel, 27. In the 1930 Federal census for Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Alice M. Hissem, 9.

Alice Marie Hissem married Kenneth V. Gooden of Ottumwa, Iowa, the son of Earl and Delpha Gooden, on 18 August 1937, in Memphis, Missouri. They later lived in Milton. Kenneth died on 7 September 1986. Alice was still living, in Memphis, Missouri, as of 28 July 2004 when her son, Roger Alan Gooden, of Kansas City, Missouri, died.

Alice's obituary,

Marie Gooden (7/29/1920 - 12/30/2010)

Marie Gooden, 90, of Memphis, Missouri, died Thursday night, December 30, 2010, at the Scotland County Hospital in Memphis. Alice Marie Hissem was born July 29, 1920, in Van Buren County, Iowa, to William Horace and Ethel May Brewer Hissem.

She attended several country schools in Van Buren County and attended high school in Douds, Iowa.

Marie was united in marriage to Kenneth Vernett Gooden, August 18, 1937, at Memphis, Missouri and to this union four children were born.

Marie was a homemaker and lived on a farm with her husband. She was a member of the First Christian Church, the Christian Women's Workers and the Young at Heart. Kenneth and Marie enjoyed traveling which included stopping at every antique store along the way to embellish their collection of dishes and much time was spent visiting family. She enjoyed playing cards and was a member of the Rural Rough Riders Club. She attended many car races with her husband and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye Fan! As her health declined, Marie entered the Scotland County Care Center in February of 2009, where she enjoyed playing cards and bingo as well as visiting.

She is survived by two daughters: Linda Briedwell and her husband, Larry, of Glenwood, Missouri; Glenda Creath and her husband, Larry, of Memphis, Missouri; a daughter-in-law, Sharon Gooden, of Ottumwa, Iowa; ten grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Lisa Davis and her husband, Ian, of Blue Springs, Missouri; Alan Bunch of Macon, Georgia; Johnny Creath of Pulaski, Iowa; Kim Speer and friend, Tony Snakenberg, of Sigourney, Iowa; Nikki Swaim of Bloomfield, Iowa; Melissa Marshall and her husband, Warren, of Bloomfield, Iowa; Angela Griffith and her husband, Jeff, of Ottumwa, Iowa; Paula Howard of Ottumwa, Iowa; Douglas Briedwell and his wife, Judy, of Vancouver, Washington and Lanita Moss and her husband, Colby, of Spring Hill, Kansas. Also surviving are twenty-two great-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren: Stephanie Bunch, Stephanie Davis, Christopher Bunch, Bobby Bunch, Alex Davis, Andre' Davis, Jaelynn Creath, Kinlee Creath, Jori Davidson, Madison Harris, Kylie Nebel and her husband, Stewart, Joey Speer, Brandon Bish and his wife, Lori, Amanda Swaim, Ashley Armstrong, Mercedes Marshall, Mariah Marshall, Dustin Griffith, Zach Howard, Lindsey Howard, Elliot Moss, Hunter Moss; six great great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sons: Gary Gooden and Roger Gooden; a son-in-law, John Bunch; a brother, Ned Hissem; three sisters: Louise Wells, Maxine Manske and Carol Jean Boyd; a sister-in-law, Grace Hissem and three brothers-in-law: Clarence Wells, Maynard Manske and Russell Boyd.

Mary Maxine Hissem, the daughter of Will Horace Hissem and Ethel May Brewer, was born on 29 June 1922. In the 1925 state census of Van Buren township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Maxine Hissem, 2, living with her parents, W. H. Hissem, 30, and Ethel, 27. In the 1930 Federal census for Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Mary M. Hissem, 7.

In the 1940 census of Libertyville, Liberty township, Jefferson county, Iowa as Mary M. Hissem, 17, living with her parents, Will H., a 45 year old farmer, and Ethel, 43.

She married a Manske. Her son is Daniel Manske, of Alameda, California, from whom my source got a good deal of information about J.T.'s part of the family. He wrote that,

"My cousin, Bee Grootveld, who lived in Red Bluff, California, and was Anna's daughter (grandpa's sister) once sent me a good long letter outlining what she knew of the Hissem ancestry, and it goes all the way back to England and perhaps to Germany before that [sic]."

Ned is a nickname for Edward. Ned William Hissem, the son of Will H. Hissem and Ethel May Brewer, was born on 30 April 1927 in Iowa. In the 1930 Federal census for Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Ned W. Hissem, 2 1/2.

In the 1940 census of Libertyville, Liberty township, Jefferson county, Iowa as Ned W. Hissem, 12, living with his parents, Will H., a 45 year old farmer, and Ethel, 43.

Ned William Hissem, S2c, reported onboard USS Delta, AR 9, on 17 October 1945. The DELTA was a repair ship, and during this period she was based in Yokosuka, Japan. Her technicians prepared the Japanese battleship NAGATO for the atomic bomb test at Bikini atoll. He transferred, as a S1c, on 1 September 1946, to PSC Minneapolis, Minn. I believe the latter was a personnel depot for administering discharges.

Ned married Grace E. Spool circa 1955. She was born on 28 August 1923. At some point Ned moved to northern California, living in Redding from as early as 1958. He also lived in Fort Bragg for a time. This is on the coast, not far from Mendocino.

Ned William Hissem died on 1 April 1996 in Redding, Shasta county, California. Grace E. Hissem died on 28 May 2002 in Redding.

Nedra S. Hissem was born on 3 May 1956 in Shasta county, California. Her mother's maiden name was Spool. She attended Central Valley High School, in Shasta, graduating in 1974.

Nedra S. Hissem, 22, married Robert J. Siler, 22, on 3 March 1979 in Shasta county. Both were born circa 1957. I believe she is living in Redding, in northern California.

Carol Jean Hissem, the daughter of Will A. [sic] Hissem and Ethel May Brewer, was born on 1 October 1935 in Iowa.

In the 1940 census of Libertyville, Liberty township, Jefferson county, Iowa as Carol Jean Hissem, 4, living with her parents, Will H., 45, and Ethel, 43. Daniel Manske wrote,

"William Horace Hissem and Ethel Brewer Hissem (my grandparents) had a daughter who came along a bit later in life: Carol Jean Hissem Boyd. I believe she was born around 1935 and graduated from Milton High School around 1953, when she married Russell Boyd. Carol Hissem was on the graduation list of Milton High School for 1953. They lived in Keosauqua the rest of their lives and raised SEVEN children. Both are now deceased."

Carol Jean Hissem Boyd died on 3 July 1998 and was buried at the Sunnyside cemetery in Milton, like her sister Alice Marie.

Earl was born on 25 October 1896 in Douds, Iowa. In the 1900 census for Chequest township as Earle Hissem, 3, of Iowa, living with his parents, Jessee [sic] and Mary Hissem. In the 1905 state census of Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Thomas E. Hissem, 8. This is the right man because his parents were Jesse T. and Mary C. Hissem. In the 1910 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Thomas E. Hissem, 13. In the states 1915 census of Douds Leando post office, Chequest township, Van Buren county as Earl Hissem, a single man, aged 18, living with his parents. Weldon G. Hissem signed the form. Was he a census official? Note that Weldon held many county administrative positions, including on the draft board, school board, etc.

Earle Hissem, 21, a self-employed farmer of Douds, Iowa, registered for the draft on 5 June 1918 at the local draft board in Keosauqua, Iowa. He was born on 25 October 1896 in Van Buren county, Iowa. His nearest relation was his father, J.T. Hissem of Douds. He was described as having brown eyes and red hair. His brother, Weldon, had red hair too.

Earl T. Hissem, 21, enlisted on 15 August 1918 in Keosauqua. I don't know anything about his service, but since he war ended in November 1918 he probably didn't get far. He was discharged on 11 January 1919.

Earl Hissem, the son of J.T. Hissem and Mary Downing, married Leta Marie Minnear [Minear], the daughter of W.O. Minear and Bell Leach, on 2 August 1919 in Wapello county, Iowa. He was 22 and she was 20. She was born on 7 April 1899, the daughter of Wade Oren Minear and Belle Leach.

In the 1920 census of . . . On 8 October 1922 their son, Donald William, was born.

In the 1925 census of Ottumwa, Wapello county, Iowa as Earl Hissem, 28. Living with him were his wife, Leta, 28, and son, Donald, 2. Earl had 10 years of schooling and Leta 8.

In the 1930 census for the city of Ottumwa, Center township, Wapello county, Iowa as Earl T. Hissem, a 32 year old order clerk at a wholesale warehouse. Living with him were his wife, Leta M., 30, a switchboard operator, and his son is Donald A. [sic] Hissem, 7. His mother-in-law, Belle C. Minear, 54, was also living with them. He owned his own home, which was worth $3,000. Yes, he had a radio.

In the 1939 Ottumwa City Directory as Earl T. Hissem, with wife Leta M., a traveling salesman, living at 1006 Queen Ann Avenue. He continued to live in Ottumwa in 1941 and 1945.

In the 1940 census of Ottumwa Center township, Wapello county, Iowa as Earl Hissem. Living with him were his wife, Leta M., son, Donald, and mother-in-law, Belle Minear.

Earl Thomas Hissem, 45, of Douds, registered for the draft on 25 April 1942 in Ottumwa, Wapello county, Iowa. He worked for the Shapleigh Hardware company of St. Louis, Missiouri. He was living at 442 North Jefferson, in Ottumwa. His point of contact was his father, Jesse Thomas Hissem, who lived at the same address. He was 5' 11" and weighed 196 pounds. His eyes and hair were brown.

Later, as early as 1948, he lived in the Los Angeles area with his wife Leta, at 2521 33rd Street. His son Donald was an aircraft worker, who, in 1954, lived at 2651 33rd Street. The California Voter Registrations of 1956 for Los Angeles county show:

"Hissem, Donald W.
Hissem, Earl T.
Hissem, Mrs. Leta M.
Hissem, Mrs. Polly L.

Earl Thomas Hissem died on 9 September 1980 while living in Santa Monica, Los Angeles county, California. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, in Los Angeles. Earl's mother's maiden name was Downing. Leta died on 7 June 1983. Leta M. Minear Hissem was also buried in Forest Lawn.

Donald William, the son of Earl T. Hissem and Leta Marie Minear, was born 8 October 1922 in Iowa. In the 1925 state census of Wapello county, Iowa as Donald Hissem, 2, son of Letta Minear and Earl Hissem.

In the 1930 census as Donald W. Hissem, 7 years old, living with his father and mother in Wapello, Iowa. He was also listed in the Iowa state census as Donald Hissem.

In the 1940 census of Ottumwa Center township, Wapello county, Iowa as Donald Hissem. He was living with his parents, Earl and Leta M. Hissem. Belle Minear also lived with the family.

Donald W. Hissem, of Wapello, Iowa, enlisted in the Army as a Private on 29 January 1943 as Camp Dodge Herrold. He had one year of college. He was single with no dependents at the time.

After the war the family moved to Los Angeles, California and were on the voter registrations lists for 1954 and 1956, along with Don's parents, Earl and Leta. In 1948 Donald was listed as an aircraft worker. Aviation was big business in Southern California. Lockheed had a large facility in Burbank.

Donald was, perhaps, superintendent of the Imperial Valley Schools for many years. The Imperial Valley is east of San Diego, and just west of Yuma, Arizona. Donald W. Hissem and his wife, Polly L. Hissem, lived in Santa Monica, California, at 2521 33rd Street, right. Don was a registered Republican.

Donald William Hissem of Iowa died on 5 November 2008, at the age of 86, while living in Ventura county, California - from the Social Security Death Index. Polly Leslie Hissem, who was born on 25 November 1926, died on 2 November 2015 in Ventura.

Anna J. Hissem, the daughter of Jesse T. Hissem and Nancy [sic] Downing, was born on 14 February 1899 in Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa. In the 1900 census for Chequest township as Annie Hissem [Hissam in Ancestry.com], 1, the daughter of Jessee [sic] and Mary Hissem. In the 1905 state census of Chequest township as Anna J. Hissem, of Douds Leando. In the 1910 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Annie J. Hissem, 11. In the 1915 state census of Douds Leando, Chequest township as Anna Hissem, 16. She had 8 years of education and was at school. She was a Baptist.

Anna Jane Hissem, the daughter of Jesse Thomas Hissem and Mary C. Downing, married Clay Francis Lasley, the son of C.E. Lasley and Anna Viola Haney, on 13 October 1918 in Van Buren county, Iowa. He was born on 15 August 1897 and died on 16 May 1971 in San Francisco. She died on 4 July 1977 at Red Bluff, Tehama, California. This is in northern California, just northwest of Chico. Her older sister, Maud, and her husban Roy Vaughn, lived nearby in the town of Corning. Her daugher, Bee Grootveld, still lives in Red Bluff. Is she the wife of Bob Grootveld, former mayor of Red Bluff [served three terms]? Is the following her son? Gary Grootveld (B.S., Electric and Electronic Engineering, '73) the chief of the Office of Public Safety Radio Services for the State of California. He worked in the Telecommunications Division in Sacramento for 27 years before this promotion. He and his wife, Joan, live in Rancho Cordova with their son, Chris.

I recently received the following note from Gary.

"Steve

I just was looking for a link and literally stumbled onto your web page and was very interested in reading the Hissem family history. I am the grandson of Anna Jane Hissem and, over time, will endeavor to send you some updates on the Grootveld part of the information. There is other information as well for the other children of Clay and Anna (Hissem) Lasley. Besides Beulah (Bee) (Lasley) Grootveld, there was Robert Lasley and Viola (Lasley) Murphy. More to follow.

Gary R. Grootveld"

Anna's children were,
(26) Robert Clay Lasley
(26) Mary Viola Lasley
(26) Beulah (Bee) Bernice Lasley

She was born on 26 February 1902 in Douds, Iowa. In the 1905 state census of Chequest township as Mable Hissem, of Douds Leando. In the 1910 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Mabelle M. Hissem, 8. In the 1915 state census of Douds Leando, Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa as Mabel Hissem, 13. She had 8 years of schooling at that time. She was a Baptist. In the 1920 census of Village township, Van Buren county as Mabel Hissem, 17. In the 1925 state census of Jackson township, Van Buren county as Mable Hissem, 23.

Mary Mabel Hissem, the daughter of J.T. Hissem and Mary Downing, married Hazen B. Bonar, the son of B.B. Bonar and Anna Peacock, on 13 January 1926 in Bloomfield, Davis county, Iowa.

According to her nephew, "a wonderful woman I knew very well, married to Hazen Bonar and farmed in the Milton area." Mary Mabel Hissem, the daughter of J.T. Hissem and Mary Downing married Hazen B. Bonar, the son of B.B. Bonar and Anna Peacock, of 13 Janaury 1926 in Bloomfield, Davis county, Iowa. Hazen was born on 28 February 1893, the son of Barnett Bonar and Anna E. Peacock.

In the 1930 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Hazen B. Bonar [Hozer in Ancestry.com], 32. Living with him were his wife, Mable M., 23, his mother, Anne E., a 71 year old widow, and brothers, Paul E., 46, and Mathew S., 43.

Hazan died in August 1968. Mabel died in May 1972, still living in Milton, Iowa. They were buried in the Lebanon cemetery, Van Buren county, Iowa.

Jesse Therlome Hissem, the son of J.T. Hissem and Alice Morrow, was born on 22 September 1921 in Iowa. He, unlike J.T. Sr.'s other children, was the son of J.T.'s third wife, Theoria Alice Morrow, who J.T. married after 1917. In the 1925 state census of Jackson township, Van Buren county as J. T. Hissem Junior, 3. In the 1930 census of Jackson township, Van Buren county, Iowa is Jesse T. Hissem Jr., 8.

In the 1939 Ottumwa City Directory as Jesse T. Hissem Jr., a driver, living at home with his father, Jesse T., at 442 North Jefferson.

In the 1940 census of Ottumwa, Center township, Wapello county, Iowa as Jesse Hissem, 18. He was living with his parents, Jesse T., 73, and [Theoria] Alice, 57.

In the 1943 Ottumwa City Directory as Jesse T. Hissem Jr., with his wife Wilma, a shipping clerk for the Sieg-Ottumwas Company. He lived at 121 1/2 West Maple Avenue. Wilma was born on 22 July 1921.

Jesse T. Hissem, of Wapello, Iowa, enlisted in the Army as a Private on 15 November 1943 at Camp Dodge Herrold. He had four years of High School and was classified as addressing-embossing machine operator or clerk general. He was married to a Wilma R., last name unknown. He served from 6 December 1943 to 27 December 1945.

In the 1951 and 1954 Ottumwa City Directories as Jesse T Hissem, with his wife, Wilma R., a parts m[a]n at the Ackley Manufacturer. He resided at 1511 Mowery Avenue. In 1954 he had moved on to be parts manager at Dickey Ford Sales.

A member of the Lions club.

"Mr and Mrs Jesse Hissem of Ottumwa were weekend guests of their son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs Gary Page, and daughter." - from the Bayard News of Bayard, Iowa of 23 December 1965. Jesse and Wilma are pictured to the left.

Wilma R. Hissem died on 16 January 1998 in Wapello county, Iowa. J.T. died of a lung ailment on 31 March 1999, at the age of 77, in Ottumwa, Wapello county, Iowa.

They had at least one daughter.

She married Gary Page.

"Mr and Mrs Jesse Hissem of Ottumwa were weekend guests of their son-in-law and daughter, Mr and Mrs Gary Page, and daughter." - from The Bayard News of Bayard, Iowa of 23 December 1965.

"Mr. and Mrs. Gary Page and family have moved into the Charles Towne property." - from The Bayard News of Bayard, Iowa of 26 August 1965.

She was born in February 1868 in Davis county, Iowa. Known as Aunt Sudie to the family. In the 1870 census of Douds Station, Chequest township, Van Buren county as Sussan E. Hissom [Hissone in Ancestry.com], 2, of Iowa. In the 1880 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Susan E. Hissem [Hissenn in Ancestry.com], 11, of Iowa. In the 1885 state census as Susan E. Hissem [Hissam in Ancestry.com], 16. In the 1895 state census of Van Buren county, Iowa as Sudia Hissem, 26. She was living with her parents, Thomas, 65, and Jane Hissem, 52, and brother, George, 15. In the 1900 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as Sudie Hissem, 32 [February 1868]. She was still living with her mother, Jane.

In March 1903 the Douds board of directors decided to "have 8 months of school in the coming year, three in the spring term with one teacher, and five for the fall and winter term with two teaches. Miss Sudie Hissem was elected teacher for the spring term with school to commence Monday, 5 April." - from the 24 March 1903 Ottumwa Daily Courier. She had 37 students enrolled on the first day in the old one-room school house. The next year they had a two-room school house!

"Miss Sudie Hissem of Douds, arrived in the city on the Rock Island [railroad?] this noon and will be a guest at the home of Mr. and Mrs. B A Ryder, 917 East Main street." - from the 27 June 1903 Ottumwa Daily Courier.

In the 1905 state census of Village township, Van Buren county as Sudie Hissem, again living with mother, Jane, and brother, George.

Sudie Hissem, 40, the daughter of Thomas Hissom and Aurila [sic] V. Buckles, married Jacob A. Erickson, 61, the son of Charles P. Erickson and Mary C. Gabrielson, on 30 October 1908 in South Ottumwa, Wapello county, Iowa.

"7 February 1935. Sudie Hissem Erickson

Relatives here received word of the death of Sudie Hissem Erickson at her home in Moravia, Calif. She is survived by one son, and two brothers, George of near Leando and Jess of Ottumwa, and a number of nieces and nephews. She was born and grew to womanhood in Van Buren county and was a successful teacher in the rural schools for a number of years." - from the Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book G, Page 20, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, Iowa.

George was born on 24 December 1879 in Davis county, Iowa, the youngest son of Thomas Hissem. In the 1880 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as George A. Hissem [Hissenn in Ancestry.com], 5/12, of Iowa.

In the 1885 state census of Chequest township as George A. Hissem [Hissam in Ancestry.com], 5. In the 1895 state census as George Hissem, 15.

In the 1900 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county as George A. Hissem, a 20 year old [December 1879] farmer. He was living at home with his sister, Sudie, and widowed step-mother, Jane. In the 1905 state census of Village township, Van Buren county as George A. Hissem, again living with mother, Jane, and sister, Sudie.

George married Verna Myrtal Plowman, the sister of Alma B. Plowman, the wife of Weldon Hissem, his nephew. She was born on 20 September 1886, the daughter of Lewis Paul Plowman and Laura I. Wooley of Leando, Iowa. George and Verna were married when George was 29 and Verna 22, that is in about 1909. The Plowman's were farmers in Chequest township, living near the Thomas Hissem farm.

In the 1910 census of Chequest township as George A. Hissem, a 30 year old farmer. Living with him was Verna B., 23.

In the 1915 state census of Douds Leando, Chequest township as George A. Hissem, a 35 year old farmer. He had 8 years of schooling. His house and farm were valued at $14,400 with a mortgage of $2,500. His father was from West Virginia and his mother was from Iowa. Also listed was Verna Hissem, 28. She had 8 years of grammar school and 1 year of high school.

The plat map of Chequest township for 1918 shows that Thomas' son, George, had the 160 acre farm just west of his fathers, in Section 8, and another 80 acres just south of there in Section 17. This was southwest of Leando. These are the two 80 acre farms, in the 1897 plat, of J.W. Arnduff and W. A. Grandall.

George Abner Hissem registered for the draft on 12 September 1918 at the local draft board in Keosauqua, Iowa. He was born on 24 December 1879. He was then 38 years old, a farmer living at RFD 2, Selma, Van Buren county, Iowa. He was described as tall and stout with brown eyes and black hair. His nearest relative was his wife, Verna M. Hissem. He did not serve in World War I.

In the 1920 census of Van Buren county, Iowa as George A. Hissem. Living with him was his wife, Verna M.

In the 1925 state census of Chequest township as Geo. Hissem, 45. Living with him was his wife, Verna M., 38.

In the 1930 Federal census, Van Buren county, Chequest township George is living alone with his wife Verna. His father is listed as being born in West Virginia.

In 1934 the Iowa General Assembley passed a law creating an Old Age Assistance Commission to oversee the care of the State's needy aged; assistance was to be provided to indigent applicants over the age of 65. A tax of $1 a head, the first year, and $2 a head annually thereafter was collected from all persons over the age of 21 to fund this aid. The names of those to be taxed included:

Taxpayer: Hissem, George, A. Birthplace: Leando. Birthdate: 1879 Dec 24. Father: Hissem, Thos. Mother: Buckles, Jane. Residence: Cant

Taxpayer: Hissem, Verna Myrtle. Birthplace: Leando. Birthdate: 1886 Sep 20. Father: Plowman, Lewis. Mother: Wooley, Laura. Residence: Cheq

In the 1940 census of Chequest township, Van Buren county, Iowa a George A. Hissem, 59. Living with him was his wife, Verna M., 53.

In 1942 George Abner Hissem, of Douds, Van Buren county, Iowa registered for the draft again. He was born on 24 December 1879, aged 62. His point of contact was not his wife, but his brother, Weldon G. Hissem, of Douds. Weldon was married to Verna's sister, Alma. George was 6 foot tall, 185 pounds, with black hair and eyes.

In the 1960 plat of Chequest township a Geo. Hissen had a property in section 9, the original Thomas Hissem farm.

George died at an unknown date and was buried in the Leando cemetary in Douds. Verna died in March 1983 in Keosauqua, Iowa. They don't appear to have had any children. A photograph of their tombstone has not yet been made available online. George was buried in the Leando cemetery with his wife, Verna.

"Section C Row 5 going south
HISSEM
Verna M. 1886-1983 Eastern Star emblem on stone [PLOWMAN]
George A. 1879-1961 Masonic emblem on stone"

Steve Hissem
San Diego, California