M. W. Brother Harry Seaman Kissell was born in the city of Springfield, Ohio, September 24, 1875. He was the son of Cyrus Broadwell Kissell and Lucretia McEwen Kissell and holds lineage from ancestors who emigrated from Wurtternberg, Germany, in 1729, and settled in the Moravian colony at Kissell Hill in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, from whence his ancestors came to Clark County.
Brother Kissell was educated in the Springfield Public Schools and received his A. B. Degree from Wittenberg College, Springfield, in the Class of 1896. He still being a director and member of the executive committee evidences his abiding interest in his alma mater.
On October 17, 1901, he married Miss Olive Troupe, of Springfield, to this marriage one son and one daughter were born.
Following his school life, he entered the real-estate business with his father, and on September 21, 1906, incorporated the Kissell Real Estate Co., of which he was president to the time of his death. An outstanding accomplishment was the development of Ridgewood, Springfield, recognized as one of the model subdivisions of the country. As one of the: organizers of the National Association of Real Estate Boards, which he served as president, he promoted an interest in real estate that is reflected in the safeguards that have been thrown around it throughout the whole nation.
He promoted banking interests in his own city and finally participated with others in establishing the First National Bank of Springfield, of which he was a director. He proposed the plan and was very active in the organization of the Federal Home Loan Bank System and, in his capacity at that time as president of the National Association of Real Estate Boards, he was the man upon whom President Hoover depended quite largely for background and pertinent data on urban financing as an aid to which the bank was created and proved itself a great blessing during the depression, saving thousands of financial institutions from bankruptcy and liquidation. As a result of this activity and because of his general fitness, he was one of the incorporators of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, which began operation on October 15, 1932, principally through his efforts. He served as one of its directors until the time of his death; in fact, he was in attendance there when that summons came to him.
Brother Kissell had an abiding interest in the Ohio Society for Crippled Children. He was an active and devoted member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church, serving as deacon, elder, or trustee, as his services may have been needed. His dynamic personality and qualities enabled him to participate in a multiplicity of activities, interests, and undertakings in church, civic, club, fraternal, philanthropic, religious, and social life. He bestowed his spiritual endowments on them in his desire to serve and success everywhere crowned his devotion.
M. W. Brother Kissell was initiated an Entered Apprentice in Anthony Lodge No. 455, Springfield, August 17, 1897; passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft, September 7, 1897, and was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason, September 21, 1897. He served his Lodge as Senior Deacon in 1899, Junior Warden in 1900 and 1901, and Senior Warden in 1902. He was elected Worshipful Master on November 4, 1902. He was appointed District Lecturer for the Ninth Masonic District in October 1903, and served for three years. He was appointed Grand Marshall of the Grand Lodge of Ohio October 20, 1905, and was elected Most Worshipful Grand Master, October 20, 1910, at the age of thirty-five years, which made him one of the youngest Grand Masters ever elected.
Appointed Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge on January 15, 1931, by the then Grand Master, Harry G. Gram. He served in that office until the date of his death. In point of service he was, at the time of his death, the dean of the Past Grand Masters. In recognition of his outstanding work for the Grand Lodge during his incumbency as Grand Master, M. W. Brother Kissell was crowned a 33° Honorary Member of the Supreme Council of Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1913.
M. W. Brother Kissell was exalted to the Degree of Royal Arch Mason, December 10, 1897, In Springfield Chapter, No. 48; received the Royal and Select Master Degrees, March 28, 1898, and Super-Excellent Master, December 8, 1898, In Springfield Council No, 17. R. & S. Masons, and received the Order of the Temple in Palestine Commandery No. 33, K. T., Springfield, Ohio, on August 12, 1898. He received the Lodge, Council, Chapter and Consistory Degrees of the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Dayton in 1907, being a Charter Member of this first class in the Dayton Consistory. He became a member of Antioch Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Dayton, Ohio, May 14. 1909, and was also a member of Dayton Court No. 10, Royal Order of Jesters. H. S. Kissell Lodge No. 674, F. & A. M. was named in honor of M. W. Brother Kissell.
M. W. Brother Kissell departed this life on February 14, 1646 in the office of the Federal Home Loan Bank at Cincinnati, Ohio where hi was attending a meeting of the executive committee of the bank. His Body was interred in the Fernleaf Cemetery, Section o, Lot 56, Springfield, Ohio.