[1] Following his father's death, young Shissler became John Hull's apprentice in a cigar making business.
[2] In 1890 Shissler was elected as a city council representative from the Democratic Party in a majorly Republican state.
After the 1892 election, he served on the Special Water Committee and next year represented the Fifth ward of the state of Pennsylvania.
Simon Shissler decided not to pursue re-election, and in spring 1900 joined the school board of the ward following by a service to the City Democratic Committee.
Together they had three children: Henry, Walter[1] and Clyde, with the latter of which he owned a retail elgar and tobacco firm for 30 years.