The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-09-18
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
LIFE OF ABNER AMEs FISHER, ESQ


Life In California Perils IN Central Amer
ica--A Long and Busy Life.
To the old settlers Of La Sale county Alb
uer Ames Fisher needs no introduction. The
rising generation should know him. how.
ever, as model of manly qualities. lie
is hale hearty and solid old gentleman,
with . perfectly clear head, an excellent
memory, and is a marvel Of energy and vim,
even not considering that on the 23d day Of
July last he passed the etghty:f(M year of
his age. There are men on our streets, seen
every day, aged GO or 70 years, that look
far older then he, and, in fact, SO far as their
usefulness is considered, measuring them by
their physical strength and mental activity,
actually are further along in life's journey
than the genial subject of this sketch.
Abner Ames Fishers father was a cousin
Of the celebrated Fisher Ames, one Of the
early congressman, and distinguished one,
from Massachusetts. Mr. Fishers ancestors
were of genuine old New England stock, and
bore flint lock muskets and fought among
the stoney hills of Vermont and Massachu-
sets and other parts Of that region, to win
liberty for themselves and their posterity
from British tyranny.
Mr. Fisher was born at Mddleburry, w.,
in 1901, July 23d. His father, Abner Fish.
er, died when the future Esquire Fisher was
a small boy. His mother was Thankful
Scott one Of those kind and amiable women
who have made the New World famous as
the home Of pure minded and brave women,
Mothers in Israel" who with their own
fair hands bucklcd swords upon their hus.
bands and sons and sent them forth to fight
for freedom, while they remained at home to
till the soil and pray for the cause of their
country and the safety Of those they loved.
At the death Of their father, Abner A. and
his four brothers were sent to New York
city, where they had relatives and where
they received the benefits of the common
school education of the time, topped off
with a term or so at an academy. Abner
was the third Of five brothers. and is now the
only surviving member Of the entire family.
He has experienced more hardships than all
the others put together.
On arriving at manhood's estate, young
E;.bar rnaI IN Var,,o-, AL IN, ,bo opl
day Of August, 1921, was united in marriage
with Miss Lavina Smith. The result of this
union was Eve children: George S, now liv-
ing in Washington, d. C; Jennette, wife of
Mr.. G. L, Thompson. Of this city; Susan, the
widow Of Perry Smith who died here few
years ago; Charles, in Michigan and Mrs
DR.. Hobert, who died recently. Mrs. A. A.
Fisher diedJanuary %, 1882, having lived to
see the sixtieth anniversary of her marriage
with her worthy husband. On this occasion,
August %, 1881. they gave fine reception
to large number Of the old pioneer citizens
Of Ottawa, at their comfortable home on the
west side.
After Mr.. aud Mrs. Fishers wedding, in
Vermont in 1921, they moved to Boston,
lived there four years and then went to
Rochester, n. Y. During this time up to
1910 all their children were born. la that
year, attracted by the growing fame Of the
Sucker state" Mr.. Fisher brought his fam
lily to Ottawa, where he has made his per.
msnent home.
In lSi9, catching the gold fever, in com
mon with some thousands Of others, he lef, |
for California, going to New York, and thence
by ship to Chagres, on the isthmus ofPanama.
Here the inhospitable climate, bad water,
malaria and other combinations Of disease |
breeding elements made him quite sick and |
he at first thought Of laying up to recuperate,
but finding himself growing worse, he sum.
moned up his courage, brought his iron will |
into action, and departed up the Chagres riv. |
er in a small open boat, leaving behind Mr. |
Josiah Pope, who had accompanied him from
Ottawa, and who had obtained work In ship |
yard at Chagres. Pushing on in his toilsome
journey, accompanied by other gold hunters
from "the states as the whole Union outside |
of California was then called, they reached
the mountains 60 or 20 miles from their start