Jacob Bissing Dies. Ill Only Few Days. Had Been Police Judge and Justice of the Peace Here for Many Years.

Jacob Bissing, police judge and justice of the peace, died early Friday at his home on Ash Street from an illness with which he was stricken Sunday, May 7.

Jacob Bissing had held public office many years, first elected police judge and justice of the peace.

Born in Katherinestadt, Russia, January 9, 1864, he had come to America with his parents in 1876.

The Bissing family spent their first winter in America at Topeka, coming to Ellis County the spring after their arrival and settling near Catherine. Jacob Bissing moved to Hays when a boy and had lived here 66 years.

He married Miss Catherine Depperschmidt and to them thirteen children were born. But one of the large family of children is not living, Frank Bissing having died in September 1942.

Judge Bissing is survived by his widow, six sons and six daughters; Richard Bissing of Park City, Utah, Captain Al Bissing who is serving with the United States Army overseas, Joe Bissing of Denver, Raymond Bissing of Kansas City, Charles and Clem of Hays, Mrs. C. T. Irons and Mrs. William Slimm of Kansas City, Mrs. Neal Ware of Dallas, Texas, Mrs. Alice Sillins of Chicago, Mrs. Joe G. Jacobs and Mrs. Frank B. Miller of Hays.

Funeral services were Monday morning at 9 o’clock at St. Joseph’s church.

While serving in the probate court Judge Bissing’s records were said to have been as fine as any ever kept by a court house official. In the police court his reputation was equally good. Always kindly and considerate, Judge Bissing had a reputation for being lenient with first offenders, but “hard as nails” with those whose offense brought them into his court more than once. His sense of humor was keen and his courtly manners won him hosts of friends.

Hays Daily News, 5/18/1944