The Fisher Families of Clinton County, Ohio

JOHN FISHER, farmer, P. 0. New Vienna, born in Highland County October 29, 1820, is a son of Cephas and Rachel Fisher, natives of Pennsylvania. The grandparents were James and Jane Fisher, natives of Pennsylvania; they emigrated to Tennessee soon after 1800, and about 1804 removed to Highland County, Ohio, and settled near Monroe, where they lived till their death. Cephas Fisher had arrived nearly at manhood, when with his father’s family he removed to Tennessee. Mr. Fisher was twice married; his first marriage it is believed occurred in Tennessee, where he was united to Rachel Stanbury, and soon after removed to Highland County; thence about 1837 removed to Clinton County, and settled on the farm where our subject now lives; subsequently he moved to the place where Jane Fisher now lives, and there resided till his death. His wife died May 5, 1844. By her he had eight children, three now survive — Rebecca, wife of Isaac Atkinson, and resident in Story County, Iowa; Cephas, who resides in Henry County, Iowa, and John. Mr. Fisher married for his second wife Mrs. Jane Atkinson, whose maiden name was Leech; by her he had one child — Eli; she, by her first husband, Mr. Atkinson, had five children, two now survive — Hannah and Rebecca Ann, the latter wife of David Brewer. Mr. Fisher died December 30, 1862, aged eighty-four years. His widow still survives, now seventy-seven years of ago. The subject of this sketch was about seventeen years of age when his father and family settled in Clinton County. Ho was married. September 25, 1845, to Hannah Atkinson, who was born in Clinton County Juno 2, 1827, a daughter of John and Jane Atkinson, ho a native of Ohio, and she of Pennsylvania. The Atkinson family were among the pioneers of Ohio. John Atkinson died in April, 1839. Mr. Fisher and wife have had ten children, nine now survive — Amos, born April 1, 1846; Amy, born December 30, 1849, wife of William McFadden; Harriet Ellen, born September 10, 1851; Joseph, born April 22, 1853; Phebe Jane, born April 9, 1855, wife of William F. Waddle; Thomas, born May 16, 1857; Rachel Alice, born July 7, 1859; William Henry, born May 7, 1861, and Azariah, born June 19, 1865. Mr. Fisher has spent his entire married life on this and his adjoining farm; has been very hardworking, industrious man, and by his own efforts has become the owner of 368 acres of land, most of which he has accumulated by his own labor and that of his family. He has erected a fine large brick house, and other improvements in good order, constituting a pleasant home and farmer’s residence. Mr. Fisher and family are members of the Society of Friends, as were also their ancestors, and are among our best and most respected citizens.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ELI FISHER, farmer, P. O. Now Vienna, born in Clinton County, Ohio, June 27, 1842; is a son of Cephas and Jane (Leech) Fisher, whose history and that of their ancestors is fully given in a sketch of John Fisher. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on the old home place where his mother, Jane Fisher, still resides. When twenty years of age, on August 15, 1862, he enlisted in the defense of his country in the war of the rebellion, in Company G, Seventy-ninth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served through the war, receiving his discharge June 17, 1865. He served in the Army of the Cumberland under its various commanders, and with Gen. Sherman on his march through the South to the sea, and saw very active service; was slightly wounded twice, yet was never in an ambulance, or a hospital, or lost a single day from duty while in the service, which, perhaps, is unparalleled by any soldier in the service. Mr. Fisher was married, February 1, 1866, to Rebecca Jane McFadden, born in Clinton County, November 28, 1841, a daughter of John and Elizabeth McFadden, by whom he has two children — Charles, born December 29, 1866; and Mary, born December 26, 1871. Mr. Fisher purchased the place where he now lives and has since resided, of John W. Smalley; it'consists of thirty-one acres, upon which he has erected all the buildings and made all the improvements, and now has a very pleasant home. Mr. Fisher is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., also of the Encampment, and has passed the highest degree in both. As a neighbor and a citizen Mr. Fisher is highly esteemed and respected.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

AMOS FISHER, farmer, P. 0. New Antioch, born on the place where his parents, John and Hannah Fisher, still reside, April 1, 1846. The ancestral history is given in sketch of John Fisher. Our subject, who arrived at manhood, brought up on his father’s farm, was married, January 15, 1874, to Ruth Ann Terrell, born in Wayne Township, Clinton County, November 8, 1844, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Williams) Terrell, natives of Highland County, Ohio. The maternal grandparents were William and Phebe Williams, natives of North Carolina, but who became early settlers of Highland County, Ohio, and lived and died in that county. John and Elizabeth Terrell had seven children, six now survive — Hampton W., Ruth Ann, Phebe, Jane (wife of William Huff), David E., Mary Edna (wife of Wm D. Thompson), Flora A. (wife of Dennis Cook), and Pleasant M. (deceased was married to Alice Malone, and left one child, Hezzie). Mr. Fisher and wife have three children— Elver J., born April 30, 1875; Lena May, born January 11, 1878, and Amos Clyde, born June 29, 1880. Mr. Fisher, after his marriage, located on the place where he now lives, and has since resided. This place he purchased of his father, which was known as the Curtis farm; it now consists of 115 acres, of which eighty-five acres are in cultivation. Mr. Terrell and wife are members of the Society of Friends, as were their ancestors for several generations, and in integrity of character, are among the best citizens of the county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GEORGE W. FISHER, farmer, P. 0. New Antioch, was born in Clinton County, Ohio, October 13, 1826; is a son of David and Hannah Fisher, natives of Virginia. David lost his parents when a child, and was bound out to Thomas Thatcher, who emigrated to Ohio when David was a boy of fourteen, coming through with a four-horse team and one of the Old Virginia wagons, and on arriving at the Ohio River, the ferryman being on the opposite shore was hailed, and, not giving a very satisfactory reply, Mr. Thatcher determined to swim the river with his team, and he drove right into the stream, his family in his wagon, Mr. Thatcher on the near lead horse and the boy, David, on the off horse, the people on the shore expecting to see them all carried down the stream and drowned, but the noble horses carried them safely over, while some one on the housetop waved a flag, directing Mr. Thatcher to the right or to the left as safety indicated. This was a feat never before accomplished, and never since such a thing known in history. They settled in Clinton County near Cuba, and here David grew to manhood, married and became the father of thirteen children, ten now living — Samuel, John, Andrew J., William, George W., James, Thomas, Eliza Ann, Maria and Elizabeth. Mr. Fisher lived in this county till about 1858, when he removed to Illinois, and about 1862 or 1863, died of the cholera, aged sixty-seven years; he was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was one of the troops surrendered by Gen. Hull, at Detroit, and shared with many others their hatred of Hull for that uncalled-for surrender. George W., our subject, was the fifth son of his father now living, and on arriving at manhood was cast upon the world without means, and left to fight his own way through life; he entered upon the trade of brick-making, which business he followed fifteen years in Cincinnati, Shelbyville, Ind., in this county, and in other places; thence, in the spring of 1857, he entered upon farming, purchasing seventy-five acres, a part of the tract of land where he now lives. Mr. Fisher and wife have continued their united labors, and from time to time have added more land by purchase, till now they own 235 acres of excellent land with good buildings and improvements, and clear of debt. Thus we have a living example of what energy and industry can be made to accomplish. The noble wife above spoken of, who has proven so worthy a help-meet, was Martha Fife, who was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, August 20, 1828, and with her parents, David and Nancy Fife, came to Philadelphia in 1840, and a few years later came to Clinton County, Ohio, where her mother died. Subsequently, he removed to the State of Illinois, where he died. Mr. Fisher and wife were married February 15, 1850. and unto them have been born eight children — Jennie, born June 21, 1852; David July 18, 1854; John W., September 11, 1856; George L., November 8, 1858; Thomas, December 29, 1860; Matthew, January 17, 1865, and died December 29, 1881; Maggie L., April 23, 1869, and James, born July 25, 1873. During the war, Mr. Fisher was a member of the Ohio National Guards. In the spring of 1864, when their services were deemed necessary at the front, he left his plow in the furrow, and, instead of hiring a substitute to represent him in war, the substitute took the plow and our subject went to the front, serving under Capt. Wilson, in Company “ K,” One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment Ohio National Guards. It was in May that Mr. Fisher enlisted, having just planted thirty acres of corn, which was to be cultivated by the home substitute, but not long after Mr. Fisher’s absence, if occurred to the wife of Fisher that the substitute’s presence was needed more by the Government on the field of battle than among the peaceful fields of growing crops, and he, too, was permitted by this patriotic woman to go to the front, and to her was left the care of the farm; and well fitted for that care, too, was she, for with only the assistance of a son and daughter, aged nine and eleven years respectively, she plowed and cared for the thirty acres of corn, besides attending to the many duties of the house.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES FISHER, farmer, P. O. New Antioch, son of David and Hannah (Clevenger) Fisher, was born in Washington Township April 30, 1829. He was reared and brought up ta the occupation of farming, and has always followed its pursuits. During the latter part of the war, he was a member of Company K, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Regimental Battalion of Ohio National Guards. He was active in the battle of Frederick, Md., and was discharged August 10, 1864. His marriage took place in August, 1864, wiJb Miss Elizabeth Horsman, daughter of Amos and Polly Horsman. Eight children were the fruits of this union — Araminta, Thomas J., Charles W., Clara J. (wife of George Foland), John A., Cora A., Frank U. and Homor C. Mrs. Fisher died June 11, 1872, and Mr. Fisher again married August 1, 1874, to Eliza J., daughter of Eli and Melvina Jones. Three children were given to this union — Augusta E., Harry C. and Pearl. Mr. Fisher owns a good farm of one hundred acres, and is engaged in stock-raising, in connection with agriculture.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ELIAS FISHER, deceased, a son of Thomas and Margaret McKey Fisher, natives of Frederick County, Va., was born August 31, 1801. Thomas and Margaret Fisher had the following children: Berick, Elizabeth, Robert, John, Thomas, Elias, Joseph, Jonathan, Samuel, Louis, Mary, Margaret and Sarah. The subject of our sketch was married to. Margaret, daughter of Joshua and Margaret Nesbit Mercer, on New Year’s Eve, 1826. Moved to Clinton County, Ohio, in 1828, and located in Vernon Township, where they remained seven years. In 1836, he purchased 140 acres in Washington Township, where he and his estimable wife lived the rest of their days. They had seven children — Mary, Margaret, Ellen, Hannah, Jonathan (deceased), Parker and Ruth (deceased). Mr. Fisher was an excellent farmer, and had a nice home. He departed this life August 22, 1880. Mrs. Fisher was born October 10, 1804, and died March 2, 1877. Joshua and Margaret Mercer were natives of Pennsylvania, where they were married, afterward emigrating to Frederick County, Va. They were the parents of the following children: Daniel, John, William, Thomas, Mary, Hannah, Elizabeth, Margaret, Lydia, Nancie, and one who died in infancy.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES P. FISHER.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

James 1*. Fisher received his education in the common schools of Frederick county, Virginia, and was reared on the farm and early learned the rudiments of that tiiuebonored vocation. He came to Clinton county at the age of twenty-one nnd lived in the Port William neighborhood the rest of his life. Thirty-five years ago he bought the tract of seventy acres where his widow and son now live, nnd there he erected a barn nnd a house which are still standing. He engaged in general farming and stock raising, nnd was a very active mun. not only in his vocation, but In public work, especially in church circles. James P. Fisher was a son of Asa and Frances (Williams) Fisher, natives of Frederick county, Virginia, who were the parents of six children, of whom four. Mary, Delpbla. Lucy and James are deceased, the living children being William and Sarah.

Mr. Fisher was married to Ruth Ann Caraway, who was born on August 13. 1855, the daughter of Henry and Nancy (Penn) Caraway, both natives of Ohio, and farmers by occupation. Henry Caraway owned one hundred acres of land, and he nnd his wife were prominent and Influential in the affairs of the early life of their community. Both were active members of the Methodist Episcopal church. To James P. and Ruth Ann (Caraway) Fisher were born four children. Charles S.. Effie Ellen, John E. and Hattle F. Of these children Eflle and Hattle are married. Effle Is the wife of Oscar Klbby. of this county, and has one son, Charles. Hattle became the wife of Stephen Reynolds, a farmer of this county, and has one daughter. Goldle Ellen. Charles lives in Clinton county with his aunt. Sarah Halls.

John E. Fisher, who was born on August IS. 18S2, In this county, lives on the old home place with his mother. He is a well-to-do farmer and is popular in the neighborhood where he lives.

H. Doyle Wright, now a well-known and prosperous young farmer of Green township, this county, was born at New Vienna, this county, on June 8, 1880, the son of James M. and Rachel (Good) Wright, the former a native of Highland county. Ohio, born on January 7. ISM. and the latter, a native of I-lancaster county, Pennsylvania, born on August 1. iST>3.

James M. Wright was the son of McClaln and Sarah Ann (Woodmansee) Wright, pioneer* of Highland county, both of whom are now deceased. McClain Wright was a soldier in the Futon army during the Civil War and died during the service. His widow died in Green township, this county, in lull. Rachel Good was the daughter of Charles and Hetsy I Moore) Good, both natives of Pennsylvania, who came from that state to Ohio in pioneer times, locating In Highland county. loiter they moved to New Vienna, this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Both were devout members of the Hlcksite Friends church, and Charles Good was one of the organizers of the New Vienna Bank and otherwise prominent In the early life of this community.

James M. Wright was reared In Highland county nnd moved to New Vienna with his mother after the death of his father. He worked by the month for some time after coming to Clinton county, but later engaged In farming for himself, and succeeded In accumulating a large farm, owning at the time of his death three hundred acres of excellent land In Green township, near New Vienna. He was also a stockholder In the New Vienna Rank. Politically, he was a Republican, although never an aspirant for office. Fraternally, he was a member of the Grange, and of the Sons of Veterans. He was also an active worker In the church. being identified with the Methodist Episcopal faith.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES FISHER, of Fisher & Hughes, proprietors of sash, door and blind factory, Wilmington, was born in Clermont County, Ohio, January 9, 1835. His father was Elias Fisher, a native of Massachusetts, and by trade a cabinet-maker. He came to Ohio when quite young, locating in Clermont County, where he worked at his trade until his death, in 1847. He married Elizabeth Ward, a native of. this State.. She departed this life in the house of her daughter, at Griggsville, Pike County, Ill., in 1877. James Fisher resided in Clermont County until fifteen years of age fie then went to Hamilton County, and there learned the carpenter trade. In 1858, he came to Wilmington and followed his trade two years. His health then failed and lie removed his family back to Hamilton County, where they resided till 1865. In the latter year, he returned once more to Wilmington, where he has since resided. He formed a partnership with his brother, H. M. Fisher, carrying on their trade until 1861). In that year, Mr. Fisher engaged in the lumber trade, and in 1871; in company with James Gunn and Charles Hughes, erected a sash, door and blind factory and commenced business. Three years later, the firm became Fisher & Hughes. Mr. Fisher is a worthy member of the M. E. Church, in which body he has served as class leader and trustee. He was formerly a Republican, but is now an earnest Prohibitionist. Mr. Fisher was united in marriage, December 28, 1859, to Lotta Gallagher, a native of Hamilton County, _'hio. Of the six children given them, four are living — Walter G., in attendance at the Cincinnati College of Music; Charles W., in charge of the mill, books and finances of Fisher Sc Hughes; Cora and Clintie D. Bertie and Harry are deceased. - Mrs..Fisher and family are also members of the Methodist Episcopal denomination.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES W. FISHER, teacher in the Clinton Valley Schools, was born in Clark Township June 24, 1852, and is a son of Amos and Margaret Fisher. He was reared on a farm till eighteen years of age, and, up to that time, had not obtained but an ordinary schooling. He then took a course of eleven weeks in the Martinsville Public Schools. By his extreme diligence during this brief term, he fitted himself for teaching, and immediately took up the Oak Grove School. He taught about three years in the district schools, and his success was plainly marked by the large number of teachers that passed from his school-room to tho teacher’s field. Mr. Fisher was thrown upon his own personal resources when very young; but, earnestly and diligently devoting himself to study, has eminently qualified himself for tho profession, and now ranks with tho most efficient teachers in Clinton County. Ho is tho only person in Clinton County besides tho Examiners, who holds a three years’ certificate. Mr. Fisher was married, March 18, 1875, to Anna M. Hamrick, youngest daughter of W. H. Hamrick, who was killed at Savannah, Ga., in December, 1864, when in tho service of his country. They have two children — Mottier Estc and Celia F. Mr. Fisher is Vice President of the Clinton County Teachers’ Association. Ho is also connected with the Society of I. O. 0. F.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.