George Fisher, Jr.

DRABELLE, FISHER, HESTER, MEARS, RIGDEN, SHACKELFORD

Posted By: Kent Transier (email)
Date: 1/3/2010 at 21:57:05

A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896

George Fisher worthily represents the great body of agriculturalists who in pioneer times came to Iowa with but little means but with strong hearts, and who have given their adopted State a leading position among the States of the Union.

He is a native of Edgar county, Illinois, born September 18, 1838. His father, George Fisher, was born in Brown county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and married Sarah Mears, also a native of the same county and State. In an early day they removed to Edgar county, Illinois, where they remained until 1847, then went to Indiana, and in 1855 came to Madison county, Iowa. George Fisher was a wagon-maker by trade an followed that occupation for many years, but in his latter life he engaged principally in farming. On coming to Madison county, Iowa, he entered a tract of land in Jefferson township and also secured another tract by purchase, and followed farming until his death, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife, the mother of our subject, is yet living, now in her eighty-eighth year. They were the parents of ten children, - five sons and five daughters, - all of whom grew to maturity, - with the exception of one daughter, that died at the age of 13.

The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days in his native county, where he received a limited education in its public schools. He was nine years of age when his parents removed to Indiana, and but seventeen on their removal to Madison county, Iowa. He remained at home, assisting in the farm work until his marriage in 1860, in Dallas county, Iowa, to Miss Phoebe Hester, a native of Vermilion county, Illinois. She died the mother of the following children: Edwin M.; Sarah Belle, now the wife of W. Rigden, of Adair county, Iowa; Ida E., wife of Cameron Shackelford, of Harrison county, Missouri; Lewis Frank, of Jasper county, Iowa; Albert Warren; Alice N. who died in childhood; Wilbur and Owen E., at home. In 1883 Mr. Fisher was again married, his second union being with Miss Aggie Drabelle, a native of Warren county, Iowa.

The farm of Mr. Fisher, consisting of 211 acres, is on section 4, Jefferson township, Madison county. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. On his arrival here, the land was wild prairie, on which there were no improvements whatever. By his industry he has made of it one of the most productive farms in this section of the country.

Politically he is a Republican, and has held carious local offices, including Township Trustee, School Director, Road Supervisor and Constable. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and takes great interest in the work of the Master. A pioneer of the county, he has witnessed the entire growth and deserves much of the credit for its excellent standing among the counties of this fair State.