Simon Shissler was an American

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...

Early life

Shissler was born on April 16, 1856, in

Paradise Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Paradise Township is a township in east-central Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,696 at the 2020 census. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of , of which are ...

. At the age of two, he moved to

Lancaster, Pennsylvania Lancaster, ( ; pdc, Lengeschder) is a city in and the county seat of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is one of the oldest inland cities in the United States. With a population at the 2020 census of 58,039, it ranks 11th in population among ...

, where he began attending public schools. His father died when Shissler was 13-years-old."Biographical annals of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; containing biographical and genealogical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early settlers"
/ref>

Career

Following his father's death, young Shissler became John Hull's apprentice in a cigar making business. Three years later, he worked for Albright & Bros and Metzger & Wiley, before excepting a position as a mailman where he served four years. In June 1889, Shissler formed his own business on 52nd North Queen Street, a tobacco firm called Simon Shissler and Son. In 1890 Shissler was elected as a city council representative from the

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

in a majorly Republican state. After the 1892 election, he served on the Special Water Committee and next year represented the Fifth ward of the state of Pennsylvania. In 1898, the people of

, voted him in as the twentieth mayor of the city for a two-year term. Simon Shissler decided not to pursue re-election, and in spring 1900 joined the school board of the ward following by a service to the City Democratic Committee.

Personal life

In 1879, Shissler married Alice Anderson. Together they had three children: Henry, Walter and Clyde, with the latter of which he owned a retail elgar and tobacco firm for 30 years. Shissler’s great grandson, Andrew Shissler of Bethel Park, PA, was famous for playing lead bass in Morningside, later named Three Seventy Six after the departure of vocalist and co-founding member, Bryan Brunsel.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shissler, Simon 1856 births Mayors of Lancaster, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Democrats Year of death missing