Bio of FISKE, Douglas A. (b.1867), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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DOUGLAS A. FISKE - Vol III, pg 535-537
Douglas A. Fiske was born in the town of Coldwater, State of Michigan, the 2d
day of February, 1867. His parents were Smith Wilbur Fiske and Mary (Taft)
Fiske, who were married in 1863, soon after the commencement of the Civil war.
Under the call of Abraham Lincoln for ninety-day troops Captain Fiske entered
the service May 1, 1861, as a private and reenlisted July 28, 1861, with the
rank of first lieutenant of the Nineteenth Michigan Infantry-later transferred
to the Ninth Michigan Cavalry and was in command of his company in a sharp and
successful fight with the Confederate General Morgan, at Salineville, Ohio. In
this battle he was seriously wounded and permanently disabled, compelling his
retirement from the service. He was later appointed postmaster and afterward
went into business in Coldwater, Michigan, and Sherman, Texas, finally moving to
Minneapolis with his family in 1885. There were three sons: The eldest, Harry
Taft Fiske, was born February 14, 1865; Douglas A. Fiske, was born February 2,
1867; and Wilbur C. Fiske was born June 16, 1871.
Douglas A. Fiske attended the schools at Coldwater and completed there the
junior year in the high school. He was fond of all sports and had a special
adaptation for business, so that he had employment during vacations in various
places of business in that town. In 1885 he came with his parents to Minneapolis
and in September of that year entered the senior class of the Central high
school, where he graduated in 1886, as salutatorian of the class. He entered the
University of "Minnesota in the fall of 1886 and completed his freshman year.
On account of ill health he went to California in the summer of 1887, as
secretary to Mr. Wm. H. Bailey, with offices in San Francisco. He subsequently
became associated with Mr. Bailey in business and purchased the Olinda Range of
five thousand acres, near Anahine, California, and platted and built up the
small town of Carlton. In August, 1888, the real estate boom having subsided, he
returned to Minneapolis and again entered the University of Minnesota and
completed his sophomore year. He then became office manager and bookkeeper for
the leading real estate firm of Minneapolis-Anderson-Douglas & Co. and secured
valuable experience in handling and promotion of real estate transactions and in
general business methods. While working for this firm he matriculated in the
night law school at the University of Minnesota, was graduated, and was admitted
to the bar in 1891.
On September 22, 1891, Douglas A. Fiske married Alice V. Torrance, daughter of
Judge and Mrs. Eli Torrance of Minneapolis. Two children were born to them:
Torrance Fiske, born September 30, 1893; and Lois Fiske, born April 20, 1895.
Lois Fiske was married on August 5, 1919, to Melville J. Peppard; and Torrance
Fiske, was married December 27, 1921, to Claribel Eustice.
Immediately after being admitted to the bar Mr. Fiske opened an office for the
practice of law, and so continued until 1914, the last eight years of which time
he was associated with Norton M. Cross, under the firm name of Fiske & Cross. At
the same time, in addition to the practice of law, he made various investments
in real estate in the city of Minneapolis and developed several business
properties.
On his return from a European trip in 1912 he was elected to the presidency of
the Minneapolis Civic & Commerce Association and was reelected to that office in
the fall of 1913, and gave all of his time for the full two years to the work of
the association. During this period he was identified with many of the most
important public activities in the city. He was chairman of the Citizens
committee that prepared the book entitled, "Minneapolis the Financial Center and
Gateway of the Northwest," for presentation to the United States government for
the purpose of securing the location of one of the Federal Reserve Banks in
Minneapolis, which resulted successfully. He also was instrumental in having
legislation passed in congress extending the head of navigation to Minneapolis,
securing an appropriation for the development, of an eight foot channel from St.
Paul to Minneapolis, and also assisted in getting legislation through the state
legislature for a bond issue in order that Minneapolis might build river
terminals. During this period Mr. Fiske was invited to various cities in the
west to address commercial organizations on civic work and was also invited to
address the Chamber of Commerce of the United States on the same subject at
Washington.
After the expiration of his term of office as president of the Civic & Commerce
Association, in November, 1914, Mr. Fiske was elected president of the
Northwestern Terminal Company of Minneapolis and developed for the city of
Minneapolis a modern industrial district and terminal. Over two million and a
half dollars were expended on the project and it has been said by the best
authorities in this country that it is the most perfect industrial district and
terminal in this country. At a dinner at the Minneapolis Club in 1919, there was
raised, in fifty-five minutes, over a million dollars for the project, after a
statement had been made by Mr. Fiske outlining the plan and purpose for which
this money was to be used. While this industrial district and terminal is still
in its infancy, it is one of the show places of Minneapolis, and is destined to
exert a powerful influence on the future industrial growth of the city. During
the past ten years Mr. Fiske has been national coun­selor for Minnesota of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United States, and has been active in the work of the
National Chamber during that time, serving as di­rector of the Chamber for a
period and as member of the transportation and inland waterways committee. On
the organization of the Wells-Dickey Trust Company in 1915, Mr. Fiske became a
director and vice president and has held those posi­tions ever since. He is also
president of Minneapolis Morris Plan Company, an industrial bank, and has been
since its formation in 1918.
Mr. Fiske was active and successful in the raising of money during the World war
and was vice president of the War Chest, which in one year raised an amount
exceeding three million dollars for relief work. He is also an officer in
various corporations and holding companies owning property in this city.
Mr. Fiske has always been a republican, has never sought nor held any political
office but has always been active in political affairs. He is a member of the
Minneapolis Club, Minikahda Club, Lafayette Club, Automobile Club, University
Club of St. Paul and the Six O'Clock Club. By inheritance he is a Presbyterian,
as were his mother, grandmother and great grandmother before him.
The Fiskes originally came from England and his mother's family came from
Puritan ancestry and descended from Peregrine White, the first white child born
in America. Mrs. Fiske was Mary Taft before her marriage, and a third cousin of
ex-President William Howard Taft.
To recount the bare facts of his life and activities conveys inadequately the
quality of the man who, starting out in Minneapolis a friendless youth, has
become a strong factor in the city's financial and commercial life. He is
disposed to min­imize his achievements, but that is, no doubt, because he does
large things easily, which is the best proof of a masterly mind. He arrived in
Minneapolis in 1885, with­out friends or acquaintances. He has fought his way up
without the aid of powerful friends, or groups, or organizations. The past
twelve years he has been interested in civic development of all kinds, both
material and cultural, and has been closely identified with the growth and
progress of the city for the last twenty years. He has always had great faith in
Minneapolis and the future of the Northwest and believes that a man who has
profited by the development of the community owes a debt to the community that
only his unselfish personal service can repay. And this belief has found a very
tangible and praiseworthy expression in his successful efforts to add to the
growth and prestige of Minneapolis.