My Genealogy Hound

A. J. SCHISSLER. A thorough course in a business college has, of late years, been an almost indispensable part of the preliminary training of those who have wished to enter commercial life or mercantile pursuits. Indeed the knowledge of business forms and methods of procedure, that even years of experience in actual commercial affairs would not impart, can be acquired during a comparatively short course in one of these excellently conceived schools. Pennsylvania has a number of such institutions of learning, and of these the two founded by A. J. Schissler, M. A., are among the most highly regarded.

Aloysius J. Schissler was born in Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, November 23, 1864. He is the second youngest son of the eight children of J. Michael and Mary (Schall) Schissler. His grandfather, Frederick Schissler, was born in Baden Baden and there spent his entire life. He was at one time mayor of Baden Baden, was a Lutheran in religious faith and was a man of much influence and prominence in his community. He married and had five children, four sons and one daughter. The father of A. J. Schissler was born in Baden Baden, Germany, February 2, 1818, and emigrated to the United States while still a young man. In 1844 he settled in Philadelphia and entered the mercantile world as a grocer. For a short time he continued in this pursuit and then embarked in the baking business. In political affairs he affiliated with the Democratic party, and was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. He was a soldier of the Civil war, stationed at Alexandria, Virginia. He died in Manayunk, Philadelphia, March 2, 1887, in the seventieth year of his age, and his wife died April 19, 1869. She bore the maiden name of Mary Schall and was born in Baden, Germany, in 1827, a daughter of Anthony S. and Margaretta (Neimauer) Schall, who came to America in 1832 and settled in Manayunk. Her parents had ten children. Her father died in 1850, her mother on the 11th of August, 1871. They were members of the Catholic church.

Professor Schissler was reared in his native country and in the public schools of Manayunk he received the groundwork of a thorough education. To this he subsequently added whatever of knowledge he could glean from the books within his reach. Later he entered a business college in the city of Philadelphia, where he took a full course of instruction in every department, and developed those business characteristics for which he has since been famous, graduating in 1887. On leaving this institution he began the actual battle of life as bookkeeper for McClain & Vantier, of Philadelphia, Penrose A. McClain of that firm, now being internal revenue collector. Mr. Schissler shortly afterwards resigned from this position to enter the employ of J. Ripka & Company, cotton and woolen manufacturers, of Manayunk, whom he served in the diverse capacities of bookkeeper, salesman and general manager. He remained with the company for a period of over three years or until their retirement from business. During the time in which Mr. Schissler had been with them he had become thoroughly conversant with every detail of the business, and when his employers retired he became the owner of the factory. The same year that he had completed his business course he had established the Schissler College of Business and Shorthand at Manayunk. Of this he has since disposed, but until the completion of the school year of 1893-94, in addition to his other extensive interests, he maintained a close personal supervision over the institution. His success in this latter institution prompted him to found a like institution, which he opened on September 14, 1891, at Norristown, also under the title of the Schissler College of Business and Shorthand, which school has since received his entire time and attention. The first session opened with but ten pupils, but by the end of the year this number had been increased to twenty-five. In 1892 this number had grown to seventy-six, and two years later the enrollment had reached five hundred and ten-a growth that speaks eloquently for the facilities for first class business training which are offered.

The Schissler College at Norristown is one of the finest and best equipped institutions of its kind in the United States. Its corps of teachers has been continually increased to meet the demands of its growing patronage, and every facility for practical business operations has been provided in liberal abundance. Shorthand, typewriting and bookkeeping are among the specialties taught here; and its Philadelphia office, situated in the Betz Building, is calling the attention of hundreds of young men and women to the institution. The reputation that Professor Schissler has acquired among the prominent bankers, professional and business men of Pennsylvania, is indicated by the fact that when he incorporated the institution in 1888, to widen its scope, he secured among its stockholders and directors some of the best known citizens of the state, and the institution has gained a national reputation. The college patronage is not confined to Pennsylvania or the United States alone, having twenty-four students from foreign countries, representing Porto Rico, Cuba, Canada, England, France and Germany. Our subject, in 1893, was the youngest member of the International Business Educators Association of America. Mr. Schissler spends much of his time traveling in the interests of his college and no educator is better known throughout the state of Pennsylvania.

In political affairs Mr. Schissler, while extremely liberal in his views, has always leaned toward the Republican party, supporting the general policy of that organization. In local affairs, however, he is decidedly inclined to independence, and casts his ballot for the man that he thinks will best serve the interests of the people. In his business affairs he has shown ability and talent for general management, and has built up an establishment which entitles him to rank with the enterprising and progressive citizens of the commonwealth.

On the 18th day of September, 1890, Professor Schissler was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Cecilia Wunsch, daughter of Auselina and Margaretta Wunsch, of Manayunk, Philadelphia. To Mr. and Mrs. Schissler have been born five children: -four daughters and a son, namely: Marie Frances; Margaret Louisa, deceased; Charles Elliott; Louisa Cecelia; and Florence.