Doctor Sisson's paternal ancestry is French. His mother's people, who came to Indiana from Virginia, were of English descent. His father's mother was of Scotch-Irish extraction. No record has been found showing when the Sissons came to America, but the family is known to have located in the state of New York at a very early day. With the exception of the doctor's grandfather, Nelson Sisson, who emigrated to Rush county, Indiana, about eighty years ago, and his descendants, the family still remains in the Empire state. Marquis LaFayette Sisson, the doctor's father, was born in Rush county, and there he reared his family. He was a veteran of the Civil War and was twice elected county commissioner of Rush county, being nominated on both occasions by acclamation.

Ernest R. Sisson, the son of Marquis LaFayette Sisson and Nancy (Harold) Sisson, were born in Rush county on December 7, 1869. He is the eldest of a family of four boys. He was educated in the common schools of his native county. Later he attended Spiceland Academy, graduating in 1891. He also attended several terms at Graham's College at Rushville, a school organized and equipped by Mr. Graham, who has since served several years as superintendent of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home at Knightstown, Indiana,. From 1891 to 1894 Mr. Sisson taught in the common schools of Rush county. In 1895 he entered the medical department of the University of Indiana, graduating in 1898. During his senior year he also served as an interne at Bobb's Dispensary at Indianapolis. In the fall of 1898, after graduating from the medical college, he opened his office at Maxwell, Indiana. In 1907 he came to Greenfield and has since that time been engaged in the practice here. Doctor Sisson has been very successful in his profession. His success has given him a practice that is all but too large for one man to care for. His professional ability is generally recognized in the county, and as a practitioner he is easily the peer of any of his brethren.

While a student at Spiceland Academy Doctor Sisson became acquainted with Mattie M. Wilson, to whom he was married on March 1, 1894. Two children were born to them: a son, who died in infancy, and a daughter, Marion, who was married on May 6, 1916, to R. Max Peyton, of Danville, Indiana. Mrs. Mattie Sisson died on January 21, 1909. The daughter, Marion, who was then of high school age, entered the girls' school at St. Mary's of the Woods, from which she was graduated. Doctor Sisson was married, secondly, to Emma F. Mead, November 23, 1909. One child has been born to them, who died in infancy.

Fraternally, the doctor is a member of the Masonic order, including the chapter and council. He is also affiliated with the Redmen, Royal Arcanum and Moose, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Before his practice became so extensive, he took an interest in Sunday schools, and for several years, while a student, he taught a young men's Bible class at Roberts Park church, at Indianapolis. The doctor appreciated a joke or a clean story, and his fund of them seems to be inexhaustible.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Pages 1143-1145.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI November 28, 2001.

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