Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 697
WILLIAM FISHER

William FISHER, a representative farmer of St. John's Township, will form the subject of this biographical notice. He is a native of Ohio and traces his ancestry only as far back as his grandfather, Philip FISHER, who is a native of Germany, emigrated to America in 1810, and while making their passage across the ocean, both he and his good wife sickened and died, and were buried at sea. They left two children, to perpetuate their name--George and Philip. The father of our subject was born in German and was quite young upon coming to this county. He was a distiller by trade, and was well up in the art of manufacturing high wines. The greater part of his life was spent on a farm in Pennsylvania. He married Sophia LESHER, a native of the Keystone State and subsequently moved to Richland County, Ohio. They reared a family of ten children, eight of whom are living: George, deceased, David, deceased, Anna Maria--Mrs. BARNES, now of Williams County Ohio; James Jacob, a resident of Ohio; Charlotte, Mrs. STEDMAN, of William County Ohio; William, of Harrison County, Iowa; Caroline--Mrs. FOUNTAIN, of Missouri Valley; Matilda, Mrs. DUROY of Michigan; Henry of Missouri Valley; Sarah, a resident of William County, Ohio.

William FISHER, of whom we write this sketch, was born in Richland County, Ohio, October 5, 1846. His earlier years passed in that country, but moved with his parents to Williams County, where he attended the common district school and assisted his father on the farm. When very young he enlisted, was examined and rejected, from the Union Army. December 19, 1863, he re-enlisted as a member of Company G., One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He was on special and detached duty, sent to Baltimore, and subsequently was with a gun-boat protecting the waters of the Government on Lake Erie. He mustered out of service at Columbus July 13, 1865, returned home and spent the next few years in roaming about in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin, coming to Harrison County, Iowa, in 1870.

He was united in marriage March 3, 1872, to Angeline HANES, daughter of Andrew and Susan (MILLER) HANES, who were natives of Ohio. By this union seven children were born, six of whom still survive: Maud, born January 6, 1873; Albert J., born April 10, 1874, died February 2, 1880; Arthur Edwin, born February 23, 1876; Stella May, born November 14, 1878; Ella Sophia February 13, 1883; Phillip Claude, born April 23, 1885; and Charles Henry, born December 25, 1887.

Mr. and Mrs. FISHER are members f the Methodist Episcopal Church at Missouri Valley. Mr. FISHER belongs to Post No. 59, Grand Army of the Republic at Missouri Valley.

Politically, he is identified with the Republican party, having voted for Abraham Lincoln for President.

When our subject came to Harrison County, he first located on section 19, of St. John's Township, but sold out, rented one season and in 1872, purchased forty acres which is a part of his present place on section 20, where he has made valuable improvements including a good residence, and may outbuildings. He had added to his original land until he now owns one hundred and sixty acres, one hundred being under cultivation, while the remainder is in pasture and hay land.

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