Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2026 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== USGenNet Data Repository Notice: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ============================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. ============================================================================= The Grand Rapids Press Friday, 9 November, 1934 Death of MRS. BISSELL Deep Loss to City Long, Notable Career At End Outstanding in Business; Generous, Active in Church, Charity. Had Helped Build Industry Took Over Reins of Carpet Sweeper Company on Husband's Death. Grand Rapids lost an outstanding and beloved citizen Thursday afternoon in the death of MRS. M. R. BISSELL, SR., widow of the founder of the BISSELL Carpet Sweeper Co. and herself an important factor in the developing of that industry. Death came to MRS. BISSELL at her home, 112 College ave., S.E., after an illness of two weeks. Her health had been failing for the last three years of her nearly 88 years of eventful life. Had Many Interests Her interest in business benevolences and politics continued to the end. She was a successful business woman in an era when business was almost wholly a mas- culine field. Her benevolences had endeared her to the city. Nowhere will her generosity and her active work be missed more than in her church and at the Blodgett Home for Children. Her intense interest and love for people found a ready response. She had remarked that everyone with whom she had had contact had been kind to her. The company which she served for a score of years as president and as chairman of the board until her death grew into a world-wide business with her at its head. A large measure of that success must be attributed to her faculty of inspiring loyalty and co-operation. Funeral Services Saturday Six of her "boys," men who had worked under her for years, will bear her to the grave Saturday after fun- eral services at the home, at 3 o'clock, conducted by Dr. George Harlan McClung of First Methodist church. The bearers will be B. H. Vandermass, Frederick Pullen, John A. Collins, John Scott, William Hartman and Walter Meyers. Interment at Oak Hill cemetery, will be private. Honorary bearers will be P. W. Williams of New York and Dr. S. Dunbar Robertson, John W. Blodgett, Clay H. Hollister, Henry Idema, Edward Lowe, Charles Payne and Lewis T. Wilmarth. Surviving MRS> BISSELL are a daughter, MRS. ANNA BISSELL McCAY, Pasadena, Calif.: three sons, MELVILLE R., and IRVING J. of Grand Rapids and HARVEY S. of LaCrescenta, Calif.; a brother, FRANKLIN SUTHERLAND, Jacksonville, Fla., and a sister, MRS. DWIGHT SMITH, Grand Rapids. There are 11 grandchildren and 2 great- grandchildren. Born in Nova Scotia. MRS. ANNA SUTHERLAND BISSELL was born at River John, Pletu, Nova Scotia, Dec. 2, 1846, the daughter of WILLIAM and ANNA SUTHERLAND. When she was 5 years old her parents emigrated to DePeer, Wis. There, when 19, she was married to M. R. BISSELL. After their marriage they moved to Kala- mazoo and MR. BISSELL operated a grocery. Three years later the grocery was sold and the stock of a crockery store was bought. After casting about for a promising city in which to establish a crockery store MR. BISSELL chose Grand Rapids. The store was opened at 27 Canal-st. under the name of BISSELL & Sons. His father, ALPHEUS BISSELL, and his bro- ther, HARVEY, were the other members of the firm. M. R. BISSELL found much cleaning and dusting to be done in a crockery store and no very efficient mathod by which it was to be done. That started him to thinking of a new kind of sweeper, from which evolved the first BISSELL carpet sweeper, which was patented in 1876. Manufacture was started in spare space above the store. The parts for the sweeper were made elsewhere, and MR. BISSELL drove by buggy around to the various shops to pick up the parts for assemb- ling. He and his wife went on the road selling the new sweeper. He would call on one store in a town, she on another. Her interest in the business was active from its birth. Meet Setback. Soon the BISSELLS decided to organize a company, build a factory and manufacture on a larger scale. Just as this ven- ture was beginning to succeed a fire in the night destroyed the factory, which was on the site of the present plant, and wiped out the BISSELLS financially. But immediately MR. BIS- SELL leased space and arranged to resume manufacture of the sweepers. By borrowing a new plant was built. In 1889 MR. BISSELL died, and MRS. BISSELL became presi- dent of the company. It was while she was president that the company expanded into an export business, sending its product throughout the world. She served as president until 1919, when she became chairman of the board. FREDERICK M. DEANE, who succeeded her in the presidency, was succeeded in that post at his death in 1931 by MELVILLE R. BISSELL. Friend of Children. Although MRS. BISSELL'S charities were many, perhaps her greatest interest was in the welfare of children. For years she was in charge of adoptions for what is now the Blodgett Home for Children. She was an ardent worker in the Union Benevolent association and its successor, Blodgett hospital. She was a devoted worker in First Methodist church. MR. BISSELL had been interested in harness racing, and maintained a stable at Reeds lake from which he sent horses to the Grand Circuit races throughout the country. After her husband's death MRS. BISSELL sold the horses. She al- ways had a word of praise for the racing men. Part of that respect was the result of her dealings with them when she disposed of the stable of racers. ===============================================================================