Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-14
THE LATE JAMES X. FISHER.

M
THE LATE IANES X. FISHER.
mond IN IT'S earlier days. lie possessed
the heritage Of an honorable name 70
start with. Ills education was obt"ihcl
I'm the private schools Of Rlcnmonl' ana
many Of these were OF hish "i''I Hi
tla antc-bollum While he never had
COLLEGIATE training lc was always a
Thoughtful AMI stuiious man. ana lH!-I'
with propricty be ranked with Tie SELF
educated. st the early age OF JIG he was
nut To business He selected the ciuS
business as most congenial 10 bis "a les'
Tor "a season he was associated win
Hogckor. whose establishment VIII De
r.rarubarcd I'm its location near Iibcr
creek. So rapidly did he grow IN nlsi-
ness efficiency that while vet ohiy
youth o. formed a partnership WIN zen
nett & Beers, and they cohIuii'h u'.t'
"a retail and a wholesale business. rom
az fine older members of this finn having
died. Mr.. Fisher formed n parin 9rshlp
with ". Edmund r. Winston, ana th.ir
relations continued 20 tine time OF Mt
Nipston's death During his business
rplou with Mr.. Winston Mr. Fisher mar.
rial Miss Florence Mallory on the % OF
February, 1853.
SERVED THE CONFEDEi'ACf.
At the outbreak of the civil war Mt
Fisher gave up his business with a view
OF cnlistng I'm the Confederate service.
But he had already made reputation as
a practical chemist, and not long after
his enlistment hc was appointed by the
Confederate government 10 manufacture
medical stores for the army. lie was
sent TO Charlotte. y. c., and r"malncI
there until tn. close of the conflict Near
the end Of the war there was an tN-
plosion i'm his laboratory which seriously
impcrlled his life. lie was quite severely
injured and as a result he was per-
uanenuy disabled in his left hand.
In August 1855. Mr. Fisher resumed
business I'm Richmond, having drug
store. first on Third street between Grace
and Franklin. and afterwards at the
corner % Second and Canal streets From
his youth Mr.: Fisher took the livel!est IN
torest IN public affairs. and his zeal ana
rtactical Judgment often secured for him
the notice and respect Of his associates
While at the corner Of Canal and Second
gtrects' he was made judge Of that dis
trict. ana the precinct was called FISHERS
vile !n his honor. 1t was not long amer
his return from North Carolina That ne
was chosen secretary Of the Conservative
state Central Committee. and from that
fine he became q striking figure IN the
political movements Of Virginia.
HIS MARROW ESCAPE.
At the time Of the falling in Of the
courtroom Of The Capitol Mr.. Fisher had
p most extraordinary escape. The cole
brated case OF Ellyson and Cahoon was
on trial. and the most intense interest
was felt I'm the result. The courtroom
was throngcd with spectators. AIR. Fisher
shared in :he popular curiosity. ana was
impatient to witness the trial. lut he had
some matter Of business with Hon Gil
bert Walker then Governor OF Virginia,
and went 10 his Office TO see him. Much
to his regret re was detained In the
Governors office longer than he had eN-
pccted. but finally the Governor took his
arm ana they started 20 the scene or the
trial. As ne stepped over che Sill or the
door to the courtroom the floor gave way
and be and the Governor. by moments
time. escaped froin the terrible disaster
lie felt that 1t was wonderful deliver
ance
In 1873 Mr.. Fisher was given an ap-
pointment IN the post-oiiice Of the House
Of Representatives, at Washington ana
not long after ne took MS family 70 reside
in that city. He was twice selected as
Assistant Librarian Of the House % Rep
resentativcs. a position which he held at
the time Of his death.
ALWAYS \ ViEGINIAN.
Eut While a resident OF Washington
Mr. Fisher never ceased 10 be citizen
of Ni-einia. lie cherished Richmond ~
home and always came here TO vote.
For his native state He felt n lofty and
unfelgnc1 devotion. Virginia was en-
shrincd in his soul, and it was the pride
of his life TO serve her. Not that he was
narrow or sectional IN his spirit. but
from his childhood a great affection for
his native State had been kindled in his
heart At times his wife would tell him
that she believed that he would finally
kin himself in his c1gcmess 10 serve
Virginia. TO this gentle upbralding his
invariable reply was: II could not die
for a better cause" Dear Old Virginia,
YOU never lost truer son than when
James r. Fisher went out OF the world.
1t is hardly necessary TO say that Mr.
Fisher was a Democrat From his stand
point he could not have been anything
Else for he stood with his own people
IN their effort TO restore the OLD Dominion
TO her former glory. lie was what might
be called a working member OF his
party lie was never unwilling 10 do
any honorable part 10 promote the sue
cess Of the Democratic ticket. Ills de-
vouon 10 his political party could not
he weakened by disaster. lie knew what
II was TO be defeated and yet TO be true
FOR several terms in later years he acted
rs secretary Of the Executive Committee
Of the Democratic party OF Virginia, and
his efficiency in that position was uni
versally conceded.
HIS FAITHFUL SERVICE.
Perhaps his strongest and most salts
T.ffa fn "a. ~ 10,
the following letter. which sufficiently ex-
plains Itself:
RICHMOND. VA. Nov. Q. 1893.
James Il. Fisher. Esq.
Ny Dear Mr.. Flsher,-I cannot let the
campaign OF 1898 pass into history with
out expressing TO you my profound graft
tude for all your sympathy end
help. No man in Virginia did more TO
bring about the glorious result than your
self Your zeal never tagged and your
work was most valuable. / felt that
must tell you how much | appreciated
all that you had done. No man could
have been more faithful and no one rem
dered more noble service than did James
X. Fisher. The Democrats OF Virginia
ought 10 be as profoundly grateful to
you as Is.
Yours very sincerely.
J. TAYLOR ELLYSON.
Mir. Fisher was utterly worn out by
this last campaign. and IL IS thought that
the sickness which brought him 10 his
grave really commenced during the time
OF this arduous labor on his part so
that really 1t looks as II he actually did
die for Virginia. Coming 10 him, as Mr..
Ellyson's letter did In his last sickness.
II was a source OF much satisfaction.
HIS LOFTY CHARACTER.
The character OF Mr. Fisher was lofty
and honorable. In every relation OF life
he was true and faithful. His domestic
life was eminently happy. He had large
household OF children and he was ever
unselfsh IN his efforts 10 provide for
their comfort and education. Being OF