Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-03-21
HON. DAVID FISHER.
THE OLDEST Ex-coNGRES3MAN IN
THE UNITED STATES.
"Reminiscences or u Man who Served His
state Many Years Ago Recalling
scenes in Grants Lilo Lincoln
LovMblc Man. q

COLUMBUS. o., March is. Hon. David
Fisher Is the Oldest ex-congressman in the
United States being In the ninety first year
of his age Mr. Fisher served ia tho war Of
1919, aud soon after married, taking his
bride to a small house one mile from the
cabin in which Gen. Grant was born. He
loves to dwell on the life Of Gen. Grant,
whose birth no remembers. He tells OF
dancing with the generals mother when she
was Miss Hannah Simpson, and before
Jesse r. Grant had courted and welded her.
The old commoner was q warm personal
friend Of old Tom Corwin, and stumpod the
state during the hard cider campaign In 1640,
at which time he was wing. In 1886 be waS
elected to the thirtieth congress, serving ono
term and refusing q denomination. The Ia
mented Lincoln was member Of the same
congress, and the two became fast friends,
rooming together for some time In Z board
ing-houss, where there were formed relations
that were only dissolved by Lncoln's death
OF Lincolns character he says: He was
the most lovabls public man ever met, and,
like me, did not return to congress, but, uu-
like me- q few years after became the great
est man Of the age and the savior OF our
union. ! strongly advocated his nominar
ton for the presidency 1t The
Chicago convention, and bis winning
tho prise thsre was perhaps the frst stsp
toward the regeneration OF our land.
Before the war, while travelling In the west,
Ispent three days at his house in Springfield,
and one evening, remarking that had mover
received the congressional dictionary for
which had subscribed and paid, Mr.. Lincoln
said: Take one Of mine; have two, and
you will &c, Fisher, that 1t speaks better a
you than it does Of me- - In answer TO A
question relative to the death Of ex-PresilenN
John Quincy Adams, the old commoner ~.
piled, with evident emotion: adams WAS,
next to Mr.. Lincoln, the grandest man lover
met His seat In the house was directly op.
posite mine, only narrow aisle separating
our desks. The ex-president was very old,
touch OF paralysis. One day, just before
washington's birthday, Id ls4s, Mr..
Adams half rose up from his seat, Gud
suddenly put his hand to his head
whereupon 1rose up from my desk and caught
him in my arms just as he was sinking. The
house was in an uproar, but in an instant tho
word passed around that Adams was dying,
and Immediately members came TO my aid,
and we carried the fallen statesman into thu
speakers room, where, three days laler, tbs
mortal spirit Of tho old man eloquent had
gone to its Maker He never spoke after
falling into my arms, save that historical
ejaculation uttered just previous to his hnnl
dissolution. Mr.. Fisher was identified with
the Hon Salmon p, Chase in the organixn
ton of the republican party. He now re
sides with married daughter, whose honif
is a most beautiful one and not i've pailcs
from the place where he took his bride 81
many years ago. In form he is stately and
impressive, but has been blind for twenty
years Speaking OF social life in Washing
ton, he says the finest entertainment he even
attended was Senator Benton's party TO his
son-inlaw, Gen. Fremont, on his return from
the Mexican war;