THE POLSON-CHENEY FAMILY

        Husband: Elick Omer Bissett
           Born: 25 MAY 1870 in Vernon County, Missouri
        Married: 08 OCT 1906 in Stockton, San Joaquin County, California
           Died: 19 JUN 1949 in Fresno, Fresno County, California
         Buried: in Clovis Cemetery, Clovis, Fresno County, California
         Father: Ralph Bissett
         Mother: Sarah Ann Redford
        Spouses: Myrtle Wynn
     Occupation: 1920 Farmer (1)
           Wife: Emma May Polson
           Born: 08 JUL 1881 in Chautauqua County, Kansas
           Died: 01 APR 1965 in Clovis, Fresno, County, California
         Buried: in Clovis Cemetery, Clovis, Fresno County, California
         Father: Irvin Polson
         Mother: Martha Jane Kessler
        Spouses:
Children
01          (F): Ruth Josephine "J." Bissett
           Born: 04 SEP 1910 in Clovis, California
           Died: 03 SEP 1985 in Fresno, Fresno CO, California
        Spouses: Lew Edward Harrington; Archie Badertscher
02          (F): Hazel Mildred Bissett
           Born: 23 APR 1912 in Oakhurst, Madera County, California
           Died: 26 OCT 2002 in Sanger, California
        Spouses: Orval Leon McAdams
03          (M): Lester Omer Bissett
           Born: 11 JUL 1913 in Oakhurst, Madera CO, California
           Died: 24 JUL 1999 in Raymond, Madera County, California
        Spouses: Alice Elizabeth Wilson
04          (M): Warren Clayton Bissett
           Born: 23 FEB 1921 in Clovis, California
           Died: 15 MAY 1921 in Clovis, California
        Spouses: 
05          (M): Ralph Irvin Bissett
           Born:
           Died:
        Spouses: Betty Louise Powers

Additional Information

Elick Omer Bissett:

Notes:
Elick was 48 at the time of the 1920 Federal Census for Sugar Pine Precinct, Madera County, California. He had a mortgage on his home, and was engaged in general farming. His wife, Emma and children Ruth, Hazel and Lester were living with him.

Emma May Polson:

Notes:
During Emma May's girlhood in OK., her father was engaged in breaking mules for army use during the Spanish American War. A team of mules would be harnessed to a wagon, it was Emma's job to take the reins, lead the team out the gate and across the plains. The mules would run until exhausted, at which time Emma would return with them to the farm.

As a young lady, Emma left home and went to work in a millinery shop. In 1906, she came West with a family by the name of Kiggens. She boarded with the Kiggens in Orosi, a small California town. Emma renewed her acquaintance with Elick Bissett (whom she had known in OK.) and in October of 1906 they married.

Emma and Elick homesteaded 160 acres in the mountain community of Oakhurst, California. Elick was at various times a logger, worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a blacksmith, a ditch tender for Madera Irrigation District, owned a shingle mill, and finally became a cattleman. Emma was a switchboard operator for the U.S. Forest Service. During those years Emma and Elick accumulated additional land, until they had a sizeable ranch.

Emma and Elick also operated a stage stop on the road to Yosemite, California. They boarded the teamsters and stabled the horses and mules. They later built a store and gas station and Emma operated them until 1945 when she retired and moved to Fresno, California.

The Bisset family still has mountain property, and one son is still in the cattle business. Emma and Elick had four children, all married with families. Most descendants of Emma are still in the Fresno County area.

Written by Ralph and Betty Bissett

Footnotes

  1. 1920 Federal Census, Sheet 5A, Line 4.
    Sugar Pine Precinct, Madera County, California.

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Revised: August 13, 2005
Copyright © 2005 Lisa Sorensen. All rights reserved.