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FANCHER, Nelson 1822-1900

FANCHER, VIRDEN, WILLIAMS, WISHARD

Posted By: Mary L. Mys, Black Hawk Volunteer
Date: 8/2/2016 at 09:42:50

"LIFE STORY OF N. FANCHER
PIONEER OF WATERLOO

Peaceful Ending of a Long and Useful
Life — Was Every Ready to Succor
the Needy and Aid Those in Distress—
His Part in Waterloo History.

In the issue of the Reporter Nov. 15 mention was made of the death of Nelson Fancher, a former pioneer citizen of Waterloo, which occurred in Chicago the day previous. Since that publication the following facts connected with the life of that good man have been secured, and are herewith published.

Nelson Fancher was born near Columbus, OH., June 28, 1822. He was directly descended from fighting revolutionary stock, in turn descended from exiled French Hugenots. He was related to the Starks, Armstrongs, Putneys, Generals Clark and McDowell, all active "rebels" in Washington’s army. His grandfather, Wm. Fancher, was a lieutenant of the revolutionary war.

His father, Henry Fancher, served under General Harrison as an officer in the war of 1812. Descended from a race of hardy pioneers of religion and political freedom, his birthright and training was one to develop strong moral character.

He was liberal minded, but with an intuitive sense and selection of truth, justice and right, and early allied himself to the parties of high progressive principles. He was an ardent patriot and lover of freedom and when the republican party was organized on a free soil anti-slavery platform he joined the party and voted for its candidates all his life, his last walk abroad being to the polls. He was incapacitated from serving in the Civil war by a wound received in an Indian uprising in California, but gave the Union cause all the moral and material support in his power by sending substitutes and in caring for the families of the soldiers.

Mr. Fancher left home to seek his fortune in the west before he attained his majority, leaving with characteristic generosity his inherited property to his widowed mother and sister. He became profitably interested in the land mines of Dubuque and remained there until the spring of 1850, when he organized a party of thirty young men who crossed the plains to California with horse teams in ninety days, a phenomenal record at that time.

He returned to the states by ship to the isthmus, which was crossed on horseback, thence by sailing vessel to New York. Cholera broke out soon after leaving port and he nursed the victims of the plague stricken ship which had scarcely enough able-bodied men left to navigate her. Soon after reaching home he was stricken with the plague and fever, but owing to a strong constitution and heroic treatment recovered with impaired vigor.

On his way back to California, he arrived at Waterloo in 1853. Finding good opportunities for the investment of the considerable fortune that he had taken from the gold mines he embarked in various business enterprises, one of which was the opening of the first store of general merchandise in Waterloo. He pre-empted 400 acres of land in Poyner township, four miles from Waterloo, and built, what was for that time a mansion, the timber of the frame being of black walnut.

May 25, 1864, he married Elizabeth Virden at her father’s homestead, the second house built in Waterloo. Mr. Fancher was a public-spirited man and served repeatedly in township offices. He donated site and material for the first school house in the township, while his house was known as the "Methodist Tavern." He was one of the original stockholders in the UNION MILL COMPANY and moved from the farm to Waterloo in 1868, where he resided until 1881, when he moved to Mount Vernon, to give his family the educational advantages afforded by the college.

He was a member of the East Waterloo school board for some years, and trustee of Grace M.E. church which he substantially helped to build. He was connected with many of Waterloo’s business enterprises, and was contemporary with such early settlers as Drs. Barber, Richards, James, and Oscar Virden, Charles Mullan, Washington Banna, John Evans, George Ellis, George May, Thomas Brooks, and the Revs. Ingham and Sessions. Among his later friends and neighbors were Messrs. Gilbert, Allen, Gates, Illingworth, and the late Hon. Matt Parrott, Hon. Lore Alford and Rev. Dr. Rhea.

For ten years his life tenure has been a precarious one by reason of heart disease. He home the last five years of his life was in Chicago. Thought at times he suffered much he kept a brave and cheerful front, and diversified life with change and travel, and passed away at last in a peaceful sleep in the presence of his family, who mourn the loss of a devoted, tender husband and father. His mind was clear and strong to the end of his life. A genial, shrewd humor, an unfailing charity and warm young heart, a wide and varied knowledge of men and affairs made his companionship dearly desired by young and old and few men leave so many genuine friends in all walks of life.

He was buried from the home of his eldest daughter, Mrs. S. N. Williams, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, attended by all the family except Mrs. Eva Fancher Wishard of New York, and only son, Chas. H., of California, an unbroken family for forty-six years.

The services were conducted by Prof. Boyd, assisted by Dr. Stuntz and Prof. Nicholson. The pall bearers were Mr. Keyes, Drs. Kepler and Carson, Professors Collin Harlan and Norton."

[FYI: There were four separate publications on his death; [1] on November 15, 1900 in the Waterloo Daily Reporter, Page 4; [2] Waterloo Semi-Weekly Courier, Waterloo, IA on Friday, November 23, 1900, page 4; and [3] another in the "Waterloo Daily Reporter, Thursday, November 15, 1900. I chose what I felt was the best one, giving tribute to the Fanchers’ love for Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA.

I was also able to check the Revolutionary War Records and those of 1812, wherein William Fancher was, indeed, in the Revolutionary War. In that particular record, it lists the births of all of the children of William Fancher.

Published: Semi-Weekly Iowa State Reporter: Friday, Nov. 23, 1900, Waterloo, IA on page 3

Provided by M. Mys


 

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