Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-07-13
FROM the salisbury Waterman.
. FTOEl tIle SaIkpuTY WHlCIuIaH
EXTRACT FROM A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF
HON CuARTFS FISHER

Charles Fisher was born in Rowan county, |
on the goth October, 1888 His father reno.
we'd from Shenandoah county, Virginia, to
Rowan county, before the Revolution, and
was a sturdy Republican in 1879, and served
in the war as militia officer.
His education was conducted under the care
OF the Rev DR. John Robinson, in Cabarrus
county, anda finished by the Rev. DR.. Nc
Pheeters, of Raleigh. 1t never extended be-
yond this.
He married in April. 1914, Christina Beard,
daughter of Lewis Beard, OF Salisbury, by
whom be had several children, three Of whom
survive; son and two daughters. His wife
died last June. on her return from Florida.
He studied the Law, and obtained license
to practice; but such was the demand made
on his time by other pursuits, he never prac-
ticed it to any extent. Doubtless, had his ex-
elusive attention been devoted 10 the profess
sion, from his ready tact, his strong and COM
prehensive reason, and laborions research, he
would have attained the highest eminence
Fortune hal marked out for him another
career, to which his elementary knowledge OF
tine law was an important aid and here he
shone conspicuous.
His first appearance in public life was in
1918, as Senator in the State Legislature,
from Rowan. In 1872 on the death of the
| Hon George Mumford, he was elected as a
member of the House OF Representatives in
| Congress. by majority of 305 votes over DR.
w Jones In 1920, he was again reelected
10 Congress, for full term, BY large majo-
/ rity, over Hon John Long. After serving
! throughout this Congress, he retired from the
tolls and fatigues of its services, to attend to
the welfare and happiness of his young and
rising family. But the people did not allow
him 10 remain entirely abstracted from their
service. In 1921. he was elected member Of
| the House of Commons from Rowan county.
From this time TO 1886 he served in the Honse
o: Commons, almost continuously, as mem
Der either from the county of Rowan or the
borough of Salisbury; a long and unusual
period of public service. In 1922, he was
chosen Speaker of the House of Commons
Those who served with him, (among whom
was the writer of this,) recolect, with great
satisfaction, the dignity and ease with which
he presided over the deliberations Of the House,
) composed of such men as CASTOR, Nash, Hen
ry, EccIes, Hill. Bragg, and others.
The readiness with which he perceived, and
the Tromptness with which he decided all par
iamentary questions, his urbaniy and impair
) TALLY, elected universal appreciation. In
1885, he, with the late Hon John Giles, was
a delegate from Rowan in the Convention
r called to amend the Constitution OF the State
5 This was an important occasion. This wa;
the first Convention that had set in the State
5 after her independence had been achieved
Important questions had arisen, conflicting in.
! terests were 10 be recolleced, and great prin-
ciples discussed, The people felt this, and
sent their ablest men, such as Nathaniel Ma
con, VIM. CASTOR, John Branch, ]. ]. Daniel
D. L. Swain, Richard Dobbs Spaight, Jesse
Speight, Samuel Carson, Weldon n. Edwards
and others. to this Convention. There MIR
Fishers industry, talents, and requirements
r body show that he took most active part il
: lis proceedings. His views on the freedom O
r suffrage, religious federation, and popu!a
rights, were liberal and statesmanIike. FL
e was one of the committee by whom the pres
= ent Constitution, as il now exists, was draft
: ed, and was one of the most useful member
b of the Convention.
Il In 1889, he was again brought forward a
: candidate for Congress This campaign will
q be long remembered. His principles and hi
e party were in large minority. The opposi
r ton was active. and lis candidate (Dr Pleas
ant Henderson, was talented and popular
e Mr.. Fisher was elected by a majority of 10;
votes. His majority of 800 votes at Salisbu
y ry, among his neighbors and daily associates
$ proved their appreciation of his worth as
y man and as a friend.
= After serving through this Congress he re
Il tired, to give his undivided attention to hi
t private concerns, which, from his constan
d and unremitting Iabors in public life, deman
5 ded all his energy and talents. Then he dis
played the same qualities in private as he ha
I in public life, and it was soon manifesto il
+ his success. But ii was not his destiny to b
$ allowed by the people 10 remain in retirement
t In 1916, while absent from the State, he wa
Il nominated by District Convention of tn
Democratic party as candidate for Congress
in the district then represented by Hon D. NJ
Barringer. He refused, at first, to allow hi
name to be used but finally he consented
e much against bis wishes, interests. and privat
\ matters He only lost his election BIZ RI vote
in a distrcl which was supposed to contain
, an Overwhelming majority against him
AT various times he was balloted for in tn
: Legislature as Senator in Congress. At on
: time, Q829) only few Votes would hav
elected him. In 1916. he was the unanmou
i choice of his party in the State for Governor
t He was compelled 10 decline it, on account O
It his private affairs. He wrote letter to tn
S Convention. he being absent from the State
0 declining for the reason stated, and the Hon
G. W. Caldwell was nominated. He also de
clined on account of H. health and private af
fairs, and Mr.. Shepard, Uames B. } was cho
sen by the central committee.
Deeply imbued with the principles OF re
publicanism. Mr.. Fisher was the strong advo
u cate of the rights of the people, against thu
a entertainments of privileges AM power
t. Well versed in The history and theory of on
. Constitution he was the firm, undauntel AM
unyjelding friend of State Rights against Fed
: eral entertainments and usurpations. Til
y last effort he ever made in public, that tn
l. writer of this recollects, was last fall on III
invitation of the citizens of Catawba County
when he addressed them with the Hon H
w. Conner. Burton Craige. Esq , and others
on the true principles (as he conceived,) o
the government
1t wonld swell this sketch far beyond tn
proper limits, 10 discuss, or even alIude to IA
various public measures that be originated
advocated among the people, in the Legisla
tuFe, or IN Congress or 10 make extracts from
his various reports, or copy his various speech
es. These belong 10 some other pen Whel
some future Piutarch shall endeavor to presen
+; TO North Carolina the names, services, and la
bors OF her sons, he can find ample material
on the records of the State and nation, 10 d.
justice TO hlr. Fishers reputation and talents
ii the limits of this sketch would allow, sucl
discurtiOnS and extracts would be imnrope