Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08

>N
book.keeper. In that capacity and as
wheat-buyer he served the concerns OF
Philip Haxail Il Co., II. b. Haxall Il Co..
Haxall Brothers d Co., Haxall BRO
Tiers, and Haxall & Co.,. respectively,
| until 1858. save during two short intervals,
when he operated q mill IN Albemarle
county and was partner of the late 4. w.
| Tompkins in the grocery business.
HIS FIRST PARTNERSHIP.
In 1858. however, the late Lewis ID. Cren-
shaw built the Crenshaw Mills Just above
! the Tredegar Works, and Mr.. Fisher be-
| came a partner in that business, which was
| conducted under the frm-name of Cren-
| shaw az Fisher. In the summer of 1855
the four-milling business of the Haxalls
and Crensaw Il Fisher was consoli-
| dated under the frm-name of Hax-
all. Crenshaw a. Co., the partners being
| r.. b. Haxall. Lewis ID. Crenshaw, George
| ID. Fisher, and L. b. Grundy: The two
mills were operated as tiour-mllls Tor ABOUT
| a wear thereafter. when the Touring busl-
ness was transferred entirely TO the Haxall
| Mill, and the Crenshaw Mill became the
| CreIshaw Woollen-Mil where during the
war all the cloth for the uniforms OF the
officers of the Confederate army was made.
Mr.. Fisher continued as partner In the
firm of Haxall, Crenshaw d Co. until 1868.
| IN THE COMMISSION BUSINESS.
| After the war Mr.. Fisher entered the
| commission business. the house being
| Garrett. Williams d Fisher and subse-
| ouently Williams & Fisher, and when the
| affairs of that concern were wound up &C
cepted O position as an individual book
keeper in the State Bank. This latter he
| held until the work became too heavy for
one of his advanced years, when he re-
signed. Thereafter he engaged In no ac-
| tive business pursuit except that during
| the terms of Office of his son. Edward III.
Fisher, and w. ID. Chesterman as secre-
| tarv of the Chamber of Commerce and
mill his last sickness he did the collecting
of memberships fees for that body.
HIS DEVOTION TO THE CoNFEDERAcY.
AT the breaking out of the war Mr..
| Fisher was comparatively rich man. but
an earnest devotion to the Confederate
cause aud deep conviction of its justice
| led him to sell all of his possessions save O
| few State securities and invest the pro-
ceeds in Confederate bonds. He was
| too old to enter the service HIM
| self but he gave his two sons to
| it. and whatever else he could do 70 aid the
| Confederacy he did heart and soul. When
| Rev. DIR. Hoge went to England and sue
| ceeded IN running large number of Bibles
| through the blockade MIR. Fisher obtained
| from the Confederate authorities permls-
sion TO 90 to Wilmington. N. O.. and take
charge of the precious freight, and subse-
ouently individually distributed many OF
| the volumes among the soldiers IN the
field.
HIS RELIGIOUS LIFE.
Mr. Fishers religious life dated back
almost TO his childhood and Began in the
| old Pineapple church. He had, however,
been connected with the Monumental
church for over half a century. His name
appears as one of its communicates prior 10
1871. and he loved every stone in the build
ing. For years he had been treasurer OF
the church, senior warden, and lay read
er, and in 1880 he wrote and published q
history of the Monumental church. which
was indeed labor of love.
HIS PERSONAL APPEARANCE AND MANNERS.
Such is a brief sketch of Mr.. George D.
Fishers life-a life that was most I'm.
eventful, but one than which none ever
embodied an example more worthy OF
emulation or left better impression. His
tall, thin form, his sweet, benignant
smile, and his gentle voice were
familiar TO almost every man, woman
and child in the community As il
his unosteDtatious way he walked In and
out among the people, unknown TO hin
and unsuspected by him no was crowned
at every step with the comment; There
goes one of the purest men that evel
lived" Mr. Fisher was q man utterly
without guile, and spoke the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth
but with charity that never Of
Tended. To the last he was
thoughtful of Others. Several days age, he
| \ &C all he oh, al That
should his dissolution take place IN the
night he would not disturb him, and on
Monday, though he could not speak above
a whisper, he beckoned one of his daugh
ters-in-law to him and gave her most mi
mute directions about making out
checks for those to whom monthly sum:
were due from the Monumental church
His devotion To Virginia was touchingly
poetic. Although no knew he was on the
verge of the grave he took the deepest IN
terest in the struggle over the force bill
Every evening during its progress he would
make one of his sons give him briel
SYNOPSIS of the situation In Washington
and when finally informed that the measure
was practically defeated the intelligence
afforded him intense satisfaction.
MIR. Fisher was twice married. His first
wife was Miss Higginbotham and his So
cond Miss Haxall. lie leaves four chill
dren-Robert II. and Edward II. Fisher
and Mrs. Camp and Mrs. Peyton Randolph
All OF his children. save Mrs. Randolph,
and his daughters-in-law, and Rev. DR.
Newton were with him when he died.
THE CAUSE OF DEATH.
Some time ago Mr.. Fisher had severe
ATTACH OF pneumonia, the effects of which
rendered his stomach incapable of assimi
lating food. Recently all nourishment haC
become distasteful to him, and he gradu.
ally wasted away, growing weaker day by
day. His mental faculties. however, never
tagged.
When the silver chord was loosened and
the golden bowl broken there was no sign
OF pain. The fame that had burned 50
brightly and with such pure and steady
radiance for period beyond that usually
allotted TO man went slowly out, but its
rays will linger all along the way he trod
and by them the lessons OF well-rounded
Christian life will be read.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.
The funeral will take place from the
Monumental church at 8 O'Clock tomorrow
afternoon aud the following gentlemen
will be requested to act as pall-bearers
Active TALL of whom are members OF the
Monumental yestry)---pr. II. 4. Robinson,
Thomas Potts, H. p. Edmunds, Julien
Skelscn. II. H. Meade, Luke Harvey. A.
w. Hsrman, Jr A. u. Ysrbrough, and b.
aosorssy~c olorsl u. D. wAinonb. p.