My Genealogy Hound

J. E. W. BISSELL, D.D.S., is a son of Milton L. and Melissa (Rice) Bissell, and was born in the pleasant village of Owego, Tioga county, New York, January 23, 1867. The Bissells sprang direct from Puritan stock. The Cushmans and Bissells came over among the very first New England settlers. His grandfather, John W. Bissell, was a native of Greenfield, Franklin county, Massachusetts. He was a hatter by trade, but branched out into other fields of business, and, with his superior and natural talent for accumulating money, he soon made a good fortune for those days. He then moved into Springfield, Mass., where he lived a life of ease and comfort until his death, at the age of eighty-four years, leaving a good fortune for his children. He served a short time in the war of 1812. Milton L. Bissell was born in Massachusetts, and while a young man saw something of western life, but subsequently came to this county, where he has lived for about twenty-three years. He now resides on and cultivates a nice farm, and is a prosperous farmer. He was at one time engaged in business in Jamestown for about five years. Politically he is a republican, is a member of the Grange or Patrons of Husbandry, and has been Master and State delegate of that organization. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is prominent in that order. He married Melissa Rice, an only daughter of J. A. Rice, in 1860, who was a native of this county, J. A. Rice (grandfather) still resides in the county, where he is an extensive farmer. His wife died in 1886. Mrs. M. L. Bissell is a member of the Presbyterian church. They are the parents of two sons: John E. W. and Berne Burritt Bissell, the latter being fourteen years of age.

John E. W. Bissell was reared principally on the firm and received his earlier education in the common schools, supplementing it by a thorough course in the Jamestown public schools. After completing his course there he entered the well-known dental office of Rawson, Lenox & Swetland. Although there were changes in the firm, he worked there about one year and a half, then, going to Warren, Pa., as assistant for A. C. McAlpine, and later entered the well-known dental institution, the Philadelphia Dental college. While there Dr. Bissell was esteemed highly by the faculty as being an excellent student and a person of good habits, and one who excelled in good work. Graduating from that institution in 1890, he at once located in Westfield, N. Y., and is building up an excellent practice, and is appreciated and esteemed by his fellow-townsmen.