William Ambrose Bissell, assistant traffic manager for the Santa Fe system at San Francisco, in which connection he manifests notable executive power, was born in Lyons, Wayne county, New York, in 1848, a son of the Rt. Rev. W. H. A. and Martha Colton (Moulton) Bissell. The former was an Episcopal bishop of Vermont from 1868 until his death in 1893. Reared in the atmosphere of a scholarly home, his early training left a strong influence on the life of William A. Bissell who, directing his energies in the broad field of business rather than along professional lines, has gained a place of responsibility and prominence in connection with railway management. He was educated in the Geneva (New York) Academy and throughout his entire career has been interested in railway activity. At the age of sixteen years he entered the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad at Detroit, Michigan, where he remained for about four years or until March, 1868, when he left the Mississippi valley and came to California by way of the Isthmus route. At that time the Central Pacific Railway Company was operating ninety miles of railway in this state, and he became associated with that corporation in a clerical position at Sacramento. He was later advanced to the position of freight auditor and continued with that corporation until 1883, when he became coast agent for the Texas Pacific Railway with offices in San Francisco. In December, 1884, he accepted the office of coast agent for the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad, which later became a part of the Atchison Railroad system. In 1894 he was promoted to the position of assistant freight traffic manager of the Santa Fe system, which called him to Chicago, and he remained there until 1899, when the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe as reorganized purchased the Santa Fe & San Joaquin Valley Railway, when he returned to the Pacific coast as assistant traffic manager of the Santa Fe system. Here he has since remained, continuously occupying the position which calls for rare executive ability, keen discrimination and thorough understanding of every phase of traffic control. He also has large private financial interests, having made judicious investment in corporations and business enterprises which have constituted important elements in the promotion of public progress and prosperity as well as in the attainment of individual success. He is president of the Livermore Water & Power Company which supplies light and power to the Livermore valley; is vice president of the Richmond Light & Power Company; vice president of the McNamara Mining Company and a director of the Holland Sandstone Company, Lake Tahoe Railway & Transportation Company, Northwestern Pacific Railway Company, Oakland & East Side Railroad Company, Richmond Land Company, Union Savings Bank of Oakland and Santa Fe Terminal Company of California. In May, 1913, when the affairs of the United Properties Company of California became involved, he was appointed one of the trustees of that corporation and as such trustee was elected a director of the San Francisco-Oakland Terminals Railways. On May 20, 1913, he was elected president of that company and still continues in that capacity.
On the 7th day of January, 1870, Mr. Bissell was married to Miss Cora A. Messick and their children are William H. and Daniel R. Mr. Bissell makes his home in Alameda and has a beautiful summer residence on a delightful location at Lake Tahoe, beside owning ranch property near Livermore, California. He is very prominent in club circles of San Francisco, being one of the founders and members of the Transportation Club and a member of the Pacific Union. He also belongs to the Athenian and Claremont Clubs of Oakland and the California Club of Los Angeles. He is likewise a member of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and is in hearty sympathy with its many projects and movements for the upbuilding of the city. In fact he is a very public-spirited man, active in matters pertaining to the growth, development and general welfare of San Francisco and of the state at large. He recognizes the wonderful possibilities of California and is doing everything in his power to promote their utilization, thus aiding in the material growth of the state, while at all times he is actively and helpfully concerned as well in those things which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride.
Past and Present of Alameda County California, Vol. II
Published in Chicago by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1914
Pages 290-292
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 6/12/2008
Alameda County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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