The Fisher Families of Crawford County, Ohio

H. M. FISHER, carpenter and builder, Bueyrus; is a son of David and Elizabeth (Stayman) Fisher, and was born in Franklin Co., Peun., Dec. 12, 1818. While a boy, he lived on a farm and received a good common-school education. His father was born near Greencastle, Penn., in 1787; was a farmer and also a miller, becoming a merchant later in life; he was possessed of a liberal education, and was married in Pennsylvania in 1809, and came to Ohio in 1828, and lived here until his death. The subject of our sketch came with his parents here, and assisted his father on the farm, near Mansfield, and remained until the death of the latter. He learned the carpenter trade with his brother in Mansfield, about 1842. In 1854, he came to Crawford Co., and worked in and around Bueyrus, following his trade, in company with his brother, David Fisher, until 18G5. In 1867 and 1808, he also worked in Marion Co. He has been engaged in carpentering and bridge-building ever since 1854, in this and adjoining counties. He was married. Oct. 29. 1850, to Miss Solena Culver, of Riclilaud C. Ohio; she died Jan. 13, 1852. Sept. 2(1. 1855, he was again married, to Miss Sarah A. Dickson, of Vernon Township, this county; there is one child of this family— N. C. Fisher, Civil Engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad, stationed at Chicago. Of his father's family, there are the following children living, besides himself — Eliza, wife of Henry Cook, of Constantine, Mich.; C. W. Fisher, Louisa, widow of Joseph Davis, of

Evansville, Ind., and Susannah. Mr. Fisher has been a Republican since the organization of the party, and is one of the respected and influential citizens of Bueyrus.

CHRISTIAxV W. FISHER, Postmaster, Bueyrus, is a son of David and Elizabeth (Stayman) Fisher, and was born in Franklin Co., Penn., Aug. 23, 1825. His father was a farmer, and young Christian lived the first three years of ills life on the farm where he was born. His parents removed to Richland Co., Ohio, in 1828, and settled on a farm, where their son was reared, to work against the privations of a new and wild country, and to struggle against the disadvantages of pioneer life. But little time could be spared for schooling in those days, and the school houses were of the primitive character described in other portions of this work. The only text books in Mr. Fisher's early school days were the spelling book, and that revered volume, the Bible, but Mr. Fisher, despite the barriers which arose before him in the acquirement of an education, was a hard student, and, at the age of 20, was enabled to teach school. Soon after his debut as a pedagogue, he entered the Ashland Academy, then in charge of Loring Andrews. For a period of several years he attended and taught school, and proved himself a successful instructor. In June, 1848, he removed to Bueyrus, and upon his arrival was tendered and accepted a clerkship in the dry goods store of A. Failor, where he continued five years. On the first day of the year 1856, he commenced business as a partner in the firm of Root, Fisher & Hall, which enterprise was successful. The business was sold out at the end of two years, and our subject accepted a clerical position under the firm of Hall & Juillard, remaining one year, when he purchased a half-interest, and the business continued under the firm name of Juillard & Fisher, and this partnership lasted until 1865. In January, 1866, Mr. Fisher commenced a new enterprise, opening a general store three doors north of the National Bank, under the firm name of Fisher & Lauck. This I was continued until February. 1877. when lie retired. Feb. 1, 1879, he received the appointment as Postmaster from President Hayes, an office the duties of which he has ably discharged, and making himself popular among the citizens of Bueyrus. He has been a prominent and useful member of society, having

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

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

CHRISTIAN W. FISHER, Postmaster, Bu cyrus. is a son of David and Elizabeth (Staymau) Fisher, and was lion in Franklin Co., Venn, Aug. 23, 1825. His father was a farmer, and young Christian lived the first three years of his life on the farm where he was born. Hi parents removed to Richland Co.. Ohio, in 1828. and settled on a farm, where their son was reared, to work against the privations of a new and wild country, and to struggle against the disadvantages of pioneer life. But little time could be spared for schooling in those days. and the school houses were of the primitive character described in other portions of this work. The only text books in Mr. Fisher's early school days were the spelling book, and, that revered volume, the Bible, but Mr. Fisher, despite the barriers which arose before him in the acquirement of an education, was a hard student, and, at the age of 20, was enabled to teach school. Soon after his debut as a peda vogue. he entered the Ashland Academy, then in charge of Loring Andrews. For a period of several years he attended and taught school, and proved himself a successful instructor. In June, 1848, he removed to Bucyrus, and upon his arrival was tendered and accepted a clerkship in the dry goods store of A. Failor. where he continued five years. On the first day of the year 1856, he commenced business as a partner in the linn of Root. Fisher & Hall, which enterprise was successful. The business was sold out at the end of two years, and our subject accepted a clerical position under the firm of Hall & Juillard. remaining one year, when he purchased a half-interest, and the business continued under the firm name of Juillard & Fisher, and this partnership lasted until 1865. In January. 1866, Mr. Fisher commenced a new enterprise, opening a general store three doors north of the National Bank, under the firm name of Fisher & Lauck. This was continued until February, 1877. when he retired. Feb. 1. 1870, he received the appointment as Postmaster from President Hayes, an office the duties of which he has ably discharged, and making himself popular among the citizens of Bucyrus. He has been a promaud useful member of society, having served on the School Board for several years. He is a charter member of Howard Lodge, Knights of Honor, No. 1011, and was its first presiding officer; also its delegate to the second session of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, and was elected Chaplain of that IkmIv. At the third session he was elected Grand Dictator, and in 187* lie retired, becoming Past Grand of Ohio. He was elected delegate to the Supreme Lodge for two years. Nashville in 1878, and Boston in 1S7! Mr. Fisher is a member of the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was married in May, 1852, to Miss Henrietta Lauek, of Bueyrus, and of this marriage there are seven children-Kdgar L., Charles.1.. George P.. Marv L., Frank M., Blanche and Grace.

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

DAVID E. FISHER, merchant, Bucyrus; was born in Manslield, Ohio, March 24, 1846, where the first fourteen years of his life were spent in attending the, schools of that place. In the fall of 1800, he came to Bucyrus to live with an uncle, INIr. C. W. Fisher, assisting him on his farm and attending school one year. In July, 1862, he enlisted in the 131st 0. V. I., from which, after five months' service, he was honorably discharged. He then began clerking in his uncles store, filling a position there until the 136th O. N. G. marched to the defense of the National Capital. At the expiration of the term of his enlistment, he was again discharged from the service, and resumed his duties in the store with his uncle, C. W. Fisher, until 1869, at which time the firm was changed to Fisher & ]jack; he, however, remaining with that firm until 1873, when he entered into a partnership with his brother, J. J. Fisher. He was married Nov. 3, 1869, to Miss Maggie Hoovei, by whom he has three children — Bessie M., Jay C. and infant son. He is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church and Sunday school, holding, in the last-named organization, a responsible position.

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

COL. CYRUS W. FISHER, who has been a man of influence and more or less prominence in different sections of the country for very many years, and who is now one of the most distinguished citizens of Bucyrus, O., was born Sept. 22, 1835, at Wayncsvillc, Warren county, O. After several family changes of residence in his boyhood, Cyrus W. Fisher was sent in 1846, by his father, Dr. Fisher, from the pioneer home in Rock county, Wis., to attend school at his birthplace in Ohio. In 1849 Dr. Fisher with the rest of his family also returned to Ohio and the son joined his father at Lebanon in Warren county, and continued his studies while living at home until about 1851. In the above mentioned year he accompanied a corps of railroad engineers and assisted in making surveys through Ohio, being thus occupied until 1854, in which year he entered the employ of the Ohio & Indiana Railroad Company, remaining with that corporation for two years. His next railroad connection was with the Bee Line road, with which he was identified until 1857, being a passenger conductor on the line between Crestline and Indianapolis. He then accepted a position in the office of the superintendent of that road, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, and remained there until President Lincoln’s first call for troops in 1861.

Fie then entered the service of the Federal Government as first lieutenant of Co. F, 23rd O. V. I. His brother officers were men of high character and ability and several of them later achieved national distinction. His colonel was W. S. Rosecrans, his lieutenant colonel, Stanley Matthews, and his major, Rutherford B. Hayes. In July, 1861, the regiment was sent to western Virginia, and in the succeeding November Lieut. Fisher became major of the 54th Ohio Infantry, which regiment, in February, 1862 became a part of the army division that first came under the command of General Sherman, who was then a brigadier. In November, iSbj Major Fisher was again promoted, becoming lieutenant-colonel of the 54th regiment, and as such he was a participant in all the operations of the 15th Army Corps, his valor, coolness and military ability serving well his command on many a battle-field. His faithful service to his cause and country ended only with the close of the war, when he returned to Bellefontaine, where his family then resided.

Immediately after the termination of his military career, Col. Fisher removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa, with the idea of entering upon the practice of law, having been admitted to the Ohio bar in 1864. lie first, however, went into journalism, purchasing the Oskaloosa Herald, which he conducted until 1868, when he disposed of it and opened a law office. His prospects were encouraging, but by this time he had found the climate not favorable to his health, and when it became a matter of necessity for him to find a less trying one, his thoughts again turned to railroading, in which field he felt at home. Accordingly he shortly afterward accepted the position of superintendent and general freight and ticket agent in the more congenial climate of Colorado, being the first incumbent of that office for the Denver Pacific line in that state.

Col. Fisher’s identification with the Denver Pacific, the Kansas Pacific, and the Colorado Central railroads continued until the summer of 1878, when lie was made superintendent of the Mountain Division of the Union Pacific Railroad. He held this latter position until 1879, when he resigned in order to become general superintendent of the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad, of which he was also a director and second vice president. In September, 1882, he became general manager of the New Orleans & Denver Railroad Company, of which in 1883 he was elected general manager and president. In 1884-5 he was general manager and lessee of this road, but resigned in March, 1886, in order to accept the position of general manager of the Rock Island Railroad lines west of the Missouri river.

From 1886 to 1888 his time was completely taken up in the construction and putting into operation of thirteen hundred miles of trackage. Family affliction in the death of his wife, which took place in this year, induced his resignation, his need of rest and recreation being apparent to all his friends. These he found in a trip to Europe, where, during a stay of six months, he visited many points of interest. The year 1 884 found him once more in his native state and subsequently be became a settled citizen of Bucyrus, where he

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

John Fisher, an engineer on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, residing at Crestline, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, February 9, 1852. His father, Adam Fisher, was a native of the same locality, and in the year 1855 crossed the Atlantic to America, bringing with him his family. He believed that he might better provide for his wife and children in the new world, and accordingly he located upon a farm in Crawford county, Ohio, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in the year 1878. His wife, Mrs. Catherine Fisher, was also born in Hesse- Darmstadt, passing away in Crawford county. Their children are Adam, Mrs. Grufstein, Mrs. Elizabeth Clemens, Philip, Lein, George, Eliza, Fred, Jacob, John and Mrs. Mary Fiddler.

In taking up the personal history of John Fisher we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely known in Crawford county. He was brought to Ohio by his parents when only three years of age, and has here passed his entire life. He pursued his education in the schools of Crestline and in his youth worked upon his father's farm, assisting in the labors of field and meadow from the time of early spring planting until the crops were gathered in the autumn. Not desiring to follow the plow as a life work, however, he left home in 1871 to enter the railroad service as a fireman in the employ of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. He was thus engaged for five years, on the expiration of which period he was promoted to the position of engineer, in which capacity he has served for a quarter of a century. He has been offered positions on passenger trains, but has refused these, preferring to run on a freight engine. He is most reliable, painstaking and careful, and he enjoys in an unusual degree the confidence of his superior. In the line of his chosen life work he has social relations with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

In 1876 Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Metz, who was born in Crawford county, October 12, 1854, her parents having come to Ohio from Germany in an early period of the development of the Buckeye state. Two children grace the union of our subject and his wife, — Amos and Howard. The parents hold membership in the Lutheran church, and in his political affiliations Mr. Fisher is a Democrat, supporting the men and measures of the party and keeping well informed on the issues of the day. He has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to give his entire attention to> his work. He has a wide acquaintance in Crawford county and his friends are almost as numerous.

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

GEORGE W. FISHER, merchant, Bucyrus; is the son of E. B. and Lydia (Webster) Fisher, and was born July 23, 1856, in Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio; his early youth was spent in this village, and, when he was about 7 years of age, his parents removed to Franklin, Ohio, where he received his education; at the age of 16, he commenced to learn tailoring with his father, who is a skillful cutter and tailor; in 1873, the family removed to Tiffin, Ohio, and the subject of our sketch became, at the age of 18 years, cutter for G. H. Corthell & Co., at that time doing the best business in Tiffin in their line; he continued here until 1876, when he worked in Marion for six months; he formed a partnership with Morrison on Jan. 8, 1879. He was married to Hattie E. Cook, of Tiffin, Ohio, by whom he has one son— Harry W., born Feb. 10, 1880. Mr. Fisher is a young and energetic business man, and the business of his firm is prospering finely; as a cutter, he has few equals and no superior in Bucyrus.

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