1.  Caroline Bissell born July 27, 1825 at Coitsville, Trumbull Co., Ohio, died January 8, 1917 at Hammond, Indiana. She lived with her cousin John P. Bissell in Pittsburg, while attending finishing school in the 1840s. She married October 17, 1844 in Porter Co., Indiana to Judge David Turner (b. December 17, 1816 in Trumbull Co., Ohio, d. February 14, 1890 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana).

Here is the census data we currently have on this family:

1860 census: Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana – David Turner 42 OH, Caroline 34 OH, John B. 14 IN, Sarah J. 12 IN, Emma 7 IN, Anna M. IN, Mary A. 3 IN, Alex M. 7/12 IN.

1880 census: Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana – David Turner 64 OH (IRE, IRE), Caroline 54 OH (CT, OH), Murry A. 20 IN (OH, OH), Austria 16 IN (OH, OH), Sarah mother 72 OH (PA, NJ).

1880 census: Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa – John B. Turner 34 IN (OH, PA), Mary 33 OH (OH, NY), Nettie C. 7 IA (IN, OH), Alice E. 3 IA (IN, OH).

1900 census: Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana – Caroline Turner 74 July 1825, widow, 10 children, 7 living, OH (PA, OH), Anna Morgan 45 May 1855, widow, 6 children, 4 living, IN (OH, PA—both should be OH), Mary Holm 43 April 1857, widow, 3 children, 1 living, IN (OH, PA—both should be OH), Allie (Alice?) Holm 19 July 1880, MO (OH, IN), Freeman B. Morgan 12 June 1887, IN (IL, IN).

1900 census: 3^rd ward, Hammond, Lake Co., Indiana – Alexander Turner (indexed as “Turns”) 40 Dec 1859, IN (OH, OH), Lillian 29 July 1870, 2 children, 1 living, IN (OH, IN), Margaret daughter 3 Oct 1896 IN (IN, IN), Clara Short servant, Caroline Montieth (niece) 24 Apr 1876 MI (MI, MI).

1900 census: 1^st ward, Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa – John E. Turner 55 IA (erroneous birthplace and middle initial), Mary Oct. 1846 53 m. 30 years, 4 children/4 living, Alice Jan. 1879 23, Laura Sep. 1880 19, David Feb. 1882 18.

1900 census: same location – Fred B. Neff Jan. 1870 IA (OH, IA), Nettie July 1872 IA (IN, OH), Howard E. Jan. 1896 IA (IA, IA).

1910 census: 2^nd ward, Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa – John B. Turner 64, Mary B. 63, 4 children/4 living, Laura 29.

1910 census: same location – David Turner 27, Hildegarde 25, John B. 1-7/12, Anna Beurle (mother in law) 62.

1920 census: 2^nd ward, Cedar Rapids Linn Co., Iowa – John B. Turner 74 IN (IN, IN), Nettie Neff daughter 47 IA (IN, OH), Laura Turner daughter 38 IA (IN, OH), Howard E. Neff grandson IA (IA, IA).

1920 census: same location – David Turner 37, Hildegarde 36, John 10, Virginia 7, Anna Beurle (mother in law) 72.

David and Caroline had ten children:

a.  John Bissell Turner born September 19, 1845 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana, died October 16, 1936 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa. He married August 30, 1870 to Mary Boynton (b. Oct. 26, 1846 in Ohio, d. Feb. 6, 1911). John and his son David were in the mortuary business and made several innovations in the field, including the use of microphones during funeral services. They founded a microphone factory in Cedar Rapids. They were also patrons of the arts, in particular supporting painter Grant Woods, one of whose paintings was entitled “John B. Turner, Pioneer.” They had:

                                                                      i.        Nettie Caroline Turner born July 5, 1872 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa. She married October 3, 1893 to Fred B. Neff (born January 26, 1870 in Iowa, died February 24, 1943). They had two sons:

                                                                                    (1)    Howard Edgar Neff born January 1, 1896 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa, died June 19, 1937. He married in 1921 to Irene Orr (born September 21, 1897).

                                                                                     (2)    John Turner Neff born January 19, 1909, died July 1909 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa.

                                                                   ii.        Alice Ethel Turner born January 14, 1877 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa, died February 27, 1955. It is not presently known where she was living in the 1900 census. She married August 26, 1903 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa to John Breton Brunot (her first cousin once removed, son of great-aunt Mary Bissell Brunot). She and John had three children:

                                                                                        (1)        John Breton Brunot Jr. born November 9, 1904 at Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. He married September 30, 1930 to Laura Louise Canfield (born November 21, 1906, died March 5, 1956). They had:

                                                                                                                    (a)      Mary Canfield Brunot married Victor E. Sandberg.

                                                                                       (2)        Mary Alice Brunot born October 14, 1906 at Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania.

                                                                                      (3)        William Turner Brunot born April 21, 1908 at Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. He married August 21, 1934 to Catherine Patricia Kennedy (born April 15, 1910). They had:

(a)   William Kennedy Brunot married Rosemary Diane Dunford.

(b)   James Turner Brunot

(c)    Ellen Kennedy Brunot

(d)   John Breton Brunot III

                                                                  iii.        Laura Turner born September 8, 1880, died May 2, 1955 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa. She apparently never married.

                                                                 iv.        David Turner born February 27, 1882 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa, died 1954. He married about 1907 to Hildegarde Eleanor Beurle (born August 9, 1884, died 1962). They had two children:

                                                                                       (1)        John Beurle Turner aka “John B. Turner II”, born February 24, 1909 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa, died March 1983 at Cedar Rapids. He married Harriet “Happy” Young (born January 13, 1912). They continued the family tradition of being patrons of the arts, donating a number of Grant Woods’ paintings to the Cedar Rapids Art Museum. They had:

(a)   Peter McArthur Turner born March 31, 1940 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa, died August 24, 1997 at Littleton, Colorado. He married Wendy Plumb. 

                                                                                      (2)        Virginia Turner born September 5, 1912 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa, died October 1978 at Cedar Rapids. She married September 4, 1935 to Ronald Perry Evans.

 b.  Sarah Jane Turner born September 5, 1847 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana, died July 18, 1937 at Port Huron, St. Clair Co., Michigan. She married in 1875 to Rev. Thomas W. Montieth (b. 1843, d. 1911). She was a member of the D.A.R. They had six children, four of whom were still living in 1910:

                                                                      i.        Caroline V. Montieth born April 1876 at Port Huron, St. Clair Co., Michigan. She was a member of the D.A.R. She was listed as “Clara V.” in her parents’ 1880 household. She was living in the household of her uncle Alexander Murray Turner in the 1900 census, but was back in her parents’ household in the 1910 census. She was living unmarried in her mother’s household in 1920.

                      ii.        Wilson Thomas Montieth born March 15, 1879, died August 11, 1883 at Port Huron, St. Clair Co., Michigan. He was listed as “William F.” in his parents’ 1880 household.

                                                                 iii.        David T. Montieth born about 1883, died April 11, 1923, at Port Huron, St. Clair Co., Michigan. He was living unmarried in his mother’s 1920 household.

                      iv.        Wilson H. Montieth born February 18, 1885 at Port Huron, St. Clair Co., Michigan.

                                                                   v.        John Murray Montieth born about 1887, died 1891 at Port Huron, St. Clair Co., Michigan.

                                                                vi.        Percy Loba Montieth born about 1891 at Port Huron, St. Clair Co., Michigan, died 1941 at Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan.

c.   Mary Amelia Turner born May 10, 1850, died March, 1853 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana.

d.  Emma Turner born October 10, 1852 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana, died January 25, 1924. She married October 20, 1875 to Irving Cass Emery (b. June 26, 1851, d. November 18, 1912). She was a member of the D.A.R. They had 6 children, of whom 4 were still living as of the 1910 census, including:

                                                                      i.        James T. Emery born about 1879 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa.

                                                                    ii.        David T. Emery born August 18, 1881 in Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa. He married about 1908 to Carrie ____ (b. ca. 1880 in Indiana). They had:

                                                                                      (1)        Margaret Emery born about 1909 in Hammond, Lake Co., Indiana.

                                                                                     (2)        Marian Emery born about 1911 in Hammond, Lake Co., Indiana.

                                                                                       (3)        James P. Emery born about 1913 in Hammond, Lake Co., Indiana.

                                                                                      (4)        John David Emery born about 1919 in Hammond, Lake Co., Indiana.

                                                                 iii.        Irving Cass Emery Jr. born about 1885 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa. (Still at home in 1910.)

                                                                 iv.        John B. Emery born October 1891 at Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., Iowa. (Still at home in 1910.)

e.  Anna Maria Turner born May 27, 1855 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana, died September 13, 1943 at Morgan Park, Cook Co., Illinois. She married August 5, 1877 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana to Rev. Freeman Eldon Morgan (b. February 9, 1850, d. April 4, 1891). They had six children:

                                                                      i.        Ruth Edna Morgan born August 23, 1878 at Elgin, Kane Co., Illinois, died August 26, 1956 at Washington, D.C.

                                                                    ii.        Margaret Morgan, born at Kurnool, Burma India January 1, 1881, died about 1977 in Colorado. She married Augustus D. Forbush. Member of D.A.R.

                                                                iii.        Murray Turner Morgan born January 25, 1883 in Kurnool, Burma India, died July 29, 1971 at Kelly Lake, Wisconsin.

                                                                iv.        Harriet (“Hattie”) Morgan born November 21, 1884 in Kurnool, Burma India, died November 21, 1893 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana.

                                                                   v.        Freeman Ernest Morgan born June 9, 1887 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana, died December 16, 1956 at Washington, D.C. He married March 8, 1911 at St. Joseph, Berrien Co., Michigan to Mary Stewart Mitchell (b. June 6, 1886 at Clinton, Henry Co., Missouri, d. June 25, 1980 at Washington, D.C.). They had four children:

                                                                                       (1)        Helen Louise Morgan born May 2, 1912. She married June 11, 1939 to Marshall Douglas Brown (b. ca. 1912), and they divorced about 1850.

                                                                                       (2)        Freeman Ernest Morgan Jr. born June 16, 1913 at Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois, died Fbruary 19, 1998 at Aspen Hill, Montgomery Co., Maryland. He married October 16, 1939 at Calumet, Houghton Co., Michigan to Ruth Geraldine Peterson (b. June 8, 1916 at Calumet, Houghton Co., Michigan).

                             (3)        Marjorie Caroline Morgan born December 9, 1919 at Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois, died July 16, 1989 in Maryland. She married March 26, 1966 to Thomas Burton (b. ca. 1891, d. Dec. 24, 1975).

                             (4)        Ruth Ann Morgan born June 10, 1924 at Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois, died March 18, 1989 in Georges Co., Maryland. She married Joseph Priestly Spalding (b. Mar. 26, 1915 in MD, d. Mar. 9, 1985 at Ocean City,Worcester Co., MD).

                                                                 vi.        Edward Silliman Morgan born December 21, 1889 and died August 4, 1890 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana.

f.    Mary A. Turner born April 28, 1857 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana, died February 20, 1930. She married June 20, 1878 to Rev. Charles A. Holm (b. May 31, 1853, OH, d. July 4, 1885). They had three children, only one of whom was still alive in 1900:

                                                                       i.        Alice T. Holm born July 1880 at Moberly, Randolph Co., Missouri.

 g.  Alexander Murray Turner born October 3, 1859 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana, died April 11, 1938. (He is sometimes referred to as Murray A. Turner.) He was a banker in Hammond, Indiana and co-author in 1896 (with his second cousin, John Partridge Bissell of Pittsburg, who is probably the John Bissell b. ca. 1849, son of William Semple Bissell) of The Bissell-Turner Genealogy, from which a good deal of this family’s vital statistics was taken. He married first on December 31, 1890 to Lillian Elizabeth Blackstone (b. July 1870, d. Nov. 21, 1900 at Hammond, Indiana); they had two children, one of whom died before the 1900 census, the other being the daughter listed first below. He married second about 1909 to Rose McClellan Latta Brunot (b. ca. 1880 in Pennsylvania, d. ca. 1913 at Hammond, Indiana), the widow of his first cousin, James Thompson Brunot. According to the 1910 census, James and Rose had two children, though this hardly seems possible, since they married Sept. 4, 1901, and he died Aug. 14, 1902; their one known child was James Turner Brunot (b. July 24, 1902 in Pennsylvania, d. Oct. 1984 at Bridgeport, Connecticut), who appeared with Alexander’s family in the 1910 census. By 1920, James was listed as Alexander’s “adopted son.” Alexander’s three natural children were:

                                                                      i.        Margaret Caroline Turner born October 24, 1896 at Hammond, Lake Co., Indiana.

                                                                   ii.        John Latta Turner born September 9, 1910 at Hammond, Lake Co., Indiana.

                                                                 iii.        Rose Latta Turner born January 12, 1912 at Hammond, Lake Co., Indiana.

 h.  Susan Turner born November 23, 1862, died January 22, 1863 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana.

 i.    Austria Caroline Turner born June 3, 1865 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana, died July 11, 1940. She married December 23, 1886 to Charles Ross (b. Apr. 16, 1861, d. Feb. 22, 1936). They had:

                                                                         i.        Helen Leslie Ross born July 29, 1888, died June 29, 1917.

                       ii.        Caroline Bissell Ross

                                                                   iii.        Donald Walter Ross

                                                                  iv.        Margaret Susan Ross

                                                                    v.        Austria Mary Ross

                                                                 vi.        Ethel Vida Ross born April 4, 1899, died May 8, 1968. She married October 5, 1921 to Wilber H. Waterman (born December 29, 1894, died June 21, 1947). They had:

                                                                                       (1)        Jean Ross Waterman about 1922. She married Samuel Felten.

                                                                                      (2)        Helen Virginia Waterman born September 29, 1923, died October 15, 2005 at Kokomo, Howard Co., Indiana. She married David Welcher (born December 27, 1918).

                                                                                       (3)        Nancy Marian Waterman born April 14, 1925. She married Alexander DeRidder Collette.

                                                               vii.        Marion Turner Ross born March 29, 1905, died September 16, 1924.

j. Maggie Turner born November 3, 1867, died January 10, 1879 at Crown Point, Lake Co., Indiana.

2.  (Ebenezer?) Thompson Bissell born October 19, 1827 at Coitsville, Trumbull Co., Ohio, died December 13, 1894 at Elyria, Garfield Co., Nebraska. He married January 15, 1852 at Hebron, Porter Co., Indiana to Sarah J. Brecourt (born October, 1827 in Ohio, died after 1900 in Washington). Some interesting historical information is available about Thompson Bissell. A history of Butler Co., Nebraska says:

The soil of Nebraska, for three hundred miles west of the Missouri river, is now proved to be equal to that of Iowa. Yet nothing was further than this admitted fact from the opinions of the pioneers in that region. Of these explorers, Major Long, of the United States army, came earliest, in 1820, and he described the basin of the Platte river as lying in the American Desert, and when he found "buffalo wallows" numerous, wrote; "What should ever prompt buffalo to seek the inhospitable deserts of the Platte is not, perhaps, easy to conjecture." If he had been himself a buffalo, he would have known more about grazing grounds. But his opinion was that of gold hunters and freighters who, onward from 1849, ascended the Platte either overland to California or the Colorado mountains. But how could these shrewd men, and after years of observation, mistake the nature of a soil? The best answer is that given by Thompson Bissell, long a freighter to the mountains, and afterward one of the earliest and most successful farmers on a branch of the Platte: "We freighters," says he, "all considered the land west of the Missouri bluffs good for nothing. We so thought it because the grass was both stunted and scanty, and it seemed to us that the ground where grass would not grow must be worthless. But after a while we noticed that prairie fires burned the very roots of the grass, and that whenever a field escaped those fall burnings, the grass directly became thicker there, and that wherever the soil chanced to be broken up, the grass increased in height from six inches to as many feet. Further, when rain falls on a burnt field it immediately runs off, and the winds drink up the moisture in a few days. If the same rain falls on an unburnt field, the grass dams up the water, compelling it to soak into the ground instead of running off, and thereby a large quantity of moisture is stored for future use. The result is a much larger vegetation, the soil grows yearly richer, and droughts are mitigated."

The history of Butler Co., Nebraska also says:

On the portion of the old Government road between Deer Creek and the county line west, and dispersed along the foot of the bluffs, were several ranches: McCabe's on Deer Creek, established 1859; Thompson Bissell’s, on Elm Creek, established 1860 and Simpson's, afterward Grant's, also established in 1859. Thompson Bissell removed to Saunders County in 1865…In 1859, Thompson Bissell, William Bissell, William Earl, J. W. Seeley, Moses Shinn and Messrs. Simpson, Beardsley, McCabe, David R. Gardner, David Reed made settlements in the county. Thompson Bissell, D. R. Gardner, David Reed, Simpson and McCabe established ranches as previously stated, the others locating in the vicinity of Savannah and Linwood. Thompson Bissell remained in the county until 1865, when he settled near Wahoo, in Saunders County, at the point known as Bissell's Grove, where he still resides. [Another source says that Thompson Bissell settled upon Section 34, Wahoo Precinct, in July, 1864.]

In chapter 18 of Saunders County, Past and Present, L. W. Gilchrist contributed an extensive entry about Thompson Bissell:

Thompson Bissell was an 1865 settler in Saunders County and was elected a county commissioner in 1866. In the gold excitement of Pike's Peak he ran a road house on the overland trail on Platte River and did a thriving business in trading sound cattle to the emigrants for footsore animals which traveled up the Platte, destined for the gold fields of Colorado and California. In 1865 the Indian war on the plains made residence on the frontier very dangerous. The Sioux Indians were on the warpath; they were the most numerous Indians on the frontier, possibly excepting the Comanches of Texas. During this Indian trouble Mr. Bissell settled on Wahoo Creek about two miles south of where Ithaca now stands and commenced ranching and dealing in cattle. He brought with him quite a number of oxen yokes which he had received in trade from the emigrants. In 1865 William H. Dech and his father, Uncle Billy, settled near where Ithaca now stands. From 1865 until 1869 settlers did not come very fast to the prairies of Saunders County, but in the latter year there came quite a number who located in the valley west and northwest of Bissell's place. No more liberal or generous settler ever cut his fodder in this county than Thompson Bissell. His house, his table, barn and corn crib were open to any settler who traveled by his door and no one ever passed within sight without receiving a cordial invitation to stop. No one was ever charged a cent for lodging, meals or horse-feed and the writer of these lines has seen at least a dozen up-country settlers eating at his free table at one time. No man helped the early settlers as he did. He would sell any homesteader a yoke of oxen, take his note and ask no security. He launched himself heavily into the Texas cattle business, bringing as high as 4,000 Texas steers to the county at one time. His heavy cattle risks finally broke him. He espoused the greenback craze and for a time was a prominent advocate of the 16 to 1 policy that brought financial downfall to many, him among the number. He closed out his ranch and moved to Valley County, where he died and was buried a few years since.

In 1869 there was a good bit of claim jumping. Men took out claims in 1868 and went back home to spend the winter, intending to return in the spring. John M. Booth located a claim on Cottonwood about five miles northwest of Wahoo. Two men jumped the claim. Thompson Bissell, Moses Stocking (another 1865'er) and about twenty-five other settlers went out to the jumped claim. One of the men came to the door with a gun and Moses Stocking walked up to him, grabbed the gun, and twisted it out of his hands. There were two jumpers in the house and these were loaded on a wagon, taken to Ashland, tickets bought for them and they were placed on the B. & M. and forwarded into Iowa. They were admonished not to return, which advice they adhered to, and this ended claim jumping in Saunders County.

Here is the census data we currently have for this family:

1860 census: Plattsmouth, Butler Co., Nebraska – Thompson “Bessel” 30 Illinois (Pennsylvania), Sarah 30 Illinois (Ohio), Columbia 6 Illinois (in Indiana), Jane 4 Illinois (Indiana), G. (? William Brecourt Bissell was born March 1858 in Illinois) 3 Illinois, J. (? Mary Elizabeth Bissell was born November 1859 in Indiana) 10/12 Nebraska.

1870 census: Ithaca, Saunders Co., Nebraska – Thompson Bissell 44 Pennsylvania (should be 42), Sarah 44 (should be 42) Ohio, Hume (Columbia) 16 Indiana (should be 17), Jane 14 Indiana (should be 15), William 11 Indiana (supposedly b. in Illinois), Mary 9 Indiana (supposedly b. Nov. 1859), Annie 7 Nebraska, Charles 5 Nebraska, Frederick 3 Nebraska, Sarah 63 New Jersey (William’s widow).

1880 census: Wahoo, Saunders Co., Nebraska – Thompson Bissell 51 OH (NY, NY), Sarah 51 OH (OH, OH), Mary 20 IN (OH, OH), Anna 17 NE (OH, OH, Chas. 15 NE (OH, OH), Fred 13 NE (OH, OH), Ettie 9 NE (OH, OH).

1900 census: Gate Precinct, Thurston Co., Washington – Charles Bissell 35 NE, Fannie 30 WI, Ollie 9 NE, Earl 8 NE, Cora 6 NE, Ada 5 NE, Clark 2 WA.

Same location: Etta Sculy b. Sep. 1870, 29, widowed, mother of 1/1, NE OH, OH), Anett (male) b. Jan. 1897, 3, OR, Sarah Birrell b. Oct. 1827, 72, widowed, mother of 11/5, OH (OH, OH), Fred Birrell b. Aug. 1866, NE (OH, OH).

1910 census: Centralia, Lewis Co., Washington – Fanny J. Bissell 39, married 23 years, mother of 15, 8 living, Wendell Earl 18 NB, Ada M. 14 NB, George C. 12 WA, Roy J. 9 WA, Iva 7 WA, Vera L. 6 WA.

Same location: – Florence Bissell, Charles Bissell (Fred not in household).

1910 census: Lakeside Twp., San Diego Co., California – Mason Birchard, Etta, Kenneth B. Sculy 13.

1920 census: Centralia, Lewis Co., Washington – Wendell W. Bissell 28 NE (NE, NE), Myrna 25 MN (MN, MO), Antene 4 WA (NE, MN), Arlene 10/12 WA (NE, MN)

Same location: Fanny J. Claughton 48 (widow) WI (NY, NY), George C. Bissell 21 WA (NE, NY), Vera L. Bissell 15 WA (NE, NY).

1920 census: Cosmopolis, Grays Harbor Co., Washington – J. Fred Bisell 53 NE, Florence 46 IL, Marie Richards (daughter, widow) 24 IL (NE, IL).

1920 census: Seattle, King Co., Washington – Charles A. Bissell 54 MI ? (NY, NY), Flora 43 Illinois (KY, Illinois). (This may be Thompson’s son.)

Thompson and Sarah had eleven children, only five of whom were still living according to the 1900 census (though our records show six still alive at that date):

 a.  Columbia Humes Bissell born June 20, 1853 at Valparaiso, Porter Co., Indiana, died May 21, 1914 at Florence, Arizona. He married June 1, 1873 in Saunders Co., Nebraska to Sarah J. Harndon, who died before 1900. He was living in Graham Co., Arizona in the 1900 census. Columbia and Sarah had a daughter:

                                                                     i.        Ina T. Bissell born September 25, 1875 in Saunders Co., Nebraska. She married January 11, 1896 at Albany, Wyoming to Robert Russell Gearhart (d. before 1920). They had five children: 

                      (1)       Helen F. Gearhart b. ca. 1897 in Wyoming. She married  before 1920 John L. Green (b. ca. 1896 in Colorado).

                                                                                        (2)        Merle E. Gearhart (daughter) b. ca. 1899 in  Wyoming. She married before 1918 William Schultz (b. ca. 1893 in Michigan). They had:

(a)   Evelyn R. Schultz b. ca. 1918 in Wyoming.

                                                                                        (3)        George B. Gearhart b. ca. 1902 in Wyoming.

                                                                                        (4)        Sylvia R. Gearhart b. ca. 1904 in Wyoming.

                                                                                        (5)        Alice M. Gearhart b. ca. 1911 in Wyoming.

 b.  Margaret Jane Bissell born May 23, 1855 at Valparaiso, Porter Co., Indiana, died December 24, 1894 at Valley Co., Nebraska. She married October 4, 1877 at Saunders Co., Nebraska to Robert Burns Kipling (b. March 16, 1844). They had:

  i.      Edwin Kipling born August 15, 1878 at Ord, Valley Co., Nebraska, died 1949 at Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada. He married Hattie York. They had:

                                                                                         (1)        Earl Everett Kipling born 1903.

                       ii.        James Kipling born 1880.

                      iii.        Emma Kipling born February 13, 1881. She married Edward Hansen.

                                                                  iv.        Archie Kipling born 1882.

                                                                    v.        Robert Thompson Kipling born February 29, 1883. He married Rosa May Heitz (born 1887). They had:

                                                                       (1) Albert Kipling married November 6, 1940 at Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada to Mary Hazel Smith (born August 13, 1922 at Pathlow, Saskatchewan, Canada).

                                                     vi.        Frank Kipling born April 1, 1885 at Saunders Co., Nebraska, died March 20, 1952 at Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada. He married March 15, 1906 at Garfield Co., Nebraska to Geneva Mae Ledger. They had:

                                                                                        (1)        Archie Virgil Kipling born 1907 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He married Dora Stasius, and they had at least four children including:

(a)   Gary Kipling

                                                                                        (2)        Lloyd Ernest Kipling born 1909 in Nebraska, died 1923 in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada.

                                                                                       (3)        Elmer Robert Kipling born December 20, 1912 at Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada. He married February 1940 to Ann Gale Holowaty (born August 21, 1921 at Wakaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. They had at least four children.

                                                                       (4)        Clarence Emmitt Kipling born October 6, 1914 at Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada. He married January 6, 1937 at Melfort to Ethel June Irene Smith (born September 1, 1915 at Pathlow, Saskatchewan, Canada. They had at least four children.

                                                                                      (5)        James Clifford Kipling married Evelyn Bildstein. They had at least two children.

                                                                                      (6)        Maria Viola Kipling died 1987 at Porcupine Plain, Saskatchewan, Canada. She married Cecil Hill, and they had at least four children.

                                                     vii.        Jessie Kipling born May 13, 1888.

                                                                 viii.        Minnie Kipling born August 3, 1892.

 c.   Fortunnatez Abbott Bissell born December 20, 1856 and died April 26, 1857 at Valparaiso, Porter Co., Indiana.

 d.  William Brecourt Bissell born March 3, 1858 at Rock Island Co., Illinois, died April 24, 1877 at Saunders Co., Nebraska.

 e.  Mary Elizabeth Bissell born November 6, 1859 at Valparaiso, Porter Co., Indiana, died May 25, 1932 at Baker, Oregon. She married November 5, 1883 at Wahoo, Nebraska to William Duby (born Aug. 1860 in Missouri, died April 21, 1931). They had: 

i.        Myrtle Duby born March 1886 at Saunders Co., Nebraska, died 1945 at Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon. She married first December 29, 1908 at Baker City, Oregon to William Chester Wilbourn (born 1879, died 1920) and second between 1920 and 1930 at Baker City, Oregon to John L. Cass (born 1892, died 1965). She had no children with either husband.

 f.    James Edgar Bissell born and died October 4, 1861 at Hall Co., Nebraska Territory.

 g.  Anna Gertrude Bissell born October 19, 1863 at Hall Co., Nebraska Territory, died February 27, 1946 at Baker, Baker Co., Oregon. She married November 28, 1881 at Lincoln, Nebraska to Hick Matthews. The 1900 census says they were married 19 years, so he must have died in the spring of 1900. They had:

                                                                      i.        Archie Matthews born November 1881 at Baker, Baker Co., Oregon.

                                                                  ii.        Walter Matthews born August 1891 at Baker, Baker Co., Oregon.

h.  Charles Thompson(?) A.(?) Bissell born May 5, 1865 at Wahoo, Saunders Co., Nebraska, died November 6, 1934 at Centralia, Washington. He married July 19, 1886 at Ord, Valley Co., Nebraska to Frances (“Fanny”) J. Clark (b. ca. 1870 in Wisconsin). They divorced in 1909, shortly after the last child was born, and she remarried after 1910 to ____ Claughton, who died before 1920. Charles was living in his widowed sister-in-law, Florence Bissell’s household in the 1910 census. Charles and Fanny had 15 children, of whom only 8 were still alive by the 1910 census:

 i.   Child died young.

ii.   Child died young.

iii.  Child died young.

                       iv.        Ollie Bissell (daughter) born September 1890 in Nebraska.

                                                                      v.        Wendell Earl Bissell born November 1891 in Nebraska. He married about 1915 to Myrna ____ (b. ca. 1895 in Minnesota, d. after 1920 in Washington). They had:

                                                                                       (1)        Ardene Bissell (female) born about 1916 in Washington. 

                             (2)        Arlene Bissell born 1919 in Oregon.

                                                                                      (3)        William Bissell born March 12, 1921 in Washington, died March 1971 in Washington.

                                                                                      (4)        Charles Bissell born about 1924.

                                                                                      (5)        George L. Bissell born August 21, 1926 in Washington. He married Ella J. ____ (b. ca. 1926).

                      vi.        Cora Bissell born March 1894 in Nebraska.

                                                                vii.        Ada M. Bissell born May 1895 in Nebraska.

                                                             viii.        George Clark Bissell born February 1898 in Washington. He married about 1924 at Tacoma, Pierce Co., Washington to Vena Madeline Oppelt.

                                                              ix.        Roy J. Bissell born December 6, 1900 in Washington, died June 1976 at Mason Co., Washington.

                                                                x.        Iva Bissell born 1903 in Washington.

                                                             xi.        Vera L. Bissell born 1905 in Washington.

 i.    Fred James Bissell born August 29, 1866 at Wahoo, Saunders Co., Nebraska. He and his mother were living in his sister Etta Sculy’s household in 1900, and he married March 9, 1902 at Gate, Washington to Ellie Florence (Carrall) Hutchings (widow, born ca. 1874 in Illinois). She had a daughter Marie from her first marriage. They apparently had no children together.

j.    Ida May Bissell born May 5, died June 9 1868 at Wahoo, Saunders Co., Nebraska.

k.  Etta Grace Bissell born September 9, 1870 at Wahoo, Saunders Co., Nebraska, died August 1959 at Portland, Oregon. She married October 23, 1895 at Ellensburg, Washington to George W. Sculy, who died before 1900. She remarried March 9, 1902 at Gate, Washington to Mason Birchard (died at San Diego, California, Nov. 25, 1934, age 64). Etta and George had:

                                                        i.        Kenneth B. Sculy born January 1897 in Oregon.

3.  John Bissell born December 16, 1829 at New Bedford, Lawrence Co., Pennsylvania, died September 15, 1903 at Phillipsburg, Kansas.

In a section of Phillipsburg—Phillips County Centennial 1872-1972 entitled “Early Residents of County,” we read that:

JOHN BISSELL, Registrar, U.S. Land Office, first came to Phillips County in February 1872, locating on a farm near Phillipsburg where he yet resides. [From this, we can infer that this section of the book consists of biographical sketches written no later than 1903, but apparently prior to 1888, when he moved into town. See next sketch below.] He has followed farming and stock raising since. He is well known in Phillips county as one of its substantial. He took registers position in the U.S. Land Office April 9, 1883.

He was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania Dec. 16, 1829. Moved with his parents to Valparaiso, Ind., where he was raised on a farm making Indiana his home. Went to California in 1852 and engaged in mining and various pursuits until 1854.

Was married in 1856 to Miss Rebecca Cornell of Boone Grove, Ind. They have five children, Edgar, married and farming near Phillipsburg; Maria, married to W. R. Cannon, a merchant at Norton, Kansas, Emma, Pheba and Mary.

Mr. Bissell is a member of order I.O.O.F. of Phillipsburg. He represented Phillips county in Kansas Legislature sessions of 1874, 1876, 1879 and 1883.

The Phillipsburg Dispatch ran a feature on November 2, 1893 entitled “Our Businessmen (1893),” and it contained further information on John Bissell:

JOHN BISSELL the present proprietor and building of the Hotel Bissell was born at New Bedford, Pa. January 1830. When 6 years of age he moved with his parents to Porter County, Indiana where he lived until the spring of 1872 when he came to Phillips county. Arriving here, he settled upon a homestead two miles west of this city, which he brought under a high state of cultivation and which he still owns. He was three times elected to represent Phillips county in the Legislature where he served the interests of the people who sent him. In 1882, he was appointed Register of the U.S. Land office at Kirwin this county, which position he filled for four years. In 1888, he moved to Phillipsburg and built the large three story brick hotel, a very good picture of which can be found in this paper and now personally conducts the same.

From material contributed by his granddaughter, Sarah Helen Roberts, to the Bicentennial Biography Book (1976), we get this further perspective:

John Bissell, his brother William and a nephew left Boone Grove, Porter Co., IND., in the fall of 1871 and wintered in Iowa with relatives. The following spring they started for Kansas, but William became ill and stayed with a brother [Thompson Bissell] in Nebraska for several months. The others came on in wagons, driving some livestock.

John started as a farmer—he planted evergreens on his farm on Bissell Creek, raised cattle and sheep and his own food supplies. The first home was a cave in the side of a bank on Bissell Creek with a soddy for the front. When the railroad went through his grove in Phillipsburg he moved a large part of it to land he owned at Kirwin, watered and cultivated it. This grove was the largest in that part of the state until the drought of 1930s. Wood had to be hauled from Hastings, Nebraska to build the houses in both Phillipsburg and Kirwin. At least one load was lost to the flooding Republican River.

John Bissell helped organize the community. The first school district and the “fort,” which was never used except for a few Indian scares, was on his property. It was unorganized except that there was a chairman and W. H. Boughton was supposed to have charge of the military activities.

He supported brother William in his buildings around the city of Phillipsburg as a result of which he lost most of his money in the panic of 1893-7. He was in politics—served in the legislature 1874, 1876, 1879, 1883—and was probate judge when he died in 1903. He was Registrar at the Federal Land Office in Kirwin in 1883-1886, held local offices, such as trustee of Kirwin twp., enumerator. He threw his influence to Phillipsburg in the county seat fight and made permanent enemies of some of the Kirwin supporters.

John married March 11, 1856 at Boone Grove, Porter Co., Indiana to Rebecca Cornell (b. November 23, 1829 at Crawford Co., Ohio, d. October 10, 1909 at Columbus, Nebraska).

Here is the census data we have to date for this family:

1860 census: Valparaiso, Porter Co., Indiana – John Bissell 30 Pennsylvania, Rebecca 30 Ohio, Edgar 3 Indiana.

1870 census: Valparaiso, Porter Co., Indiana – John Bissell 41 Pennsylvania, Rebecca 40 Ohio, Edgar 13 Indiana, Mariah 9 Indiana, Emma 6 Indiana, Phoebe 3 Indiana, Mary 11/12 Indiana.

1880 census: Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas – John Bissell 50 PA (NJ, OH), Rebecca 50 OH (PA, VA), Emma 16 IN (PA, OH), Phoebe 13 IN (PA, OH), Mary 10 IN (PA, OH).

1880 census: Prairie View, Phillips Co., Kansas – Edgar Bissell 23 IN, Lou 18 IN.

1900 census: Kirwin Twp., Phillips Co., Kansas – John Bissell Dec. 1829 PA (CT, PA), Rebecca Nov. 1829 OH (PA, VA), Emma June 1864 IN (PA, OH).

1900 census: Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas – “Ewald” (Edgar) Bissell Feb. 1857 IN (PA, OH), Louella Apr. 1862 IN (OH, IN), Maude June 1881 KS (IN, IN), Willis May 1883, Vinnie Feb. 1885, Helen Jan. 1887, Mary May 1888, John Jan. 1898, Fredrick Dec. 1899.

1920 census: Gunnison Co., Colorado – Edgar Bissell 62 IN (PA, IN), Luetta 57 IN (OH, IN).

John and Rebecca had seven children:

 a.  Edgar Bissell born February 26, 1857 at Boone Grove, Porter Co., Indiana, died December 29, 1927 at Gunnison, Colorado. He married July 20, 1880 at Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas to Louetta Murray (born April 1862 in Indiana). They were living in Gunnison, Colorado in the 1910 census. They had seven children:

                                                                      i.        Maude Bissell born June 1881 in Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas.

                                                                  ii.        Willis B. Bissell born May 1883 in Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas.

                                                                 iii.        Vinnie Eleanor Bissell born February 1885 in Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas, died February 16, 1947 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. She married February 13, 1907 to Andrew Morgan Powell.

                                                                 iv.        Helen Bissell (twin) born January 1887 in Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas.

                                                                   v.        Mary C. Bissell (twin) born January 1887 in Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas.

                                                                 vi.        John M. Bissell born January 1898 in Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas.

                                                              vii.        Frederick W. Bissell born January 1900 in Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas. He was in the 1920 census of Cicero, Cook Co., Illinois.

 b.  unnamed son born and died July 8, 1858 at Boone Grove, Porter Co., Indiana.

 c.   Maria Bissell born November 8, 1860 at Boone Grove, Porter Co., Indiana, died April 24, 1938 at Los Angeles, California. She was a member of the D.A.R. She married September 15, 1879 at Phillipsburg, Kansas to Walter P. Cannon (born April 1845 in Maryland). They had two sons:

                                                                     i.        Walter B. Cannon born September 1880 at McPherson, McPherson Co., Kansas.

                                                                    ii.        John A. Cannon born December 1883 at McPherson, McPherson Co., Kansas.

 d.  Willis Bissell born March 2, died April 16, 1863 at Boone Grove, Porter Co., Indiana.

 e.  Emma Bissell born June 2, 1864 at Boone Grove, Porter Co., Indiana, died October 2, 1940 at Kirwin, Kansas.

 f.    Phebe Bissell born December 1, 1866 at Boone Grove, Porter Co., Indiana, died April 25, 1935 at Manhattan, Kansas. She married February 27, 1901 at Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas to William Robert Roberts, who died before the 1910 census. In the 1900 census, she was listed as the landlady and owner of the hotel, and he was the manager. They had four children:

                                                                      i.        Hellen S. Roberts born about 1903 at Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas.

                                                                   ii.        Mary Ellen Roberts born about 1905 at Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas.

                                                                 iii.        John B. Roberts born about 1906 at Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas.

                                                                 iv.        William Robert Roberts born about 1908 at Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas.

g.  Mary Bissell born August 20, 1869 at Boone Grove, Porter Co., Indiana, died August 16, 1942 at Kirwin, Kansas. She married February 10, 1893 at Phillipsburg, Phillips Co., Kansas to Irving H. Rogers (b. Aug. 1867 in Iowa). As of the 1900 census, they had no children.