Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Bisson, James Washington September 17, 1842 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson jpatter@epix.net February 12, 2026, 12:01 pm

Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

 JAMES WASHINGTON BISSON, son of Hilary and Hannah (Skeen) 
Bisson, was born September 17, 1842, near West Point, in 
Upper Gwynedd township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He 
attended the public school on the Morris Road, which was 
then taught by the Rev. Reuben Kriebel, author of the 
Schwenkfelder Genealogical Record. On reaching his twentieth 
year he took a course at Bryant and Stratton's Commercial 
College and School of Business in Philadelphia, remaining at 
that institution for one year. He then returned to his home 
to assist his father in operating the home farm, which 
contained thirty-one acres, known at the present time as 
Chestnut Grove, because of the many chestnut trees that at 
the present time adorn the premises. During the rebellion 
James was a member of a company in an emergency regiment, 
the company having been raised at Bethel, in the vicinity.
 
Mr. Bisson married, February 20, 1869, Catharine, daughter 
of John S. and Sarah (Kneedler) Dannehower, of Kulpville, 
Towamencin township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and 
had one child: Lillie May, born September 18, 1884, died 
July 15, 1902. She was a girl of more than usual promise, 
and was greatly beloved by all who knew her. Her mother's 
death, which occurred in September, 1901, much affected her.

In politics James W. Bisson is a Republican, and has always 
supported the principles and candidates of that party since 
he cast his first vote. He has served the community as 
school director for a period of six years, and has been 
auditor of Upper Gwynedd township, and inspector and judge 
of elections for more than twenty years. In all movements 
tending to the welfare of the community, he has been 
foremost. He has been road supervisor of the township for a 
number of years. The family are members of Bethel Methodist 
church, in the vicinity of their home.

Hilary Bisson (father) was the son of Evan and Ann (Reiff) 
Bisson. He was born the fifth of February, 1813, in 
Worcester township, not far distant from where he spent his 
life. He was educated in the schools of that day, and at the 
age of seventeen entered into an apprenticeship to the trade 
of a stone mason and worked at the business of masonry, 
contracting and building until 1850. Mr. Bisson was twice 
married. His first wife was Rebecca Eaton, and two children 
were born of this union: Evan R., and Phebe, who died in 
infancy. Evan R. Bisson was educated in the public schools 4 
Gwynedd, and afterward learned the trade of carpenter in 
Philadelphia. He subsequently removed to Galena, Illinois, 
and there worked at his trade until the breaking out of the 
Civil war. In 1861 he enlisted in an Illinois Regiment, 
served four years and three months, and attained the rank of 
first lieutenant for bravery. After the close of the war he 
returned to Illinois and married Mary Mudget. About 1870 he 
removed to Nebraska and took up a tract of one hundred and 
sixty acres of bounty land. He built a sod house on this 
land, in which he resided for three years. Subsequently he 
erected the first frame building in Platte county, in which 
he now resides. Since his residence in Nebraska, he has 
purchased government land from time to time, and is now the 
owner of about a thousand acres. By his marriage to Mary 
Mudget eight children have been born to him, all of whom are 
living. In 1841, his first wife having died, Hilary Bisson 
(father) married Hannah Skeen, daughter of Joseph and 
Elizabeth (Zilling) Skeen. By this union the children born 
were: James W., subject of this sketch; and Elizabeth 
Virginia, born November 1847, married Chalkley Jarrett, a 
farmer of Worcester township. She died September 30, 1903. 
Eleven children were born to them, four of whom survive, 
namely: Ella, married Harvey Burke, who died July 2, 1904; 
James, married Elizabeth Quinn; Mary, unmarried; and 
Sylvania, unmarried.

Evan Bisson (grandfather), son of Charles Bisson, was a 
native of Worcester township, and followed the common 
occupation of the people of that section of the 
county-farming. He was an industrious and frugal husbandman, 
and acquired some landed estate.

Charles Bisson (great-grandfather) was a tailor by 
occupation. He was a native of France, and settled at 
Bethel, in Worcester township. He made his way among his 
German neighbors, married, and reared a large family.

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