El
Dorado County
Biographies
JOHN P. FISHER
The fellow citizens of John P.
Fisher, taking cognizance of his ability and trustworthiness, called him to the
office of county clerk, auditor and recorder of El Dorado County, and in that
capacity he is now serving, his creditable course showing that the confidence
reposed in him was well merited.
Throughout his entire life he has resided in California and is deeply
interested in all that pertains to its advancement in lines that contribute to
the public good. Born in San Francisco,
on the 8th of August, 1863, he is a representative of one of the
pioneer families.
His father, John Fisher, came to the
Pacific coast in 1849, before the state was admitted into the Union. He was a native of Hamburg, Germany, and
acquired his education in the Fatherland.
Believing that he might better his condition in the new world, he sailed
from his native city on the brig Helene, landing at San Francisco, and in
August, 1849, he went to the mines at Gold Bluff, Trinity County. Subsequently he went to Yreka and operated in
the North mines, with excellent success, taking out about twenty-five thousand
dollars in gold dust. In 1853 he made a
trip to old Mexico, remaining in the land of Montezuma until the spring of
1854, when he returned to California, as he expected “broke” and barefoot! With others he had chartered a vessel to go
to Mexico, and they were robbed by a band of Apache Indians, barely escaping
with their lives. On again reaching
California Mr. Fisher went to Angel’s Camp; but high water caused him to leave
that place and he returned to San Francisco.
He had no money, but soon secured a government contract for hauling sand
and gravel to the fortifications at Fort Point and Alcatraz. Soon afterward he established a brick-yard
and built up a very extensive business at California City, continuing in that
industry until 1860, when he engaged in the shipping business at San Francisco. He built schooners and carried on general freighting,
with excellent success, receiving a patronage which necessitated the ownership
of a number of schooners. He is still
the proprietor of several vessels, but at present is not actively identified
with business interests, having put aside the more arduous cares of life to
enjoy a rest to which former toil and his advanced years justly entitle
him. He has passed the seventy-fifth
milestone on life’s journey, and in the evening of life receives the veneration
and respect of his fellow men by reason of an upright career.
John Fisher was united in marriage
to Miss Mary McConnell, a native of county Meath,
Ireland. Their only son and child is
John P. Fisher, the subject of this record.
The mother departed this life on the 9th of August, 1889, at
the age of sixty-three years.
John Peter Fisher was educated in
San Francisco, being graduated in the Lincoln grammar school with a class of
seventy-seven boys, and having completed the high school course in the class of
1879; and he also was graduated in a business college in 1882, and thus well
prepared by theoretical training, he put his knowledge to a practical test by
accepting a situation with the firm of Andrew Crawford & Company, where he
soon demonstrated his ability to master the problems of business life. He remained with that house for five years,
on the expiration of which period he removed to Greenwood, El Dorado
County. Fond of the outdoor life of the
woods and particularly attracted by the sports of the huntsman, he for some
time engaged in hunting and trapping. He
is a splendid marksman and secured much game, which brought good prices on the
market and proved a source of income until 1890. During that time he attained great celebrity
as a hunter and was considered excellent authority on subjects pertaining to
guns, ammunition and hunting, including a knowledge of
the haunts and habits of game. In the
winter of 1888-9 he was caught in the snow, which reached a depth of fifteen feet
on the summit of the Sierras, where he suffered such severe hardships during
that winter that he decided to give up the business. Subsequently he accepted a position in the
employ of the American Land & River Company as an accountant and cashier,
continuing with the corporation until 1895.
He was next appointed deputy assessor of El Dorado County and came to Placerville. Subsequently he received the appointment of
deputy sheriff and tax collector, and his services were so well performed that
he was made a candidate of the Republican Party for clerk, auditor and
recorder. He was elected by a majority
of two hundred in a Democratic county, a fact which indicates his personal ability
and the confidence reposed in him. In
these offices he is now serving and is a very popular and trustworthy official.
On the 4th of December,
1892, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Summerfield, a native
of El Dorado County and a daughter of J. M. Summerfield, who came to
Placerville, then Hangtown, on the 7th of August, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher now have one son, James
Wesley. Our subject holds membership in
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He
is a thoroughly capable public officer, a liberal and progressive citizen, and
for many years he has been known for his sterling qualities and his fearless
loyalty to his honest convictions.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 456-458. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden
Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies