Background
Wilson Bissell was born on December 31, 1847, in New London, New York, United States, of Scotch-Irish stock. At the age of five he was taken to Buffalo by his parents, John and Isabella Jeannette (Hally) Bissell.
Wilson Bissell was born on December 31, 1847, in New London, New York, United States, of Scotch-Irish stock. At the age of five he was taken to Buffalo by his parents, John and Isabella Jeannette (Hally) Bissell.
Destined for the law, Wilson was sent to school in New Haven, Connecticut, and he was graduated at Yale in 1869.
In 1871 Bissell was admitted to the bar, and soon became associated with the firm of lawyers to which Grover Cleveland belonged - in the same office from which Millard Fillmore had gone to the vice-presidency of the United States in 1849. Bissell's friendship with Cleveland, who was ten years his senior, lasted for the rest of his life. He accompanied Cleveland to Albany when the latter was inaugurated as governor of New York in 1883. He appears to have declined a position in the first cabinet that Cleveland formed, in 1885; but he accepted the post office in the second cabinet in 1893.
His two years as postmaster general were not productive of novel results in administration, or of happiness to himself. After two years of a prosaic and honorable business administration, disliking the burdens of patronage and the publicity of office, Bissell resigned and returned to his law practise. His permanent satisfactions came from his work as counsel for railroad and other corporations, and from his association with the non-political activities of Buffalo.
The Buffalo Historical Society found in him an active, though non-producing member, and owes him much for his services in procuring the notable building that houses its collections. He was a friend to the struggling University of Buffalo, which had been no more than a group of professional schools until, about 1900, it prepared to launch a college of liberal arts. Bissell became chancellor of the University in 1902, holding a position which had generally been ornamental since the day when Millard Fillmore held it. Bissel died in the second year of his office.
Bissell was a member of the Democratic party.
Bissell was a member of he Buffalo Historical Society.
In 1889 Bissell was maried to Louisa Fowler (Sturges) Bissell.
