Butte County
Biographies
RICHARD M. SISK
RICHARD M. SISK.--A descendant of an
old pioneer family of California,
Prof. Richard M. Sisk is well known in educational circles in the state. Born
on the present site of the East Side Reservoir Government Dam, near Stony Ford,
Colusa County,
October 29, 1877, he is a son of Grafton and Annie (Reardon) Sisk. Grandfather
Richard Sisk brought his family across the plains from Missouri
to California in the fifties, and he was among the first
settlers on Stony Creek, Colusa County.
Grandmother Reardon made the voyage from Ireland
in a sailing vessel to New York, thence across the
plains to San Francisco, and after making sufficient
money, sent for her daughter, Annie, who came in a sailing vessel around Cape
Horn. Grandmother Reardon was married again, in California,
to Charles Pond, and they owned a farm now known as the Brown Ranch, on Stony
Creek. Her daughter, Mr. Sisk's mother, now resides in Berkeley;
she is the mother of six children, as follows: Mary, Mrs. Miller, residing in Washington;
George, residing in Chico; Richard M., of this review;
Ella, Mrs. Clark, of Chico; Marcus,
at Stony Ford; Annie, widow of Fred Ehelben, of Berkelely.
Richard
M. Sisk was reared on the old East Side farm on Stony
Creek, now covered by the East Side Reservoir. There he grew to manhood,
working on the farm and attending the local schools. William King, now an
attorney-at-law in Colusa, was one of his early teachers, and it was to his
influence and encouragement that Mr. Sisk owes his success in life as an
educator. His mother could not send him away to school, and the lad was
discouraged as to his chances for completing his education. Mr. King had a
store at Leesville, and taught school there. He offered the opportunity to the
boy to come to work in his store for his board, and also go to school. Mr. Sisk
took advantage of this offer and has never regretted the earnest application he
gave to his work to pay his way, nor the long hours he put in on his studies,
Mr. King being his guide, and ever ready with encouragement for him to press
onward and obtain an education. He completed the grammar schools and, when
eighteen, entered the Chico State Normal, graduating from the four years'
course in June, 1900. He was an earnest student and popular with his fellows,
and was treasurer of his class in his senior year.
On
the completion of his education, Mr. Sisk taught school, first in the Central
district, in Colusa County
for two years, then at Princeton for a like period,
after which he taught at Central district again for one year, and then taught
at Maxwell for two years. In 1907, he came to Chico and
became principal of Bidwell School,
but a month later was appointed principal of Nord
Avenue School,
and he held the position with credit for nine years. In 1916, he was made
principal of the Chico Vecino School,
and reappointed in 1917. In all his years of educational work, Professor Sisk
has met with unusual success, and has been a source of inspiration to the
pupils under his care, always remembering the impetus he received in youth from
his friend and teacher, Mr. King, and realizing that without the help of his
early benefactor his life story might have read differently.
Since
his residence in Butte County,
Professor Sisk has been interested in horticulture. He owns four acres on Sacramento
Avenue, set to prunes; here he has installed a
pumping plant of sufficient capacity to supply his neighbors with water, as
well as for his own needs. He has a small nursery, and has done budding and
grafting. It is a work he enjoys as a recreation in his hours of leisure. His
residence, on Nord Avenue,
is on an acre of good land, which he has set out to almonds and walnuts.
Professor Sisk's marriage, which occurred in Chico, united
him with Miss Lottie Bedwell, born in Chico,
a daughter of William Bedwell, one of the early
settlers of Butte County;
she is a graduate of the Chico State Normal, class of 1900, and taught school
for four years before her marriage. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Sisk: Homer, and Robert Richard. Mrs. Sisk is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and, with her husband, is interested in all things tending to
the upbuilding of the community. Mr. Sisk is a member
of the Butte County Board of Education and president of that body; he is a
member of the Northern California Teachers' Association; of the Schoolmasters'
Club, and treasurer of same, and is a member of the National Educational
Association.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 749-750, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Sande Beach.
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