Charles Edward Sisco
Charles Edward Sisco, son of John Edward Sisco (1847-1925) and his wife Hannah Ryerson (1849-1930) was born on 29 Aug 1869 in West Milford, Passaic CO, N.J. and died on 26 Feb 1933 in Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL.He married Susie Pauline Hetcel, daughter of Paul Hetcel (1844-1909) and his wife Margaret Epiany (1838-1910), who was born on 31 July 1873 in Mahwah, Bergan CO, N.J. and who died on 19 Mar 1970 in the Bunnell General Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL.
The family resided in Ramsey, N.J. where Charles, a fireman, was employed by the Weidman Silk Dyeing Company in Patterson, N.J. Charles who was suffering from repertory problems was advised by his doctor seek a warmer climate and upon reading an advertisement in a magazine in 1907 of the opportunities in Bunnell, Florida, they decided to migrate south. The family traveled by train to Jacksonville and then made the trip to Bunnell by horse and buggy.
About 1912 Charles Sisco and his son Joy applied for homestead rights to the Federal Land Agency on a piece of land at Bulow. They fulfilled the requirements for a homestead and some of the family resided there. During their stay the men dug a drainage ditch with shovels and this "ditch" is now known as Sisco Canal.
They then acquired property at the junction of the Dixie Highway and Deen Road in Bunnell, eventually building the Flagler Garage with a home attached.
The family is listed on page 7 of the 1920 census of Flagler CO with his occupation given as "Proprietor of Garage." He was engaged in various enterprises; i.e., a General Store located near the Bunnell train depot, a Crosley Radio Dealership, a Samson Truck Dealership, and a Whippet Automobile Agency.
Several articles in the Bunnell Home Builder tell of Mr. Sisco organizing the Bunnell Brass Band with nine organizing members in 1913 and of their acquiring "a fine player piano for their hall." He was a former bandmaster in New Jersey.
Charles Sisco served as a commissioner for the Town of Bunnell in 1925/26 and was elected to the Board of County Commissioners and was serving in that capacity when the Court House was erected - his name with those of the other commissioners is on the corner stone of the Court House.
Susie Sisco was a charter member of the First Baptist Church of Bunnell and in Nov 1956 she laid the cornerstone for the new sanctuary for the church. She was a member of Bunnell Chapter No 93 Order of the Eastern Star, and the Royal Neighbors.
After the death of their daughter, Ethel, Mr. and Mrs. Sisco reared three of her sons, Claude, Joy and June. Mr. and Mrs. Sisco were the parents of four children;
1. Pauline Sisco, born 29 Sept 1891, Patterson, Bergen CO, N.J., died 19 Oct 1985, Flagler Beach, Flagler CO, FL, married Oct 1913, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL to Charles George “Jack” Leonhart, born 21 Mar 1893, Newark, Essex CO, NJ, died Jan 1964, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL. (Div.)
Pauline Sisco Leonhart married 2nd, 17 Nov 1920, Enid, Garfield CO, OK, Clarence Otis Magee, son of Samuel Riley Magee and Laura Gertrude Chandler, born 24 Mar 1898, Weatherford, Custer CO, OK, died 03 Jan 1972, Flagler Beach, Flagler CO, FL at the entrance to the pier of a heart attack on his way to fish. Both are buried in Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL
Pauline was a charter member of the First Baptist Church of Bunnell and very active in community affairs. In 1924, she ran for Flagler County Supervisor of Elections and was defeated by John P. Gerz. In May of 1927 she was named as clerk of Bunnell’s special election which was held on 31 May 1927.
She served as president of Palmetto Club in 1941 and was serving as the ninth president of the Flagler Woman's Club when their club house was built at Flagler Beach. She taught piano lessons and was appointed by Stetson University School of Music in April 1941 to serve as their chairman for music scholarship awards for Flagler CO. Pauline was also very active in the Order of Eastern Star serving as that organization’s president in 1935 and 1936.
Otis served as private in the U S Army in WW II. Otis and Pauline moved from Oklahoma to Flagler CO in 1922. They were living on Railroad Street in Bunnell in Jan 1927 (they also had a house in Flagler Beach in Sep 1927).
Otis Magee, was the proprietor of the Flagler Garage formerly owned by Charles Sisco. He completed his service station fronting on the new Dixie Highway (now US 1) to the east of the Flagler Garage in September 1927. He did not start operation of the station until the highway was officially opened on Thursday, 01 Dec 1927.
The structure was of concrete with stucco finish and was probably one of the most elaborate in every respect on the new highway at that time. There was a bridge (still there when the compiler was a young boy) over the canal behind the station so that the station was accessible from both the old (old State Road 4) and new Dixie highways, only one block apart. The Flagler Garage faced the old Dixie highway.
On Tuesday March 20, 1928, their house on railroad street caught fire but by the time the town's firefighting brigade arrived, it was found that the flames had been extinguished by others nearby, the fire doing little damage ‑ ‑ the roof caught, apparently from a flue but for the timely assistance of neighbors the house would have burned (do not know if this was the house attached to the Flagler Garage or the one located two houses to the north where the compiler lived as a child).
When a group of forty Bunnell citizens gathered on May 15, 1935 to organize a Volunteer Fire Department, William Corbett Sullivan was named as chief and Otis Magee as first assistant with Charles Walker as second assistant.
In Mar 1935 Otis was re‑elected as a member of the town commission of Bunnell, FL.
Otis took over the management of the local Texas Oil Company's bulk station in Bunnell, FL on 01 Oct 1936. The plant was south of the present Masonic Hall on the west side of the railroad. There was a side track that connected to the plant.
In May 1939, construction began on their new home site on South Central Ave and 3rd Street in Flagler Beach ‑ it is still standing at present (2007) though it has been somewhat modified from the original which had a two-car garage on the bottom floor and living facilities on the top floor with an enclosed porch facing the ocean. The area under the porch which is now enclosed, was open.
In Jul 1947, they moved to the Bimini section after selling their home in Bunnell (the old Maj. Frank Lambert House) to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew “John” Zalewski of Detroit. In Jan 1947, the Zalewski's started building a tourist court on the half block fronting on U S Highway 1, to the east of the Lambert House and across the street from the Green Tile Restaurant and service station. If the compiler recalls correctly, there were four cottages, each with two units, made of cement block with white tile roof with each unit will having private tile baths.
Otis was elected to the Bunnell City Commission on 4 Mar 1947 together with John C. Rice.
During the last week of Aug 1950, the Magee's sold their farm in Bimini to Isham Lafayette Johnston. The farm consisted of a modest dwelling (still standing in 2020 just west of the cell telephone tower on S. R. 100, though is very poor shape) and 180 acres of land. Isham and Mary Johnston had recently moved back to Flagler CO from Daytona Beach where they had owned and operated Johnston's Restaurant and Coffee Shop on Magnolia Ave.
The Magees moved into their summer two-story house in Flagler Beach in 1951 after his retirement as consignee for the Texaco Company.
He was installed as commander of American Legion Post 115 on 17 Jun 1968. He was a member of Bunnell Lodge No. 200, F&AM.
Otis and Pauleen reared her nephew, Duane Allen Deen son of James Emmett Deen and Ethel Sisco after the death of Ethel in 1923. In 1951, they adopted Duane. Issue;
(1) Duane Allen Deen, born 26 July 1916, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, died 01 Dec 1990, Flagler CO, FL, married Luellen I. Lewis, dau of Jacob Alvah Lewis and Ossie Lou Davis, born 11 July 1916, MS, died 02 Jun 1995, Flagler CO, FL. They had two girls. See sketch on James Emmett Deen for additional information on this family.
2. Charles Leroy “Roy” Sisco, born 03 Aug 1893, Ramsey, Bergen CO, NJ, died 17 May 1969, Bivalve, Wicomico CO, MD married 27 Aug 1912, Rockland CO, NY, Mabel Carpenter, daughter of James Carpenter and Sofronia Conklin, born 11 Jan 1898, Hillburn, Rockland CO, NY, died 01 Mar 1974, Ramsey, Bergen CO, NJ.
He was 14 years of age when his parents decided to move south and he elected to remain in Ramsey, N J and work for an uncle as a plumber, which trade he continued to follow. Issue;
(1) Pauline Lillian Sisco, born 16 Mar 1915, Ramsey, Bergen CO, NJ, died 22 Dec 2010, married 18 Nov 1939, Ramsey, Bergen CO, NJ, Edward Van Cott, son of Edmund Titus Van Cott (1878-1928) and Agnes Ward (1886-1094), born 30 Sep 1911, New York City, NY, died 17 Feb 2001, St Augustine, St. Johns CO, FL. Issue;
A. Evelyn Janet Van Cott born 03 Nov 1942, Ramsey, Bergen CO, NY, married 07 Jan 1980, St Johns CO, FL, Louis Marie Bacon, son of Jean Bacon and Marie J. Hascoet, born 17 Jun 1931, died 26 Apr 2000, St. Augustine, St Johns CO, FL (Div).
She came to Bunnell from Ramsey, NJ in Sep 1960 to attend Daytona Beach Junior College ‑ she resided with her cousins, Judge Duane Allen and Luellen Lewis Deen.
B. Edward Van Cott, born 28 Aug 1946, Patterson, Passaic CO, NJ, died 14 Mar 2005, Moultrie Creek Nursing and Rehab Center, St. Johns CO, FL.
3. Joy Sanford Sisco, born 03 Sept 1895, Darlington, Bergen CO, NJ, died 13 Apr 1970, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, married 02 Aug 1917, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, Nancy Mary Jane Carter, daughter of Zack Carter, born 21 Jan 1898, GA, died 22 Aug 1969, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL. Both buried Restlawn Memorial Park, Jacksonville, Duval, CO, FL.
He came with his parents to Florida. In July 1919, Mr A. P. Moore, junior partner of the firm of Sisco and Moore, has disposed of his interest in the Flagler Garage to Joy Sisco, son of his former partner.
He lived in Bunnell or vicinity before moving to Jacksonville where he worked for Superior Dairy, Jax Street Car Line, Ford Motor Co, eventually starting his own business, Sisco Dairy. He served in the U S Army in WWI.
Joy was a life member of Ionic Lodge 101 F & AM, the Scottish Rite Bodies, Morocco Temple, a member of Morocco Temple Band, and the Musicians Association, and the Veterans of World War I, Barracks Number 491. Mary was a member of the Order of Eastern Star.
In the 1920 Census, their adopted children, Scotland and Lottie Rosier were inmates in the Daniel Memorial Orphanage in Jacksonville, FL. In the 1930 census, he is in Jacksonville with Mary. It lists his first marriage as age 23 (1918) and hers as age 18 (1916). The kids are shown living in the household and are listed as step-children. Issue;
(3) Scotland Rosier, born 11 Dec 1911, FL, died 28 Feb 2007, Providence, FL married Laurie Winston Yonge, Born 06 Mar 1896, Ocala, Marion CO, FL, died 28 Oct 1985, Orange CO, FL, son of Roswell Ellis Yonge (1849-1931) and Mary Fletcher Dukes (1854-1937)
(4) Lottie L Rosier, born about 09 Dec 1913 FL, married Willis Gilbert Georgia, son of Willis Johnson Georgia and Ethelyn Gertrude Martin, born 30 Sep 1907, died 07 Feb 2000
4. Ethelyn Winifred (Ethel) Sisco, born 01 Jan 1898, Ramsey, Bergen CO, NJ, died 02 May 1923, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 17 Nov 1913, Jacksonville, Duval CO, FL, James Emmett Deen, son of James Monroe Deen and Mary Jane Josephine Sophronia Miles, born 21 Jun 1878, Baxley, Appling CO, GA, died 15 Oct 1949, St Johns CO, FL. They had four boys, Claude, Duane, Joy, and June. See sketch on James Emmett Deen for more information on this family.
Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who cites as her sources, Published Articles and James Emmett Deen, Jr.Additional sources used by the compiler were: FL Death Certificate, FL, No. 70‑024921, Registrar's No 70 1428 (Joy Sanford Cisco); FL Death Index, 1936‑1998 Record; FL Divorce Index, 1927-2001; FL Marriage Indexes, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001; FL State Census: 1935, Bunnell, Precinct 1, Flagler CO; Magee Family Tree by Jolene and Gary Osmun; New Jersey Births and Christening Index; Polk City Directory, Bunnell, FL, Jul 1922;
US Department of Veterans Affairs, BIRLS, Death File, 1850-2010; US Federal Census: 1900, Patterson Ward 3, Passaic, New Jersey; 1910, Ramsey, Bergen, New Jersey; 1940, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL;
US Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007); US Social Security Death Index; US World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917‑1918; U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942;
The Bunnell Home Builder, Jan 1913, Oct, 1913, Sep 1917, Nov 1917: The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 28 Feb 1933, 02 Mar 1933, 23 Oct 1985; The Flagler Tribune: 08 Apr 1918, 24 Jul 1919, 08 Apr 1920, 24 Jun 1920, 12 Aug 1920, 20 Jan 1921, 22 Dec 1921, 21 May 1925, 17 Dec 1925, 11 Mar 1926, 01 Apr 1926, 24 Jun 1926, 16 Sep 1926, 09 Dec 1925, 06 Oct 1927, 01 Dec 1927, 17 Jan 1935, 07 Feb 1935, 23 Feb 1940, 08 Jan 1940, 06 Sep 1962, 26 Mar 1970, 06 Jan 1972, 25 Oct 1979; The Florida Times Union, Jacksonville, FL, 23 Aug 1969, 15 Apr 1970; The St. Augustine Record, 20 Mar 2005; and personal knowledge – Charles Edward Sisco is the compiler’s Great Grandfather.
Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com
