5673. Eugene Robert SISSON [scrapbook]-7352 (Daniel Wright , Zenus L. , John , John , Giles , Thomas , George , Richard ) was born on 25 Jun 1858 in Aberdeen, Ohio Co., Indiana. He died on 22 Oct 1938 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
According to an article ["Progressive Men of Iowa" p 147] Eugene Robert Sisson was "one of the most successful real estate dealers and financiers in northwestern Iowa, lives in Storm Lake, where he located for the practice of law in 1886, having purchased the practice of Robinson & Milchrist, the former being elected to the supreme court at that time.... He attended public schools and the State Normal school at Normal, Ill., where he fitted himself to become a teacher. He had a natural talent for music and taught band music in St Elmo and Shawneetown for a time. He studied law two years, in the office of Hon. Carl Roedel in Shawneetown, Ill., and was admitted to the bar in Illinois in November 1883. For three years he was in partnership with his preceptor, and at the end of that time sought a larger field farther west, locating ... in Storm Lake, Iowa. He formed a partnership with A.D. Bailie, who was county attorney, and formerly had been his chum and classmate in college. A three years' residence in Storm Lake opened his eyes to the splendid business opportunities offered by the rapidly developing country, and her organized the Northwestern Land company, of which he is manager. He then began a series of important public enterprises, putting on foot the plan for constructing the auditorium and raising funds for the building of a summer hotel and a college. He sold town lots under an arrangement that half the proceeds were to be used for the erection of the hotel and college buildings. In this and in other ways Mr. Sisson has been of great value to the city of Storm Lake. Mr. Sisson has recently opened an additional office at Ft Dodge, which he operates in connection with his brother-in-law, W.R. Higgins. Of late years he devotes his attention exclusively to locating settlers in northwestern Iowa, and especially in Buena Vista and adjoining counties. These settlers are all ready to give evidence of the realization of every promise made to them. In one season Mr. Sisson's agency sold over 21,000 acres in Buena Vista county alone. It will thus be seen that he has been a very important factor in the settling and developming of northwestern Iowa. By the exercise of strict integrity on his part Mr Sisson's customers have been induced to advertise his business among their friends, and this has been the main element in his success. Mr. Sisson has always voted the republican ticket, although he was a friend to the silver issue while before the people. He feels that the past election was for the purpose of settling the issue and that it should be regarded as settled once for all, in accordance with the expressed will of the people, and that nothing could be more damaging than an uncertain or changeable policy in our finances." Reference: Progressive Men of Iowa, page 147; family data from Margaret Ann (Sisson) Colman, Gig Harbor, Washington.
