Ray County, Missouri Biographies - Bartlett SISK (b. 1830)

Source: Portrait and Biographical Records of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton and Linn Counties, Missouri, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies and Portraits of All the Presidents of the United States", published in 1893 inChicago by Chapman Bros; pages 337-338

Source: Contributed by Karen Isaacson mailto:karen@mtpinos.com


Bartlett SISK,
Postmaster at the village of Sisk, was born in CockeCounty, Tenn., January 18, 1830. He belongs to a family whose members have been
distinguished alike in war and the pursuits of civic life. His ancestors were originally from Ireland, whence representatives of the
family emigrated to America many years prior to the Revolutionary War, and settled in Virginia. Timothy Sisk, the son of these emigrants,
was probably born and reared in Culpeper County,Va. 

The next in line of descent was Bartlett Sisk who was born in CulpeperCounty, Va., about 1753, and in his early manhood enlisted in
defense of the Colonies during the Revolutionary War. Under Gen. Daniel Morgan he participated in many prominent engagements, and
was always in the front, doing valiant service for the cause of liberty. After the war he married Mollie, daughter of Benjamin Campbell,
and they became the parents of the following-named children: Elias, Tolliver, Bartlett,Lawson, Blackburn, Elizabeth and Lydia. All are
deceased with the exception of Lawson and Blackburn. From Virginia Bartlett Sisk, Sr.,removed to Cocke County, Tenn., in 1801 and there
he engaged in general farming until his death, which occurred in about 1840. His wife had passed away several years prior to his demise. 

Lawson Sisk, father of our subject, was born in the Old Dominion in 1800, and was reared to manhood in Tennessee, where he gained a meagre
knowledge of the "three R's" in a primitive structure used for a schoolhouse. On starting out for himself, he received a tract of land
from his father, and there he embarked in agriculture, which occupation he has always followed. He now owns about one hundred and twenty
acres in Cocke County, Tenn., where his entire life has been passed, and so closely has he followed his personal duties, that with the
exception of a very few occasions, he has never been outside of the county. Politically, he is a Democrat, loyal to the party of his
choice. He is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, with which his wife was likewise identified. 

The early education of our subject was acquired in a "temple of learning" which was built on round poles, and had a dirt floor. A huge
fireplace extended half-way across the end of the house, and light was admitted through a chink between two logs. Split logs were used for
seats and the other furnishings were of an equally primitive kind. In his early manhood and soon after his marriage, our subject came to
Missouri and cultivated a farm on shares for two years, then worked as a hired hand for the same length of time in Ray County. Later he
entered a gristmill with his great-uncle, John Clevenger, and since that year (1853) has been interested both in grist and sawmills. 

During the late war, Mr. Sisk enlisted in the Confederate army under Gen. Henry Little, and remained in the service for almost four years.
Among the engagements in which he took part may be mentioned the battles of Pea Ridge, Corinth, Iuka, Vicksburg, Grant Gulf,Ft. Gibson and
others of minor importance. A grape shot of cannon caused the loss of his right arm, May 1, 1863, after which he was confined in a hospital
for six weeks. He was also imprisoned, and late placed on parole. In November, 1863, he entered the commissary department at Grenada, Miss.,
and there remained until he was honorably discharged at the close of the war in April, 1865. 

Prior to entering the army, Mr. Sisk purchased one hundred acres of land near Vibbard, Mo. In 1868, he traded this property for the farm
upon which he now resides, and which consists of one hundred and thirty-five acres. Although he has never made a specialty of farming, his
efforts along that line have been quite successful, and his place contains the latest improvements in machinery and buildings. Mr. Sisk
has always been a strong Democrat, and has held the office ofPostmaster at Sisk since 1884. Besides this,, he has been chosen to occupy
other local positions of trust, in all of which he has served with fidelity and efficiency. 

The first marriage of Mr. Sisk united him with Miss ElizabethMorell. After her death he married Sarah, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth
Hightower, and they became the parents of two children:Elias, now deceased; and Sarah, wife of Gordon Clevenger. After the demise of
Mrs. Sarah Sisk, our subject formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Arrena Grace, a native of Ray County, Mo., and a daughter of John
and Mina (Norris) Grace. Twelve children were born of this union, three of whom died in childhood. The survivors are: Dorinda, wife of
Joseph Hightower; Addison, Sterling, Elmer, George; Elizabeth, who married Jesse Clevenger; Emma, wife of John Yoakam; Martha and Mary.
The position occupied by the family in the community is one of prominence, and in their pleasant home they hospitably entertain the many
friends whom they welcome as guests. 

The above was from pages 337-338 of"Portrait and Biographical Records of Clay, Ray, Carroll, Chariton andLinn Counties, Missouri, Containing
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies and Portrait sof All the Presidents of the United States", published in 1893 inChicago by Chapman Bros.

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