Obituary: BISSELL, Sarah A., Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Feb. 8, 1911, p. 2 http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/denver/obits/b/bissell_sarah_1911.txt Transcribed and Contribted by: Rita Timm 2001 - 2002 ================================================= Leader in Denver Society During Early Years BELLE IN EAST BEFORE WAR Wedded Three Times; Witnessed Many Battles in Rebellion. Mrs. Sarah A. Bissell, widow of former Judge Amos Bissell, and a social leader during the early days of Denver, died Monday at Mount Airy Sanatorium, where she spent the last five years of her life. Mrs. Bissell came to Denver with her husband in 1867 from Philadelphia. The Bissell residence, at Thirty-sixth and Lafayette Streets, one of the handsomest in the city in early days, was the scene of brilliant social functions. After the death of her husband, on December 26, 1902, Mrs. Bissell suffered a mental decline, and in October, 1904 she was taken before the county court for an examination at the instance of her two children, Thomas Orton and Mrs. Minne Van Rennselaer, who declared that her mental capabilities were such as to render her unable to look after the property left by her husband, valued at $100,000. She was declared sane, but a year later she was again taken before the county court, tried secretly and committed to the sanatorium. The in- sanity proceedings caused great interest at the time on account of the prominence of Mrs. Bissell and her family. Mrs. Bissell was formerly Miss Sarah A. Penton, daughter of a wealthy Pennsylvania family, and was born in 1831. Before the Civil War she was a belle in New York, Washington, Philadelphia and Richmond, VA. She was first married in Washington to Captain Richard Orton of the British Navy. After his death she married William Sackett, brigadier general in the Civil War. She accompanied her husband on his campaigns and was present at the battles of Stafford Courthouse, Chancellorsville Yellow Tavern, Meadow Ridge Camps's Creek and Five Forks. General Sackett lost his life in the battle of Trevillian Station. At the close of the war his widow became the wife of Amos Bissell. For many years Mrs. Bissell took an active interest in Democratic politics in Denver. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.