Sacramento County
Biographies
FREDERICK BARTLETT FANCHER
The migration of Frederick B. Fancher of Sacramento from the east towards the west is an
interesting one. One peculiarity of this big trek is that at every point
on the trail there was something eventful. He made his start in Orleans county, N. Y., his birthplace, in 1852, and his next place
of appearance is the state of Michigan, with the date along in 1865.
There he was educated, passing through the State Normal School at Ypisilanti. He was in Chicago in 1871, just before
the big fire, and was engaged in fire underwriting. He was kept
exceedingly busy for several years, as one in this occupation in that locality
would likely be. In 1881 he was in North Dakota, where he followed
farming. He not only handled his own farm but undertook the management of
several thousand acres of land for eastern parties. He organized and was
made the president of a strong local insurance company, and continued in that
office for six years. During the same period he was president of the
board of trustees of the North Dakota Hospital for the Insane. In1889 Mr. Fancher was
elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, was chosen president of
that body when it met and much credit is due its presiding officer for the excellent
constitution it gave North Dakota. In 1894 he was nominated by the
Republican State Convention for the office of Commissioner of Insurance, and
was elected and on the expiration of his term he was re-elected. But the
crowning honor of Mr. Fancher's Dakota political life
came when the State Republican Convention of that state in 1898 unanimously
nominated him for governor. He threw himself into the campaign with his
customary fervor and was elected to that high office with a large majority.
His administration was clean and the public interests were conserved during his
official term. He was renominated for the
office, and under such favorable auspices that he would have been re-elected,
if his health had not broken down. Chief Executive of one of the Dakotas
is not an easy job and Governor Fancher was not
physically equal to it. He declined to accept the renomination,
selected his successor, and retired from public life, after twenty years of
hard work in the upbuilding of the territory and
state.
Mr. Fancher's
next and last appearance was in Sacramento, where he is secretary and treasurer
of the American Cash Store. This was several years ago and since that
time he has persisted in his determination to remain out of politics. The
Lincoln-Roosevelt organization desired him to make the run for mayor of
Sacramento, but Mr. Fancher declined, and his private
business fully occupies his time and mind. The ex-governor of North
Dakota has other qualities besides those mentioned. He is considered the
premier toastmaster of the Capital, a fluent after-dinner speaker, and is
hailed where good-fellowship reigns. His response to the toast "The
Ladies," at the Commandery some years ago, is
still remembered.
Mr. Fancher
married, January 1, 1909, Miss Climena Buck of
Minneapolis, Minn. His Masonic affiliations are advanced and exceedingly
fraternal. He has taken the thirty-second degree, is Past Eminent
Commander of Wihaha Commandery,
K. T., of Jamestown, N. D., and is a member of Blue Lodge, Royal Arch and
Consistory of Scottish Rite.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 801-802. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.