Berkeley County, West Virginia          Biography of Harry M. FISHER

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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume II,
pg. 189


HARRY M. FISHER.  Representing a family that has been associated with
milling, mechanical trades and business in the Eastern Panhandle for
several generations, Harry M. Fisher is a successful jeweler both by
trade and business in the City of Martinsburg, his establishment on
South Queen Street being a place where all the popular tastes and
demands of the trade are amply provided for.

Mr. Fisher is a native of Martinsburg.  His grandfather, John Fisher,
for a number of years conducted a flour mill known as Tabbs Mill on
the Tuscarora Road, a mile west of Martinsburg.  His last years he
spent retired in Martinsburg.  He married Sally Chamberlain, who was
born in Middleway, Jefferson County, and she died at the age of 
seventy-four.  Their son, Noble Tabb Fisher, was born at Tabbs Mill
in 1858, and was educated in the public school in Martinsburg.  As a
youth he served an apprenticeship to learn the trade of plumber with
the firm of Fisher and Fisher, and later he engaged in business as a
house furnisher, and had reached a successful stage in his career
when he was stricken by death at the early age of thirty.  At the age
of twenty-two he married Emma Rose Couchman, a native of Martinsburg,
daughter of Henry M. Couchman, who was born near Flaggs Station in
Berkeley County, December 11, 1831, and granddaughter of Michael
Couchman, also a native of Berkeley County, where his people were
pioneers.  Michael Couchman was a farmer and died at the early age of
twenty-nine.  His widow, whose maiden name was Mary Small, also a
native of Berkeley County, survived him to the age of sixty-nine.
Henry M. Couchman served an apprenticeship as a cabinet maker with
William Wilen, but followed that occupation only a short time and
then entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company as
a carpenter.  He became a foreman in the carpenter's shops and 
continued forty-four years, until he was retired by the company on a
pension.  He died at the age of seventy-four.  His wife was Phoebe
Helfestay, who was born near the present site of Tablers Station and
died at the age of fifty-one.  There were five Couchman children, 
named Mary Susan, Emma Rose, Nannie Florence, Della and Charles.  
Mrs. Emma Rose Fisher after the death of her first husband married
James Barrick, of Martinsburg.  She had two sons by her first 
marriage, Arthur C. and Harry M.

Harry M. Fisher after finishing his education in the city schools in
Martinsburg served an apprenticeship at the jeweler's trade with
Frank Smurr, and later took a course in Philadelphia College of
horology.  He then started his independent career as a workman on the
bench in his mother's store, repairing watches and jewelry.  In 1912
he established a business of his own, and now carries an extensive
stock of all commodities represented in a first class jewelry store.

He married Miss Kate May League, who was born at Smithfield in 
Jefferson County, daughter of James J. League.  They have one son,
Noble James Fisher.  Mr. Fisher is affiliated with Equality Lodge
No. 44, F. and A.M., Lebanon Chapter, R.A.M., Palestine Commandery,
K.T., and Tuscarora Tribe of the Improved Order of Red Men.