BIO: Jesse O. FISHER, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 137-138. __________________________________________________________________ JESSE O. FISHER, Spruce Creek, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born January 15, 1815, in Fishing Creek valley, York county, Pa. He is a son of Godfrey and Abigail (Orrin) Fisher. David Fisher, his grandfather, emigrated from Germany to this country after his marriage, and was among the earliest settlers of York county, where he took up a large tract of land. This was long before the Revolutionary war. He died in York county; his wife survived him, and attained the age of ninety- nine. She was married the second time to A. Huffstedt. Godfrey Fisher was born in York county, about 1789. His home was always in that county, where he grew up with but few educational opportunities, but with a practical knowledge of agricultural work. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey Fisher were: Polly, wife of Henry May, both deceased; Catherine, wife of John Brinser, both deceased; Jesse O.; George, resides near Middletown, Dauphin county, Abraham, settled below Gettysburg, Pa., and died there; and Jackson, of Decatur, Ill. Godfrey Fisher died in York county in 1824. Mrs. Fisher afterwards went with her son, Jackson, to Decatur, Ill., where she also died at the age of seventy-four. His father's death occurring when Jesse O. Fisher was but nine years old, he had only limited advantages in the way of education, as he was obliged to go to work early in life. He however attended the subscription schools for some time, but being placed with an uncle of his, who was a farmer, to receive his board and clothing for his services, he ran away, and went to his cousin, John Steele, for whom he worked, receiving for the first two months $2.50 per month. In the next summer, his wages were advanced to $5 per month. He continued working for Mr. Steele for nearly three years. He then engaged with Samuel Prowl to work during the winters in his grist mill, and during the summers on the farm. This engagement lasted for two winters, and the Mr. Fisher, at eighteen years of age, went to learn shoemaking for David Fisher, in Fishing Creek valley. After an apprenticeship of a year and a half, he did journey work for one winter with John Orrin at Lewisberry, York county. In the spring of 1836, Mr. Fisher came to Huntingdon county with Martin Miller. He afterwards hired out as farm hand, with Benjamin Barre, in what is now Blair township, Blair county. He worked for Mr. Barre for a year at $10 per month, and managed to save nearly all of his wages. During one summer he worked on the farm of Mark Musselman, and in the winter went out among farmers with a threshing machine. In December, 1837, Jesse O. Fisher was married to Mary, daughter of John and Sarah (Bird) McMillan. Their wedding journey was a trip on horseback to the home of Mr. Fisher's mother in Fishing Creek valley. They were three days on the way. After a stay of three weeks, gaily spent in visiting and receiving the congratulations of friends and relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Fisher mounted their horses and returned as they had come. During that winter Mr. Fisher was engaged in threshing. In the spring the young couple went to housekeeping, renting for the first year a small farm belonging to Michael Wallace. Their next home was Philip Breidenbaugh's farm, which they rented for six years; then Colonel Dysart's. when they had occupied the latter place for five years the Colonel died, after which Mr. Fisher farmed four years for Miss Annie Dysart, the Colonel's daughter. He then bought Mr. Bell's farm of 200 acres in Tyrone township, Blair county. After cultivating this farm for four years, Mr. Fisher was seized with the "western fever," so he sold his land, and went to Decatur, Ill., to which place his mother and brother had removed. But after reaching the place and looking around, he found he could not be satisfied to make his home there, so he returned to Pennsylvania, and bought a farm near Union Furnace, for which he paid $6,000. This place he cultivated for four years, after which he sold it for $10,000, and bought his present home, on Eden Hill. It now belongs to his sons, John and Samuel. It contains 230 acres, and is situated in that part of Franklin township now included in Spruce Creek. Mr. Fisher farmed this place for thirty years, and has been one of the most successful farmers in this part of the county. Mrs. Mary (McMillan) Fisher died in 1889, and is buried at Arch Spring cemetery, in Blair county. Her children are: Sarah, who died at two years of age; George, died when two and a half years old; Anna Mary (Mrs. Charles Ramsey), Denver, Col; Harriet (Mrs. John Stryker), Garnet, Kas.; Abbie, first married to James Law, now the wife of Daniel Shultz, of Spruce Creek; Ercilla (Mrs. Thomas Shultz), Selina, Kas.; John, married Hannah Gansemore, of Warriors Mark township, they reside on the homestead; Jesse, married Alma Wait, went to Kansas and resided there for several years, but now reside at Spruce Creek; Jennie (Mrs. Jonas Lowder), Porter township; Samuel, married Ada Roseberry, farms the homestead; and Ellen (Mrs. Elmer Henderson), of Tyrone township, Blair county. On June 29, 1891, Jesse O. Fisher was married again, to Clara Johnson. They have one child, named Marion. Mrs. Fisher is the daughter of Nicodemus and Catherine (Grey) Johnson. In August, 1894, Mr. and Mrs. Fisher made a trip to the west, in order to visit his children and grandchildren. They went first to Selina, Kas.; thence to Denver, Col., from which point Mr. Fisher made an excursion of 190 miles up the Rockies to Silver Plume station. During this journey, they visited St. Louis, Kansas City, Pueblo and Colorado Springs, and on the return trip stopped off to visit children at Garnet, Kas., and friends at Danforth, Mo. Notwithstanding Mr. Fisher's advanced age, he is a first-class traveler; he did not suffer in the least from fatigue, but on the contrary, never felt better in his life. Invigorated, rather than exhausted, by a life of steady and diligent work, industry and sobriety have preserved Mr. Fisher's constitution to a robust and enjoyable old age. He is a Republican, and has taken a very prominent part in politics; has served his township as supervisor for four terms, and also as school director. He is a member of the Arch Spring Presbyterian church, of which he was for several years an elder.