A. Elverton Sisson, who ranks among the prominent attorneys of Erie County, was born at Dayton, N. Y., Jan. 12, 1851, being the son of Nathaniel and Sahna (Phillips) Sisson.
He received his education in the common schools of Crawford and Erie County and at the Kingsville, Ohio, Academy, the West Springfield, Pa., Academy, and the North East, Pa., Seminary. He taught school and was in business a short time, then began the study of law, and in 1881 gained admission to the bar of Erie County, and almost from the start gained favor as an attorney.
His political activities began early and in 1885 and 1886 he held the chairmanship of the Republican County Committee, the following year being elected prosecuting attorney of Erie County. He succeeded himself in this office through reelection in 1890, his being the first instance in which a prosecuting attorney of Erie County had been elected for two successive terms.
In 1900 he became the candidate of his party (Republican) for state senator, was elected and reelected in 1904 and again in 1908, thus setting a new mark as being the first senator from the Erie district to hold a seat in the Senate for three successive terms. At the conclusion of the session of 1907 he was elected president pro tempore of the Senate and again became presiding officer of that body of the Legislature in 1909. During the special session of the Senate in 1906 he served as a member of the committee investigating the state insurance department and in 1909 was chairman of the committee on railroads, and a member of the commission created at the session of that year to investigate all transactions in connection with the building and furnishing of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, and several men were sent to the penitentiary as a result of this investigation.
President of the Senate, a member of the most important senatorial committee, and one of the leaders of his party, Mr. Sisson displayed rare political genius and wrote boldly a record of public service that will long endure. Mr. Sisson was elected auditor general of Pennsylvania on Nov. 2, 1909, having been the unanimous choice of his party for that office.
In 1920 he was again elected to the state Senate, and his term expired with 1924. In 1907 he succeeded in securing an appropriation from the state of Pennsylvania of $150,000 for constructing and building the "public steamboat landing or wharf upon state lands of the Port of Erie, by producing State Street northwardly into the harbor commencing on the north side of the public dock at the foot of State Street in the City of Erie, and extending northwardly about 600 feet, and 100 feet in width, to the harbor line established by the U.S. engineer." The splendid dock at the foot of State Street is the result of this legislation secured by the then Senator Sisson. In 1909 and 1911, he, with others, secured the enactment of legislation in Pennsylvania that brought about the building of the splendid Perry's Victory Memorial at Put In Bay, commemorating the victory won by Commodore Perry and his fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie, and in 1913 he was instrumental in securing an appropriation by the state of Pennsylvania of the sum of $150,000 for raising and restoring the brig "Niagara" and "the erection of a permanent marker, arch or memorial at the city of Erie, Pa., commemorating the building of the fleet at that place" and in 1921, when a member of the Senate, he prepared, introduced and aided by Hon. J. Reed Craig, member of the House from Erie, secured the enactment into law of a bill providing that the Presque Isle peninsula and certain water property in the Bay of Presque Isle "be preserved, maintained, improved, enlarged, and forever held as a public park, to be known as Pennsylvania State Park at Erie."
Mr. Sisson was president of the Pennsylvania Perry's Victory Centennial Commission and treasurer general of the Interstate Board of Perry's Victory Commissions, the latter of which built the splendid monument at Put In Bay, Ohio, and now that board and commission has become a national commission and he is vice president of it. He took a very active part with others in bringing about the erection of that memorial, which has now, by act of Congress, been made a national memorial. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Society of New York, the Erie Club, the Harrisburg Club of Harrisburg, Pa., and the Elks Lodge of Erie. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has taken an active interest in all these organizations, availing himself of the special benefit of each as often as possible.
On Dec. 13, 1888, Mr. Sisson married Miss Lena L. Spencer, daughter of Dr. H. A. Spencer, a leading physician of Erie for a number of years. They have a son, Spencer Alec Sisson, a practicing attorney of Erie.
From: History of Erie County, Pennsylvania By: John Elmer Reed, Historical Publishing Company Topeka-Indianapolis 1925.
He received his education in the common schools of Crawford and Erie County and at the Kingsville, Ohio, Academy, the West Springfield, Pa., Academy, and the North East, Pa., Seminary. He taught school and was in business a short time, then began the study of law, and in 1881 gained admission to the bar of Erie County, and almost from the start gained favor as an attorney.
His political activities began early and in 1885 and 1886 he held the chairmanship of the Republican County Committee, the following year being elected prosecuting attorney of Erie County. He succeeded himself in this office through reelection in 1890, his being the first instance in which a prosecuting attorney of Erie County had been elected for two successive terms.
In 1900 he became the candidate of his party (Republican) for state senator, was elected and reelected in 1904 and again in 1908, thus setting a new mark as being the first senator from the Erie district to hold a seat in the Senate for three successive terms. At the conclusion of the session of 1907 he was elected president pro tempore of the Senate and again became presiding officer of that body of the Legislature in 1909. During the special session of the Senate in 1906 he served as a member of the committee investigating the state insurance department and in 1909 was chairman of the committee on railroads, and a member of the commission created at the session of that year to investigate all transactions in connection with the building and furnishing of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, and several men were sent to the penitentiary as a result of this investigation.
President of the Senate, a member of the most important senatorial committee, and one of the leaders of his party, Mr. Sisson displayed rare political genius and wrote boldly a record of public service that will long endure. Mr. Sisson was elected auditor general of Pennsylvania on Nov. 2, 1909, having been the unanimous choice of his party for that office.
In 1920 he was again elected to the state Senate, and his term expired with 1924. In 1907 he succeeded in securing an appropriation from the state of Pennsylvania of $150,000 for constructing and building the "public steamboat landing or wharf upon state lands of the Port of Erie, by producing State Street northwardly into the harbor commencing on the north side of the public dock at the foot of State Street in the City of Erie, and extending northwardly about 600 feet, and 100 feet in width, to the harbor line established by the U.S. engineer." The splendid dock at the foot of State Street is the result of this legislation secured by the then Senator Sisson. In 1909 and 1911, he, with others, secured the enactment of legislation in Pennsylvania that brought about the building of the splendid Perry's Victory Memorial at Put In Bay, commemorating the victory won by Commodore Perry and his fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie, and in 1913 he was instrumental in securing an appropriation by the state of Pennsylvania of the sum of $150,000 for raising and restoring the brig "Niagara" and "the erection of a permanent marker, arch or memorial at the city of Erie, Pa., commemorating the building of the fleet at that place" and in 1921, when a member of the Senate, he prepared, introduced and aided by Hon. J. Reed Craig, member of the House from Erie, secured the enactment into law of a bill providing that the Presque Isle peninsula and certain water property in the Bay of Presque Isle "be preserved, maintained, improved, enlarged, and forever held as a public park, to be known as Pennsylvania State Park at Erie."
Mr. Sisson was president of the Pennsylvania Perry's Victory Centennial Commission and treasurer general of the Interstate Board of Perry's Victory Commissions, the latter of which built the splendid monument at Put In Bay, Ohio, and now that board and commission has become a national commission and he is vice president of it. He took a very active part with others in bringing about the erection of that memorial, which has now, by act of Congress, been made a national memorial. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Society of New York, the Erie Club, the Harrisburg Club of Harrisburg, Pa., and the Elks Lodge of Erie. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has taken an active interest in all these organizations, availing himself of the special benefit of each as often as possible.
On Dec. 13, 1888, Mr. Sisson married Miss Lena L. Spencer, daughter of Dr. H. A. Spencer, a leading physician of Erie for a number of years. They have a son, Spencer Alec Sisson, a practicing attorney of Erie.
From: History of Erie County, Pennsylvania By: John Elmer Reed, Historical Publishing Company Topeka-Indianapolis 1925.
A. Elverton Sisson, who ranks among the prominent attorneys of Erie County, was born at Dayton, N. Y., Jan. 12, 1851, being the son of Nathaniel and Sahna (Phillips) Sisson.
He received his education in the common schools of Crawford and Erie County and at the Kingsville, Ohio, Academy, the West Springfield, Pa., Academy, and the North East, Pa., Seminary. He taught school and was in business a short time, then began the study of law, and in 1881 gained admission to the bar of Erie County, and almost from the start gained favor as an attorney.
His political activities began early and in 1885 and 1886 he held the chairmanship of the Republican County Committee, the following year being elected prosecuting attorney of Erie County. He succeeded himself in this office through reelection in 1890, his being the first instance in which a prosecuting attorney of Erie County had been elected for two successive terms.
In 1900 he became the candidate of his party (Republican) for state senator, was elected and reelected in 1904 and again in 1908, thus setting a new mark as being the first senator from the Erie district to hold a seat in the Senate for three successive terms. At the conclusion of the session of 1907 he was elected president pro tempore of the Senate and again became presiding officer of that body of the Legislature in 1909. During the special session of the Senate in 1906 he served as a member of the committee investigating the state insurance department and in 1909 was chairman of the committee on railroads, and a member of the commission created at the session of that year to investigate all transactions in connection with the building and furnishing of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, and several men were sent to the penitentiary as a result of this investigation.
President of the Senate, a member of the most important senatorial committee, and one of the leaders of his party, Mr. Sisson displayed rare political genius and wrote boldly a record of public service that will long endure. Mr. Sisson was elected auditor general of Pennsylvania on Nov. 2, 1909, having been the unanimous choice of his party for that office.
In 1920 he was again elected to the state Senate, and his term expired with 1924. In 1907 he succeeded in securing an appropriation from the state of Pennsylvania of $150,000 for constructing and building the "public steamboat landing or wharf upon state lands of the Port of Erie, by producing State Street northwardly into the harbor commencing on the north side of the public dock at the foot of State Street in the City of Erie, and extending northwardly about 600 feet, and 100 feet in width, to the harbor line established by the U.S. engineer." The splendid dock at the foot of State Street is the result of this legislation secured by the then Senator Sisson. In 1909 and 1911, he, with others, secured the enactment of legislation in Pennsylvania that brought about the building of the splendid Perry's Victory Memorial at Put In Bay, commemorating the victory won by Commodore Perry and his fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie, and in 1913 he was instrumental in securing an appropriation by the state of Pennsylvania of the sum of $150,000 for raising and restoring the brig "Niagara" and "the erection of a permanent marker, arch or memorial at the city of Erie, Pa., commemorating the building of the fleet at that place" and in 1921, when a member of the Senate, he prepared, introduced and aided by Hon. J. Reed Craig, member of the House from Erie, secured the enactment into law of a bill providing that the Presque Isle peninsula and certain water property in the Bay of Presque Isle "be preserved, maintained, improved, enlarged, and forever held as a public park, to be known as Pennsylvania State Park at Erie."
Mr. Sisson was president of the Pennsylvania Perry's Victory Centennial Commission and treasurer general of the Interstate Board of Perry's Victory Commissions, the latter of which built the splendid monument at Put In Bay, Ohio, and now that board and commission has become a national commission and he is vice president of it. He took a very active part with others in bringing about the erection of that memorial, which has now, by act of Congress, been made a national memorial. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Society of New York, the Erie Club, the Harrisburg Club of Harrisburg, Pa., and the Elks Lodge of Erie. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has taken an active interest in all these organizations, availing himself of the special benefit of each as often as possible.
On Dec. 13, 1888, Mr. Sisson married Miss Lena L. Spencer, daughter of Dr. H. A. Spencer, a leading physician of Erie for a number of years. They have a son, Spencer Alec Sisson, a practicing attorney of Erie.
From: History of Erie County, Pennsylvania By: John Elmer Reed, Historical Publishing Company Topeka-Indianapolis 1925.
He received his education in the common schools of Crawford and Erie County and at the Kingsville, Ohio, Academy, the West Springfield, Pa., Academy, and the North East, Pa., Seminary. He taught school and was in business a short time, then began the study of law, and in 1881 gained admission to the bar of Erie County, and almost from the start gained favor as an attorney.
His political activities began early and in 1885 and 1886 he held the chairmanship of the Republican County Committee, the following year being elected prosecuting attorney of Erie County. He succeeded himself in this office through reelection in 1890, his being the first instance in which a prosecuting attorney of Erie County had been elected for two successive terms.
In 1900 he became the candidate of his party (Republican) for state senator, was elected and reelected in 1904 and again in 1908, thus setting a new mark as being the first senator from the Erie district to hold a seat in the Senate for three successive terms. At the conclusion of the session of 1907 he was elected president pro tempore of the Senate and again became presiding officer of that body of the Legislature in 1909. During the special session of the Senate in 1906 he served as a member of the committee investigating the state insurance department and in 1909 was chairman of the committee on railroads, and a member of the commission created at the session of that year to investigate all transactions in connection with the building and furnishing of the Pennsylvania State Capitol, and several men were sent to the penitentiary as a result of this investigation.
President of the Senate, a member of the most important senatorial committee, and one of the leaders of his party, Mr. Sisson displayed rare political genius and wrote boldly a record of public service that will long endure. Mr. Sisson was elected auditor general of Pennsylvania on Nov. 2, 1909, having been the unanimous choice of his party for that office.
In 1920 he was again elected to the state Senate, and his term expired with 1924. In 1907 he succeeded in securing an appropriation from the state of Pennsylvania of $150,000 for constructing and building the "public steamboat landing or wharf upon state lands of the Port of Erie, by producing State Street northwardly into the harbor commencing on the north side of the public dock at the foot of State Street in the City of Erie, and extending northwardly about 600 feet, and 100 feet in width, to the harbor line established by the U.S. engineer." The splendid dock at the foot of State Street is the result of this legislation secured by the then Senator Sisson. In 1909 and 1911, he, with others, secured the enactment of legislation in Pennsylvania that brought about the building of the splendid Perry's Victory Memorial at Put In Bay, commemorating the victory won by Commodore Perry and his fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie, and in 1913 he was instrumental in securing an appropriation by the state of Pennsylvania of the sum of $150,000 for raising and restoring the brig "Niagara" and "the erection of a permanent marker, arch or memorial at the city of Erie, Pa., commemorating the building of the fleet at that place" and in 1921, when a member of the Senate, he prepared, introduced and aided by Hon. J. Reed Craig, member of the House from Erie, secured the enactment into law of a bill providing that the Presque Isle peninsula and certain water property in the Bay of Presque Isle "be preserved, maintained, improved, enlarged, and forever held as a public park, to be known as Pennsylvania State Park at Erie."
Mr. Sisson was president of the Pennsylvania Perry's Victory Centennial Commission and treasurer general of the Interstate Board of Perry's Victory Commissions, the latter of which built the splendid monument at Put In Bay, Ohio, and now that board and commission has become a national commission and he is vice president of it. He took a very active part with others in bringing about the erection of that memorial, which has now, by act of Congress, been made a national memorial. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Society of New York, the Erie Club, the Harrisburg Club of Harrisburg, Pa., and the Elks Lodge of Erie. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has taken an active interest in all these organizations, availing himself of the special benefit of each as often as possible.
On Dec. 13, 1888, Mr. Sisson married Miss Lena L. Spencer, daughter of Dr. H. A. Spencer, a leading physician of Erie for a number of years. They have a son, Spencer Alec Sisson, a practicing attorney of Erie.
From: History of Erie County, Pennsylvania By: John Elmer Reed, Historical Publishing Company Topeka-Indianapolis 1925.
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