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Henry Hardy Sisson was born to John Wesley and Martha Jane Eaton Sisson on January 12, 1846 at Jersey County, Illinois. His known siblings were Sarah S., John F., Louisa M., Hanah, Eliza, and Susanah. On February 13, 1864, with the Civil War in its fourth year, Henry joined Company C, 124th Illinois Infantry Regiment at Otter Creek, Jersey County, Il. He was mustered out of this unit and transferred to Company C, 33rd Illinois Infantry Regiment on August 16, 1865. The 124th, nicknamed the “Excelsior Regiment” was mustered in at Henry County, Il. Company C – the “Springfield Company” was mustered in from Jersey County. Throughout its service the Regiment was involved in battles and skirmishes at: Operations against Vicksburg, MS; the Central Mississippi Campaign; Battle of Port Gibson, MS; Battle of Raymond, MS; Battle of Jackson, MS; Battle of Champion Hill, MS; Siege of Vicksburg, MS; the Mobile, AL Campaign; Battle of Spanish Fort, AL; and the Battle of Fort Blakely, AL. The 33rd was involved in many of the same battles as the 124th. A unique part of their Regimental history involved Texas. In November 1863 the Regiment was ordered to Brownsville, Texas, but, before landing, was ordered to Aransas Pass. The Regiment disembarked on St. Joseph Island, marched up St. Joseph Island and Matagorda Island to Saluria, participating in the capture of Fort Esperanza. They then moved to Indianola and Port Lavaca.* In 1867 he married Clara E. Robinson, the location of their marriage is unknown, but is presumed to be Logan County, Il. Of this union there were three children: Frank Augustus (1868); Robert Jay (1882) and Pauline (1884-1888). They also had one adopted daughter Fanny. The family lived in Logan County, IL for about 16 years, then in 1885 moved to Thayer County, NE where they developed a large farm. As Henry and Clara became older they turned the farm over to their son Frank and moved into Hebron, the county seat. Henry served nine years as a county commissioner of Thayer County. It was here, c 1910 Clara died. It is unknown where she was buried. After Clara’s death, and with declining health, Henry moved to Palacios, Matagorda County, Texas where he took-up residence with one of his sons. Frank and Robert (who had married Edna Hensel** while at Hebron) were living at Palacios at the time. Henry died on December 25, 1915 and was buried at the Palacios Cemetery. *See Principle Musician & Drum Major Charles C. Myers **Note: Edna Hensel was the daughter of Frederick C. Hensel. The Hensels and the Sissons lived at Hebron, Thayer County, Nebraska before moving to Palacios. See Frederick C. Hensel. Photo courtesy of Kenneth L. Thames
The whole service was most impressive, and the floral offerings from friends an associates of the family were numerous and most beautiful. Three of the floral designs came from Houston; one from Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Regan, one from Dissen & Schneider, wholesale produce merchants and one from W. D. Cleveland & Son, wholesale grocers.
At the home during the service and at the cemetery Miss Nora Hayes and Mrs. O. C. Arnold sang appropriate hymns with feeling expression.
Mr. Sisson came to Palacios nearly five years ago on the advice of his Nebraska physicians who told him that nothing but a change of climate would prolong his life beyond a few months. The change added to his days a number of years; years that gave him a large measure of happiness and comfort. His genial nature and happy disposition made for Mr. Sisson friends of all with whom he came in contact, and he was held in highest esteem by all who knew him. In their loss the families have the sincere sympathy of all the people of the city.
OBITUARY A good citizen has gone from among us. To say of a man that he was a good citizen is saying much. H. H. Sisson was a good citizen. In a world where kindness is the supreme need, he was kind. In a world where integrity is not so common, but that it distinguishes a man, he was distinguished.
He held a place of honor in the community in which he lived for his kindness, his integrity, his dependableness and his generous civic spirit. He had faith in men, therefore, men had faith in him and were drawn to him in friendship. A public spirited man, always he worked for and encouraged that which made for civic beauty and civic good. Notwithstanding the fact that man has compared himself as an individual to a grain of sand on the seashore, and his life to a bubble on the fountain, when such a man goes he is missed and his place not easily filled.
It might be said of Mr. Sisson that he had a genius for home making. He loved shrubs, trees, orchards, groves, the birds that nest and sing in them, and all the beautiful out doors. His love for birds and tress was almost a passion.
"How few have time for hearing Above the clatter of their cares The thrush's song so cheering!"
He had time for hearing. He loved to plant, nurture and watch a tree grow.
"What does he plant who plants a tree?"
He plants shade and shelter, comfort, foot it may be, and beauty and grace for those that come after. He saw all this in a tree and his love for it never grew less. This love of the tree was part of his genius for home making, with the help of Mrs. Clare Sisson whom he married in early manhood as Miss Clare Robinson whose immaculate housekeeping supplemented his work on the outside, adding the grace that woman's hand alone can give to the ideal home--it may be said that they made three homes. Their first home was made in Logan County, Illinois, near Lincoln, the county seat. Here on 240 acres of the finest farming land in the world, they planted shrubs, trees, orchard and grove, all of which flourished, making the beautiful setting that every home needs. It was here they passed their honeymoon, gathering about them a host of friends, and doing a generous part in dispensing the gaieties and good cheer of a prosperous farm home, where cream and butter, fruits and vegetables and meats seem so free and abundant as the water pumped from the wells by the windmill. This home was consecrated by the birth of their three children, two sons, F. A. and R. J. Sisson, now living in Palacios, and a daughter, Pauline, and also by the adoption of a daughter when a child whom they loved and roared as their own, and who is now Mrs. W. H. Wood, of Hebron, Nebraska. After sixteen years of life here, Mr. and Mrs. Sisson, on a visit to the west, fell in love with the rolling prairies of Nebraska, and seeing opportunities there that Illinois no longer afforded, in 1885 they moved to Thayer county, that state, and on a section of as fine farming land as is to be found anywhere, covered with grass and not a stump to uproot, they began the planting and building for another home. First the shade trees, orchard and grove and then a commodious farm house, that was long known far and near as a center of hospitality. Good dinners, good suppers, Christmas turkeys, Thanksgiving feasts and fun at this home made life a pleasure to many less fortunate pioneers, while friendships never to be broken off, were formed among their neighbors. It was while living in this house that their lives were saddened by the death of their lovely little daughter Pauline, at the age of four years.
As time passed and they found themselves less vigorous, they left their eldest son F. A. Sisson on the farm and moved to Hebron, the county seat of Thayer county, but were not among strangers as they had already made many friends there.
While in Hebron Mr. Sisson served three terms as county commissioner, making nine years in all. While he was in office the Thayer county court house, one of the finest in the state was built and the grounds around it beautified, the work giving entire satisfaction. Many bridges over streams and troublesome draws were also built and the work commended by the taxpayers as being carefully and economically done. As showing in what estimation Mr. Sisson was held as a man, we quote a portion of a letter from J. P. Baldwin, lawyer, and at one time county attorney of Thayer county, written Dec. 8, 1915 to Mr. Fletcher while visiting in Palacios. Mr. Baldwin says: "I am exceedingly sorry to her of the bad health of H. H. Sisson. I served with him at the court house for such a long time, that I am certainly grieved for his bad luck. I have known lots of public officials, and been associated with a great many of them and but few have I found as honest, clear headed and upright in all their dealings both public and private as Harry Sisson. I wish that he might recover his health and live to a ripe old age."
After a residence in Hebron of 15 years where he had endeared himself to the community by his manifestation of true civic pride, failing health caused Mr. Sisson to seek a home in the south. His friends regretted his departure and said and did what they could to keep him among them. But after visiting Palacios, Texas, so beautifully situated on Tres Palacios Bay and finding people eating strawberries and gathering roses at Christmas time and sitting on their porches taking sunbaths with deep breaths of fresh air while the people of Nebraska were contending with ice and snow, he was charmed into moving his family here where he built one of the beautiful homes of the city, making a rose garden of his lawn. Before his departure his friends would have given him a banquet, where speeches would have been made and a "God Speed!" spoken, but Mr. Sisson was not equal to the ordeal, and the silver "loving cup" that was to be presented at the close of the banquet was given to him quietly as a memento of their regard.
H. H. Sisson was a civil war veteran, enlisting in Company C, of the 124th regiment in 1863, at the early age of 18 years, and serving till the close of the war in 1865. His judgment was never so clouded by prejudice as not to admit that the "boys in gray" fought nobly, fully equaling the "boys in blue" in skill and courage.
Mr. Sisson's two sons F. A. and R. J., already mentioned, whose homes are in Palacios, were in close attendance at his bedside during his last illness, giving him every care and attention. The adopted daughter, Mrs. W. H. Wood, arrived from Hebron, Neb., Tuesday evening to attend the funeral.
Palacios
Beacon, December 31, 1915 |
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The citizens of Palacios were shocked on Friday afternoon when they learned of the sudden death of Mr. Gus Sisson. Frank Augustus Sisson was born Oct. 16th, 1869, at Burtonview, Illinois. His parents moved to Hebron, Nebraska, and lived on a farm there. He was married to Miss Addie Lou Clark, of Hebron, in the year 1893. They moved to Palacios in the year 1912, where Mr. Sisson established a hay and feed store, and afterwards had charge of a gin. For the past eight years he was City Secretary of Palacios. He had been a member of the local Presbyterian Church for many years, and attended Sabbath School and Church regularly. He was an affectionate husband and father, and a loyal friend, and was quiet and unostentatious in all his ways. He performed the duties of City Secretary with faithfulness and diligence. All his life he was fond of books, and fond, too, of poetry—his favorite poem being Kipling’s “If.” He passed to his eternal rest with startling suddenness. He had been in town on business early in the afternoon and had walked home. His wife went to his room about five o’clock, and found that he had been summoned to the many-mansioned home. Mr. Sisson is survived by his wife, two children, Mrs. Noble Hayes of New Gulf, and Mr. Jack Sisson of Palacios, two grandchildren, one brother, Mr. R. J. Sisson, of Palacios, and a number of nephews and nieces. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to Mrs. Sisson and the other relatives in their sorrow. Funeral services were conducted in the Presbyterian Church on Sabbath afternoon, July 3rd, at 3 o’clock by Rev. George F. Gillespie, pastor. There was a large attendance of local people, and also many from neighboring towns who came to pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased. Interment was in the Palacios Cemetery under the direction of the Brandon-Duffy Funeral Home. Palacios Beacon, July 7, 1938 Mrs. Addie Lou Sisson, 95, Former Resident To Be Buried Thursday Funeral services for Mrs. Addie Lou Sisson will be held at the Palacios Funeral Home Thursday, December 1, at 2:30 p. m. with Rev. Rayford Harris officiating. Interment will follow in the Palacios Cemetery. A former resident of Palacios, she was born May 19, 1871 in Pittsboro, Indiana and died Monday, November 28, in Fontana, Calif. where she had been the past several months with her son, Jack Sisson. Survivors include her son, Jack and a daughter, Mrs. Eva Hayes of Boling.
Palacios Beacon, December 1, 1966 |
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"There's something fascinating about the grocery business. You'll never get rich at it--I don't think any small town grocer ever does. You've got to love it. So says R. J. "Bob" Sisson, oldest grocery man in Palacios and proprietor of Quality Grocery on Main Street. A Palacios since 1911, Mr. Sisson remembers that when he came here Matagorda County was composed of large ranches with only a few farms and crops of hay for the livestock. The fish and oyster industries were also big concerns in Palacios, then a community of some 500 residents. Bob was already 29 years off when he came to Palacios in 1911. The trip was necessitated because of his father's health. Doctors recommended he make the trip from Nebraska to the mild climate of the Texas Gulf Coast. For a couple of years he and his brother were in the grain, feed and hay business. Then in 1912 Mr. Sisson formed a partnership with H. L. Curtis and launched his career in the grocery business in the old Brandon Building. Groceries then had to be shipped in from Galveston via the Gulf since the intracoastal canal was still on the drawing boards. Once a gulf storm blew up while the boat bringing several $1,000 worth of grocery supplies to Palacios was on the way. Mr. Sisson and Curtis were anxious over the fate of Captain Howard Stapp and his boat, the Sterling, as well as for their goods since they had telegraphed Galveston and found that he had already started for Palacios when the big blow began. No need for them to have worried, however, since the sea-wise old captain pulled into the San Bernard River and rode out the storm. When the ship finally arrived long over due, the merchants, who were already counting the entire cargo a complete loss, found that the only damage was to a small sack of sugar. In those days, customers bought grocery items on a large scale since visits to town were seldom and ranches had big crews to feed. Mr. Sisson recalls that ranchers came into Palacios to make purchases driving everything from mule teams to buggies. The grocer served 16 months as postmaster here during the Herbert Hoover administration. When Roosevelt was elected in 1938, Mr. Sisson, along with four other Matagorda County postmasters lost his job. During the depression years, Mr. Sisson tried his hand at the auto business. In 1936 he moved to his present location at 409 Main Street and has been operating the Quality Grocery there ever since. The Palacios business man was born in 1882 on a farm near Lincoln, Ill. When he was two years old, his family moved to Nebraska. At the county seat of Hebron, Nebr., his father served two terms as county commissioner. Bob was graduated from Hebron High School and attended the University of Nebraska for two years studying electrical engineering. The Palacios man quit college when his father bought a string of grain elevators and needed him to manage one. He was married in 1906 on the date of the San Francisco earthquake. The union produced two offspring. Miss Elizabeth Sisson at present is principal of the primary school here, and Harry is chief geologist for a California oil company. Mr. Sisson has served on the Palacios City Council and as director of the chamber of commerce. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church. After working hard all his life, he is looking forward to the time when he can retire. "When you get to be my age," he says, "you begin to want to take life a bit easier.
Palacios Beacon, February 14, 1957 |
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My name is Robert Jay Sisson. People called me
“Bob”. I was born September 11, 1882 in Illinois to Henry and Clara
Robinson Sisson. We moved to Nebraska when I was two years old. I
graduated from Hebron High School and attended the University of
Nebraska for two years. I had to quit college to manage one of my
father’s grain elevators. I married a girl from Columbus, Ohio on
April 18, 1906. Her name was Edna Elizabeth Hensel. Her parents were
Fredrick and Elizabeth Hensel. She finished the Conservatory of
Music in Lincoln, Nebraska after high school. In 1910 our daughter
Elizabeth C. Sisson was born. Due to my Father’s health, we were
advised to move to a milder climate. We arrived in Palacios in 1911.
We opened a grocery store in 1912. That same year our son Harry H.
was born. During the Herbert Hoover Administration, I served as Post
Master for 16 months. I re-opened the Quality Grocery in 1936 and
continued to operate it until I retired. I was a businessman
interested in seeing Palacios progress, served several terms on the
city council and as director of the chamber of commerce. My wife,
Edna served on the School Board and was a member of the Wednesday
Club. Her contributions in music to church, school and community are
recalled by older citizens of Palacios and Blessing. I died in 1967.
Edna Elizabeth died in 1971. Some of you may remember us. Some of
you may remember our grocery store. --
Palacios Cemetery Tour |
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Marker photo courtesy of Renee Huff Edna Elizabeth Sisson Funeral services for Mrs. Edna Elizabeth Sisson, who passed away Tuesday morning in Wagner General Hospital, will be held Wednesday, April 14, at 3:45 p. m. in the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Leslie E. Webb officiating. Interment will be in the Palacios Cemetery. Edna Elizabeth Sisson was born in Columbus, Ohio, June 22, 1884 to Elizabeth and Frederick C. Hensel. She was the youngest of seven children consisting of four brothers and two sisters. The last of her family to die, she lived the full life of 86 years, 10 months. The family moved to Hebron, Nebraska, in her early childhood. She spent her childhood and youth in Hebron, graduating from high school there before finishing the Conservatory of Music in Lincoln, Nebraska. She married Robert Jay Sisson of Hebron in 1906 and moved to Palacios, Texas, in 1911, where their two children were born and roared. Mrs. Sisson was quite involved in church, school and civic affairs throughout her active years. Her tenure on the Palacios Independent School Board and active membership in the Wednesday Club, of which she was a Life Member, will be remembered by old timers of Palacios. Her contributions in music to church, school and community will be recalled by older adults of Palacios and Blessing. She served her Lord by song and outreach throughout her adult life and her presence will be missed by many friends and her family. She is survived by one daughter, Elizabeth Sisson of Palacios; one son and daughter-in-law, Harry and Nancy Sisson of Houston; one granddaughter, Mrs. Nancy Sue Phypers of Boulder, Colorado and two great-granddaughters.
Palacios Beacon, April 15, 1971 R. J. "Bob" Sisson, Former Merchant, P. M., Buried Sun. Robert J. "Bob" Sisson, a former Palacios postmaster and a retired grocerman, died unexpectedly Saturday morning, March 25, at his home. Funeral services were held Sunday at 4 p. m. in the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Leslie E. Webb officiating. Interment was in the Palacios Cemetery. Born September 11, 1882, near Lincoln, Ill., his parents moved to Nebraska when he was two years old. He graduated from Hebron High School and attended the University of Nebraska for two years, quitting college to manage one of his father's grain elevators. He married Miss Edna Hensel on April 18, 1906, and to this union two children were born. Due to his father's health, the family was advised to move to a mild climate, arriving in Palacios in 1911. Mr. Sisson launched his career in the grocery business in 1912. Served 16 months as postmaster during the Herbert Hoover administration. He re-opened the Quality Grocery in 1936, and continued to operate until his retirement. A businessman interested in seeing Palacios progress, he served several terms on the city council and as a director of the chamber of commerce. He was an Elder Emeritus in the First Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife; son, Harry H. Sisson of Houston; daughter, Miss Elizabeth Sisson of Palacios and one granddaughter. Palacios Beacon, March 30, 1967 Funeral services for Elizabeth Claire Sisson, 88, of Palacios will be Friday, Oct. 30, 1998 at the First Presbyterian Church of Palacios with Rev. Andy Blair and Rev. Janell Blair officiating. Interment will follow at the Palacios Cemetery. Sisson died Oct. 27, 1998 at Memorial City Hospital in Houston. She was born Jan. 4, 1910 in Gibbon, Nebraska to the late Robert Jay and Edna Elizabeth Hensel Sisson. She was a member and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Palacios and a long-time elementary teacher and principal in Palacios Independent School District. Survivors include brother and sister-in-law Harry and Mary Nancy Sisson of Houston; niece Nancy Sue Brandau and her husband, Warren, of Houston; great nieces Lisa Ann Hyde and husband, David, of Houston and Amy Karen Hines and husband, Stephen, of Austin. Pallbearers are Warren Brandau, Stephen Hines, David Hyde, Bruce Herlin, Edwin Holsworth, and Norman Brotemarkle. Arrangements with Palacios Funeral Home.
Palacios Beacon, October 28?, 1998 |
Mr. H. H. Sisson died at his home at 2 o'clock
Saturday morning, the 25th inst., at the age of 69 years, 11 months
and 13 days. Funeral services were held at the family residence on
Moore avenue Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock, conducted by Rev. W.
L. Shepherd, pastor of the Presbyterian church, followed by
interment at the 