Cocke County TN Archives Biographies.....Sisk, Bartlett January 18, 1830 - February 13, 1912
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Karen Isaacson karen@mtpinos.com September 21, 2007, 1:13 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers

Bartlett Sisk, Postmaster at the village of Sisk, was born in Cocke

County, 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 bron in Culpeper

County, 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.



When about twenty six years old, Lawson Sisk married Sarah Clevenger,

a girl of eighteen, and they became the parents of eleven children,

two of whom died in infancy. The others are: Bartlett, our subject;

Lawson; Allen; Branson, who enlisted in service during the late war,

and died in prison; Carson and Addison, who likewise died while in the

Confederate service; Elizabeth, wife of William Bryant; Nancy,

formerly wife of Aaron Bryant, and now deceased; and Sarah,

Mrs. Annanias Bryant.



The early educatino 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

Missour 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 palce

contains the latest improvements in machinery and buildings. Mr. Sisk

has always been a strong Democrat, and has held the office of

Postmaster 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 Elizabeth

Morell. 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 possition 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.



Additional Comments:
From pages 337-338,

"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 in

Chicago by Chapman Bros.



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