- JACOB FISHER, deceased, long a resident of Plymouth Township,
was numbered among the
- pioneers of 1846. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born in
the town of Hanover, Luzerne County, Nov. 16, 1819, and was of
Swiss descent. His grandfather Rulff FISHER, was born in Switzerland
in 1724, but prior to the Revolutionary War he emigrated to America
and located in New Jersey, where Jacob FISHER, the father of
our subject, was born in 1771. Rulff FISHER died in Luzerne County,
Pa., April 9, 1809, at the age of eighty-five.
- The subject of this sketch was tenth in order of birth of
a family of fourteen children. He grew to
- manhood in his native State, and received his education in
the common schools. He was reared to farm life, and followed
that occupation through life. On the 7th day of November, 1844,
he was united in marriage with Miss Harriet INMAN, also a native
of Luzerne County, and two years later he came with his young
wife to Rock County, and commenced the life of a pioneer farmer.
But few improvements had been made at this time, almost the entire
county being it its primitive state. Entering eighty acres of
land and purchasing forty more, he at once commenced the development
of a farm. Success seemed to crown his efforts, and from time
to time he added to his possessions until he finally owned 730
acres, on which he erected good dwelling houses and barns, improving
the estate until it became one of the most valuable in town or
county.
- He was an energetic, enterprising man, whose success as an
agriculturist was due to his own efforts
- and industry, as he began life on the frontier in very humble
circumstances. As his wealth and possessions increased his business
operations extended. In the education and moral interests of
the community he was specially active. Though not a member of
any religious denomination, he contributed largely of his means
in support of churches. The Methodist Episcopal Church of Plymouth
and the one at Orfordville he assisted to a considerable extent.
He was a genial, social gentleman, whose presence was always
hailed with delight at social gatherings. In the breeding of
good stock he took especial pride, and was one of the first to
introduce pure bred Short-Horn Durham cattle in the county.
- Six children were born of their union, only three of whom
are now living. The first born, John
- Inman, was born Aug. 15, 1845, and died on June 20, 1846,
while Mr. and Mrs. FISHER were on their journey to Wisconsin.
Edward W., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, was the
second born. Then followed Hannah M., born July 12, 1851, now
the wife of E. J. OWEN; Jacob H., born Aug. 18, 1855, died April
27, 1856; Byron L., born June 18, 1860, died Feb. 27, 1862; E.
Ellsworth, born Oct. 24, 1864, is now residing with his mother
in Janesville.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 956.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|