Vincent Cissell, one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of Perry County, Mo., is a native of the county, born in 1821. His parents, Joseph and Mary Ann (Miles) Cissell, were natives of Kentucky.

Joseph Cissell was born of English parentage, and in 1803 immigrated to Perry County, Mo., settling on the farm now owned by Simon Tucker. Here he passed the remainder of his life. To him and wife were born five children, two of whom, Louis and Vincent, are living.

Vincent was born and grew to manhood on his parents' farm, about three miles from his present home. He located on the latter farm, situated about three and one-half miles west of Perryville, in 1842, having now lived on the place for the last forty-six years. He began with 120 acres, but now owns 900 acres of highly improved land, and is one of the largest tax payers in the county.

In 1846 he married Caroline French, who was born in Perry County in 1828, and who is a daughter of Louis French. Mr. and Mrs. Cissell are the parents of eight children: Loevina (who is in a convent in California), Victoria (wife of Joseph Shelby), Mary (wife of Vincent Seemes), Albert C. (who is in California), Anna (wife of Clistiano Ortiz of Santa Fe, N. M.), Henrietta (wife of Henry Geile), Joseph R. and Louis E. The family are highly esteemed, and all are communicants of the Catholic Church.

Mr. Cissell has never been out of his native county more than fourteen days at one time, having then been in St. Louis. Since the war he has voted with the Democratic party, having been a Whig before that time, casting his first vote for Henry Clay in 1844.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.