George Edwin Bissell (February 16, 1839 – August 30, 1920). Bissell was born New Preston, Connecticut, the son of a quarryman and marble-cutter. During the American Civil War he served as a private in the 23rd Connecticut Volunteers in the Department of the Gulf (1862-1863), and on being mustered out became acting assistant paymaster in the South Atlantic Squadron. At the close of the war he joined his father's marble business in Poughkeepsie, New York. He studied the art of sculpture abroad in 1875-1876, and lived much in Paris during the years 1883-1896, with occasional visits to America. Bissell also created smaller works, such as a bust of President Abraham Lincoln as well as a larger statue of the president This statue is modeled after Bissell's life sized Lincoln in Edinburgh Scotland on the Scottish-American Soldiers Monument. Lincoln is shown holding the Emancipation Proclamation in his right hand. This hollow-cast Bronze statuette stands 16-1/2" tall, on a 3/4" stepped base which bears the sculptor's name and 1898 copyright; Gorham Co. foundry mark stamped on the side. George Bissell (1839-1920) was a Civil War veteran, serving with the 23rd CT. With its dark-brown patina this striking statuette is in remarkable condition. Notable works include:
Frederic de Pester, New York Historical Society, New York City, ca. 1875.
Chatfield Monument, Riverside Cemetery, Waterbury, Connecticut, ca. 1880.
General Horatio Gates, Saratoga Battle Monument, Saratoga, New York, 1885-86.[3]
Sam Sloan, Lackawanna Ferry Terminal, Hoboken, New Jersey, 1889.
John Watts, depicting the New York politician of the same name, Trinity Church Cemetery, 1890.
Bas-relief panel of Robert Burns and Highland Mary, on pedestal of G. A. Lawson's Statue of Robert Burns, Air, Scotland, 1891.
Colonel Abraham de Peyster, New York Historical Society, 1896. This statue stood in Bowling Green Park from 1896 to 1972, and in Hanover Square from 1976 to 2004.
Chester A. Arthur, Madison Square, New York City, 1898-99.
Abraham Lincoln, Lighter Museum, St. Augustine, Florida, 1899.
Chancellor James Kent, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., ca. 1899. Property of the William Gwinn Mather's Estate. Mathers was the president of Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company.