Louis Bissantz, whose advertisement appears in this number of the Cresset, is the principal merchant in Sun City. He lived in Wichita for a time, came to Sun five years ago where he purchased the merchandise stock and fixtures of Frank Whitaker and with a cash capital of only $200 embarked in business on his own account. Since that time with a natural adaptation to trade, a strict attention to business and the practice of a wise economy in expenditures, has gradually attracted patronage, until he now carries an average stock of $3,300 in general merchandise and has increased his sales to something over $6,000 a year, which with light expenses in operating his business affords him a very handsome margin and profit. Mr. Bissantz is of a liberal disposition, public spirited as a citizen and popular with his patrons. With a wife and quartet of children, two boys and two daughters, he is happy in his home life with no occasion to borrow trouble, a disposition that to so many make life a burden.
Bissantz House, Sun City, Barber County, Kansas.
"The Bissantz family were early settlers and well known in the Sun City area. Louis Bissantz was an immigrant from Germany who married Julia Balding. Their children were Bessie, Roy & Adolph.
The man on the far right is Tull Balding, Julia's brother. I have heard stories that Tull was an outlaw and had been in prison. This house is still standing in Sun City - barely though." -- Kim Fowles. Photo from the Kim Fowles Collection.
Louis Bissantz Family Grave Marker
Sunnyside Cemetery, Sun City, Kansas.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Lee.
Gravestone for Louis Bissantz
Father Louis Aug. 19, 1860 - Sept. 29, 1923.
Sunnyside Cemetery, Sun City, Kansas.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Lee.
Gravestone for Julia A. (Balding) Bissantz
Mother - Julia A. - Oct. 1, 1861 - May 14, 1937.
Sunnyside Cemetery, Sun City, Kansas.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Lee.
Gravestone for Bessie B. Bissantz
Apr. 13, 1896 - Oct. 12, 1965
Sunnyside Cemetery, Sun City, Kansas.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Lee.
Name: Julia A. BALDING
Daughter of William Balding and Elizaeth (Hummell) Balding
Born: 1 OCT 1861 at Morgan Co., OH
Married: 1 JAN 1887 at Sun City, KS
Died: 4 MAY 1936 at Sun City, KS
Buried: Sunnyside Cemetery, Sun City, KS
Spouses: Louis BISSANTZ (Buried: Sunnyside Cemetery)
Also see:
Sam Helton's Biography for the story of "Sam Helton, Louie Bissantz and the Cougar".
The Story of Mr. Shmidl's Cattle, Bulldog and New Steer
as told to David Massey by Irl ShuttsThurman W. Balding, also known as Tull Balding, Skeeter Balding, Tull Baldwin and Skeeter Baldwin. He is often referred to in articles and old TV shows as "Skeeter" Baldwin.
Bissantz - Search results for Bissantz on this web site.
Carl N. Oerke, Jr. is researching the Bissantz family in Kansas and welcomes correspondence with other researchers on the family.
Thanks to Ellen (Knowles) Bisson for finding, transcribing and contributing the above Medicine Lodge Cresset article to this web site and to Kim Fowles for the photograph!
It is one of a series of articles published together on 2 March 1900 under the title of Barber County Profiles: Men Who Have Taken a Prominent Part in Developing the Stock Industry in Barber County.
It was transcribed from Kansas State Historical Society microfilm reel #M 870. If a photo is indicated in the above text, the microfilm itself has a photo of the individual or property.