Dedicated to Jonas and Rachel (Hartman) Bissey

This page is dedicated to
JONAS
AND
RACHEL (HARTMAN) BISSEY

Jonas Bissey was born on September 24, 1809 in Pennsylvania and died around 1840-1844. Jonas' parents were Jacob and Mary (Weisel) Bissey.
Rachel (Hartman) Bissey was born July 6, 1810 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of George and Elizabeth (Jacoby) Hartman.
Jonas and Rachel's marriage date and location are currently unknown. Their children were:
1. Henry Jackson Bissey
b: September 6, 1833 in Bucks County, PA
d: Oct 23, 1919 in Clay County, Illionois
m. Mary Adah Stanford
February 2, 1860
m. Eliza Jane Long
Mar 06, 1862

2. William Bissey
b. February 18, 1836 in Bucks Co., PA
d. December 24, 1918 in Sterling, Nebraska
m. Louisa Jane Pearson
b. May 28, 1842 in Buchanan, Co., MO
d. July 12, 1925 in Ogallalla, NE
m. November 3, 1864 in Marion Co., Iowa
2a. Mary Ellen Bissey
b. October 6, 1869 in Gosport, Marion Co., IA)
m. Fredrick Morris Jump

3. Samuel Bissey
b. Unknown
d. Unknown

4. Mary Elizabeth Bissey
b. April 23, 1841 in Illinois
d.September 4, 1912 in Knoxville, Iowa
m. Elias Hoover
May 12, 1859
4a. Mary Lillian Hoover b. March 1860 d. Mar 26, 1863 m. N/A
4b. Miles Rollie Hoover b. Unknown d. Unknown m. Unknown
m. Martin J. Ake
April 1, 1866
4c. Charles Henry Ake b. died in infancy

After Jonas' death in the early 1840s, Rachel remarried on November 5, 1844 and had two sons, Charles H. and Edward, with her second husband Edmond Jones. Rachel died December 9, 1876 and is buried in the Dewitt cemetery (Knoxville, IA?) with Edmond and her two sons, Charles and Edward.
Apparently Jonas was a Pennsylvania Dutchman and lived in Bucks County, Pennsylvania for at least a portion, if not most, of his younger years. He left Bucks County in May of 1836, spent a few months in Wayne County, Ohio, and spent some time in Michigan. He moved to Clay County, Illinois around 1838. He and Rachel then moved to Knoxville, Iowa where it is believed that Jonas may have died.

SPECIAL THANKS

To Doris Bissey who is also doing extensive research on the Bissey family. She has helped fill in many gaps within the Bissey line.

DOCUMENTATION/PHOTOS/RECORDS/MISC

Here are some various documents, photos and records that I hope will help others researching this family. If you have additional information that you would like to add, please let me know.
Here's a list of people who have provided and/or donated material for this site.

Bible/Church Records

Biographies

Births

Cemetery/Death

Census/Taxes

Land Records

Marriages

Military

Newspaper

Photo Gallery

Miscellaneous

The following is taken from History of Wayne & Clay Counties Illinois; Globe Publishing Co., 1884; p. 412-413 (Note: the township referred to in this article is Stanford Township):

"About 1838, John Baylor and Jonas Bissey, two Pennsylvania Dutchmen, came to this township and settled in the southeast part. Baylor settled in Section 1 of Township 2 north, and finally became one of the foremost farmers of the township. He finally died in 1879. Two of his sons, J.M. and David, are still living in the township. Bissey settled in the adjoining section. He was a carpenter by trade, but did not follow it after his arrival here. He built a cabin, but died a year or two after his arrival here. A son of his, H.J. Bissey, is living on a farm adjoining the one on which his father settled."

Other web sites/researchers

(Note: If you have a related family web site or would like to have your e-mail address posted here, please let me know)

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