Bertram E. "Bert" Fisher (1870-1921)

ABELS, FISHER, FRANCE, SMITH, THOMPSON

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:49

May 30, 1870 --- April 10, 1921

Popular Wright County Officer Dies at Rochester Sunday.

The death of Sheriff Fisher occurred Sunday morning at Rochester and the news of his passing reached this city a few hours later. He made, a hard fight, but not one in a hundred survive his ailment, a diseased, pancreas. Following death a postmortem was held which disclosed the fact that nearly one-half of the gland had sluffed away. The pancreas secretes a juice which is a powerful aid to digestion, and the absence of this secretion hindered digestion and gradually exhausted the patient. The other organs dealt wlth in the operation five weeks ago were found in good condition.

The remains were taken to Eagle Grove where funeral services were held yesterday afternoon at the home of his sister Mrs. W. C. Smith. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. John B. Walker of the Methodist Episcopal church of this city. Business in Clarion was practically at a standstill yesterday afternoon, the court house being closed and court adjourned. The court house officials sent a handsome floral offering in the shape of a large basket of roses—a token of esteem to a departed fellow officer.

Bertram E. Fisher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Fisher, was born at Champaign, Ill., May 30, 1870, being the fifth in a family of twelve children. With the exception of one who died in infancy, Bert, as he was familiarly known by his legion of friends, was the first to fall. When a small boy his parents moved to Iowa, first locating at Webster City and two years later came to Eagle Grove.

On New Year's day 1896 Mr. Fisher was united in marriage with Miss Franke R. France of Woolstock. Six children were born to them, Harold, Zola, Donald, Robert, Richard and Clayton. Soon after his removal to Eagle Grove Mr. Fisher was appointed to the police force and served in a faithful manner for a period of twelve years. He proved an excellent officer and developed qualities which led to his appointment as deputy sheriff of this county, which office he filled successfully for six years. Then came his election as sheriff and his re-election for the third time last fall, practically without opposition, the esteem in which he was held by the voters being evidenced by the fact that he led all other candidates on the ticket.

His associates in legal activities, the members of the bar, held him in the highest esteem. He stood four square for law enforcement and in the discharge of his duties he knew no friend or foe. Nothing could swerve him from that which he felt was right. He was fearless, yet gentle and sympathetic.

From the funeral oration we quote: "In these days of great laxity in law enforcement, when crime is rampant and the barriers seem to be let down, it is positively refreshing to hear men, who know the ins and outs of public life, to take off their hats with reverence and say of their co-laborer in the courts of justice, never was he known to swerve or step aside, or fall in the hour of duty."

Sheriff Fisher was a natural born sleuth and his reputation as a successful officer was fast becoming state wide. He was a terror to criminals and that class of citizens has of late given this county a wide berth. His mind was keen and quick to act and once he set out to get a violator of the law he usually succeeded.

He held fellowship in the Odd Fellows, the Yeoman and Woodmen of the World. He counted his friends by the hundred and was in turn a friend of man. In an official capacity he was a man of few words and kept his own counsel. Wright county has suffered a real loss in the death of Sheriff Fisher.

In addition to the immediate family deceased is survived by his father, Albert Fisher of Eagle Grove, also seven brothers and three sisters. They are Lon, Frank, Guy and Will of Eagle Grove, Ralph of Clarion, Myron of Chadron, Neb., and Alvin of California. Mrs. W. C. Smith of Eagle Grove, Mrs. James Thompson of Great Falls, Mont., Mrs. Archie Abels of White Fish, Mont. The mother died several years ago.

Wright County Monitor ---Clarion, Iowa
April 13, 1921

Death Ended Long Struggle Sunday, April 10th, at Rochester, Minn.

Bert Fisher died at the hospital at Rochester, Minn., Sunday morning, following a three weeks’ struggle after a serious operation. Not one in a hundred survive his ailment, a diseased pancreas. Following death a postmortem was held which disclosed the fact that nearly one-half of the gland had sluffed away. The pancreas secretes a juice which is a powerful aid to digestion, and the absence of this secretion hindered digestion and gradually exhausted the patient. The other organs dealt with in the operation five weeks ago were found in good condition.

The remains were brought to Eagle Grove Monday and taken to the home of his sister, Mrs. W. C. Smith on East Broadway, where the funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon with Rev. Jno. B. Walker of Clarion in charge. This was one of the largest attended funerals in the history of the county. Practically every community in the entire county was represented. People attended from Belmond, Dows, Woolstock, Goldfield, Holmes, Rowan, Galt and a very large delegation from Clarion. The lawyers attended in a body and court was adjourned Tuesday as a tribute to the departed officer. The business houses in Eagle Grove were closed during the funeral hour.

Bertram E. Fisher
(By Rev. John B. Walker.)

“Sometime, when all Life’s lessons have been learned,
And suns and stars forevermore have set,
And we shall see how all God’s plans are right,
The things o’er which we grieved with lashes wet,
Will flash before us out of life’s dark night,
As stars shine most in deeper tints of blue;
And we shall see how all God’s plans are right,
And how, what seems reproof, was love most true.”

Bertram E. Fisher, son of Albert and Catherine Fisher, was born at Champaign, Stark county, Ill., on the 30th day of May, 1870. He was the fifth of a family of twelve children. With the exception of one who died in infancy many years ago, “Bert,” as he was familiarly known among his friends, was the first to fall.

Mr. Fisher’s parents came to Iowa when he was quite young, settling in the neighborhood of Webster City. With the exception of a few months in Dakota, all his days have been spent in Iowa.

He found the answer to his heart and the companion of his years in the person of Franke R. France, to whom he was united in marriage at Woolstock, Iowa, on January 1, 1896. To bring joy and gladness into their home, there were born six children: Harold, Zola, Donald, Robert, Richard and little Clayton.

In April following their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Fisher removed to Eagle Grove, where he served as police officer for twelve years. He developed qualities in this work that led to his appointment as deputy sheriff, which office he filled successfully for six years, during which time and since, he has made his home in Clarion. Then came his election as sheriff; having begun his fourth term the first of January, 1921.

Mr. Fisher had not been well since last fall. In February he was seriously afflicted with an attack of gall stones. This recurrence of an old trouble had become more frequent and dangerous and he remarked in February that as soon as his strength permitted he would go to the hospital at Rochester. Health and strength seemed almost within his grasp when the relapse came the 17th. Depleted in strength though he was, for three and a half weeks this sturdy man battled with the elements. He who had never known fear of man was perhaps more fearful at heart than any knew, yet he fought valiantly. But suffering was no occasion for complaint. Excruciating and long-continued as was the pain, he bore it, like he lived, in quietness When at times physicians sought to give opiates to relieve the pain, he responded: “I have had enough to contend with as it is.”

The days of earth were lengthening, new life and hope was coming to the earth, but they possessed no power to rally his spent forces, and early Sunday morning, April 10th, at 7 o’clock he fell asleep.

Mr. Fisher was a remarkable man physically; robust, hale and hearty, he had conserved his powers. None could have imagined him the victim of an insidious disease.

“Those who loved him went their ways
Undreaming in their rash content,
That he was dropping numbered days
Along the road he went.”

He held fellowship in the Woodmen of the World, the Yeoman, and the Odd Fellows. He was a man of few words, who kept his counsel, a splendid trait for an officer of the peace. It is no idle word to say that Wright county has suffered a real loss in his passing. The esteem in which he was held as an officer has been registered by the voters who four times selected him for his post after witnessing the type of work he did as deputy for six years. Far beyond his own county he had a record which made his name a terror to criminals. He had high ideals for himself as an officer, higher than lax methods of court procedure made possible of attainment. Undaunted by the failure of forces, which should have worked hand in hand with him, he was hopeful that even yet he would be able to eliminate evils that were strongly intrenched in the county.

His associated in legal activities, the members of the bar, held him in highest esteem. He stood four-square for law enforcement. In the discharge of his duty he knew no friend nor foe. Nothing, say those who knew him through the years, could swerve him from what he felt his right. He was fearless and unhampered by what any might say or do. In these days of great laxity in law enforcement, when crime is rampant and the barriers seem to be let down, it is positively refreshing to hear men, who know the in’s and out’s of public life, take off their hats with reverence and say of their co-laborer in the Courts of Justice: “Never was he known to swerve, or step aside, or fail in the hour of duty.” Let their words sink deep into the hearts of these children. Such a heritage is worth more than silver or gold.

“God, give us men! A time like this demands
Great hearts, strong minds, true faith and willing sands;
Men who the lust of office does not kill,
Men who the spoils of office cannot buy,
Men who possess opinions and a will,
Men who have honor, men who will not lie,
Men who can face the fawning demagogue
And scorn his treacherous flattery without winking;
Tall men, sun crowned, who live above the fog,
In private duty and in public thinking.”

Home was a precious word to him. There came a time in his fight for life that homesickness overcame him and banished hope. Then the dear ones sped to his side. How he leaned upon them in that hour, and when it seemed wise for some of them to return home he gave his consent most reluctantly.

He is survived by his companion who for weeks braved his heart and steeled his spirit in his trying ordeal, his six children, an aged father, three sisters and seven brothers, besides a host of other relatives, friends and acquaintances.

It was not my privilege to know him intimately, yet during the weeks of his illness I have noted with warming of heart how folks in Clarion clung to words of hope that came occasionally. Then there were tributes aplenty until I feel I am safe in declaring he was a man who would say

“I ask not:
When shall the day be done, and rest come on?
I pray not:
That soon from me the “curse of toil” be gone;
I pray not:
A sluggard’s couch, with drowsy curtain drawn
But give me
Time to fight the battle out as best
I may:
And give me
Strength and place to labor till at evening’s gray;
Then let me
Sleep as one who toiled afield thro all the day.”

Funeral services were conducted at the W. C. Smith home at Eagle Grove, Tuesday afternoon, by the Rev. John B. Walker, pastor of the Methodist church at Clarion, assisted by W. G. Muhleman of Eagle Grove.

In addition to the immediate family, deceased is survived by his father Albert Fisher, of Eagle Grove, also seven brothers and three sisters. They are Lon, Frank, Guy and Will of Eagle Grove, Ralph of Clarion, Myron of Chadron, Neb., and Alvin of California. Mrs. W. C. Smith of Eagle Grove, Mrs. James Thompson of Great Falls, Mont., Mrs. Archie Abels of White Fish, Mont. The mother died several years ago.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
April 14, 1921