Northumberland-Somerset County PA Archives Biographies.....Fischer, William E. 1849 - living in 1899 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 2, 2005, 5:26 pm Author: Biographical Publishing Co. REV. WILLIAM E. FISCHER, the esteemed and honored pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of Shamokin, Northumberland County, is a son of John Henry and Eliza (Gilbert) Fischer. He was born October 6, 1849, in Berlin, Somerset County, Pa., and received a practical education in the public schools of his native place. After teaching a couple of years in Somerset County he entered the preparatory department of the Pennsylvania College, from which he graduated in 1872. Having decided to fit himself for the ministry he entered the theological seminary, graduating in 1875. He at once took charge of a congregation at Center Hall, where he was so well liked by his parishioners that they retained him for eighteen years. September 14, 1893, our subject accepted the pastorate of Trinity Lutheran Church at Shamokin, where his labors are fully appreciated by his congregation. His labor in Shamokin has been fruitful of much good, both in his church and the community at large. Being a man of more than ordinary ability, of warm and generous heart, supplemented with deep convictions and Christian fervor, he is the friend of all. In times of trouble and deep distress he is with his people in heart and full sympathy; on joyful occasions no one adds more to the pleasant hour. He has made many changes and improvements in the church, having thoroughly remodeled the edifice. His popularity and successful management are shown in the fact that the membership of the church has been greatly increased, having now 654 members enrolled. Rev. Mr. Fischer also enjoys the distinction of having rare literary talent and has been a regular correspondent for two of the church papers of his denomination for the past seven years. He also has prepared a number of Children's Day services in music, and contributes many articles to the Lutheran Quarterly. Since his connection with the ministry he has served the church as delegate to the general synod about twelve times. His services are frequently sought to make addresses on public occasions, such as commencements, anniversaries, etc. In 1897 the Susquehanna University conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity. Our subject is one of a family of twelve children, many of whom have led remarkable careers and deserve a place in this sketch, as does also his father, a man of superior education and ability. John Henry Fischer, father of our subject, was a native of Germany, and was born at Hessen Cassel, on the River Lahn, in 1812. At the age of twenty he immigrated to America and first located near Berlin, Somerset County, Pa., and afterward moved to Berlin. He was a man of more than ordinary education and for years was a correspondent for a German paper published in Germany in the home of his boyhood. He was a shoemaker by trade and when not occupied at his bench he pursued his literary work. He was a close student and a careful reader, thereby acquiring much valuable information. Being a devout member of the Lutheran Church he took quite an active part in all church work. Elizabeth Gilbert became his wife; she also was born in 1812, and survived her husband twenty-one years, he having departed this life in 1872, while she lived until September n, 1893, having reached the advanced age of eighty-five years. Our subject and the following ; named are the most prominent of their numerous family: Henry, who was a graduate of the Millersville State Normal School, and afterward held the important and responsible office of county superintendent of schools of Bedford County, Pa.,—he discharged the duties of this office with rare ability for three terms and is now principal of the Seventeenth Ward schools of Pittsburg; John, who read law, published a paper for a number of years in Bedford County, Pa., now resides with a son, who is a very successful attorney at Altoona, Pa.,—he has been prominent in Bedford County politics and frequently mentioned for the legislature; Rev. A. H. Frank, who took a college course at the Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, after which he prepared himself for the ministry by taking a complete theological course at the Gettysburg Seminary,—he graduated in 1883, and since then has labored in the "vineyard of our Master," now being located at Easton, Pa.; Tobias, whom the goddess of Fortune guarded with a jealous arm, was a soldier in the Union Army and passed through the entire Civil War,—he was taken prisoner by the Rebels and carried by them to the famous Libby Prison, and to Salisbury, N. C., from which he escaped; Philip, a popular editor of an educational journal, resides in California, and has served as county superintendent of Alameda County, Cal., for three years. Our subject was united in marriage with J. Annie Philson, and their home has been made happy by the presence of three children: Marion L.; Ella P.; and William B. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District Published by Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899) This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/pafiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb