William Jackson Hissem
From the Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, published by the John M Gresman Company, Chicago-Philadelphia 1896
W JACKSON HISSEM of Newport, attorney-at-law and State Senator from Campbell County was born in Tyler County, West Virginia March 12, 1863. He is a descendant of ancestry who were active soldiers of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. He has some of the blood in his veins of the old Pennsylvania Dutch stock, from which state his grandparents moved in the beginning of this century in the wilds of West Virginia. When the subject of this sketch was seven years of age he moved with his parents to Campbell County, this state, where his father was engaged actively in agricultural and mercantile pursuits. Young Hissem was of great service to his father, where he worked with might and main during the spring, summer and autumn, attending the public school during the winter. He later attended a business college in Cincinnati, where he more firmly laid the foundation for a business career; engaged in mercantile business for himself, when he reached his majority; often served in local offices, where he was chosen by his fellow citizens.
In 1891 he was nominated by the Republicans to make the race for the Legislature; was elected and served during the Long Parliament, as that session is known. At the end of that session he was nominated by acclamation in the convention of his party for the State Senate and elected, defeating an eminent lawyer and jurist. He was the youngest member of that body and having drawn the short term, was re-elected in November 1895 by the largest majority ever accorded a candidate in the county.
After a course of law coving a considerable period, Mr. Hissem was admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals in 1894, since which time he has practiced his profession at his home in Newport. He has never been defeated for any office to which he aspired. He has always been active in the councils of the Republican Party.
He was married in 1887 to Nettie M Pickens, daughter of Robert P Pickens of Campbell County. They have two daughters as the fruit of that union; Leva, aged seven and Ethel, aged five.
His father Levi Hissem, was a native of Westmorland Pennsylvania and removed with his father (Jesse) to what is now Tyler County West Virginia when four years of age and lived there until 1870 when he came to Campbell County. While in West Virginia he was a farmer and largely interested in the woolen, flour and lumber business. He was a Democrat prior to the Civil War, but since that time he has been an enthusiastic and consistent Republican. While deeply interested in political questions, he has never been a politician. His father, Jesse Hissem was a native of Maryland, who removed to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania; and lived there a number of years before locating in Tyler County, Virginia. Before his death in 1872, he removed to Meigs County Ohio. His ancestors, as far as known, were Americans, having been among the first settlers in the United States. W J Hissem's great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
Elizabeth Morgan Hissem (mother) was born in Virginia in 1820 and is living with her husband in Campbell County. They are members of the Methodist Church and have been identified with the church work for over a half century.
Joseph Morgan (maternal grandfather) was born in Monongalia County (now) West Virginia in 1792 and died in Tyler County, West Virginia in 1884, aged ninety-two years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was a relative of Morgan, the Indian fighter, mentioned in his history. He was a farmer, a large dealer in cattle and a very successful business man.