FISHER Family History, Other Connections?
- Part I - 1st Generation: David Fisher1 (~1794-1868)
• and 2nd Generation: King David Fisher2 (1819-1871) - Part II - 3rd Generation: John Jackson Fisher3 (1843-1906)
- Part III - 4th Generation: Theodoric Leathe Fisher4 (1877-1911)
- Part IV - 5th Generation: Pearl Elizabeth (Fisher) Malugani5 (1901-1941)
- Part V - 6th Generation
- Possible Early Fisher Connnections: 1) Allied Families, 2) Y-DNA Matches
Suspected David FISHER Family Kin
I have taken two approaches to break through the "brick wall" of David Fisher's ancestry. The first has been to track allied families back through Pennsylvania to New Jersey. Another approach I started in April 2020 is to track the genealogies of Fisher Y-DNA matches from 1850 back.
Wading through census data we find three likely relations of David Fisher's that follow the same migration path. The first two are about 13 and 11 years older than David, and Martin is about 20 years younger, but not one of David's son:
- John Fisher, born about 1782 in New Jersey; married Ruth Conger
- George Fisher, born about January 1784 in New Jersey; married Mary (Cloke?)
- Martin Fisher, born about 1815 in Pennsylvania; married Elizabeth
- New Jersey (Woodbridge, Middlesex County) in the 1780's; New Jersey noted as the birth state of the elder John and George Fishers
- Pennsylvania (Washington County) in the 1790s through about 1815; Pennsylvania noted as the birth state of David Fisher and the younger Martin
- Washington County: George and Martin Fisher noted in East Bethlehem Township, 1810
- Greene County: Elias Conger in Morris Township, which borders Washington County, 1810
- Ohio by around 1819:
- Clinton County: David Fisher settled in Clark Township, 1819-1833
- Monroe County: John Fisher in Salem Township and father-in-law Elias Conger in Adams Township by 1820
- Hancock County, Indiana by 1833
- Illinois in the early 1840's
- Wapello and Jefferson counties in Iowa by 1850; the families span three adjacent areas:
- Ashland, Washington Township, Wapello County: David Fisher and Martin Fisher (likely the son of George Fisher)
- Batavia, Des Moines Township, Jefferson County: David's son King David Fisher and George Fisher, along with an apparent Cloke grandson
- Libertyville, Des Moines Township, Jefferson County: John Fisher, his wife Ruth (Conger), sons George and Elias, and some likely Cloke relations
John FISHERΔ (~1782-1852)
X. John FisherΔ was a likely relative of David Fisher, and about 13 years David's senior. He was born about 1782 in New Jersey and married Ruth Conger of the Conger family from Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey. They may have had as many as five children (three listed below and likely two additional daughters):
| X1. | George Fisher | 17 Dec 1811 | 25 Jan 1876 | (74) |
| X2. | Elias FisherΔ | 1812/1813 | 3 Jun 1878 | (65) |
| X3. | David Fisher | 1820 | -- | -- |
The 1820 census appears to locate the John Fisher family in Salem Township, Monroe County, Ohio along with his father-in-law, Elias Darby Conger in nearby Adams Township, Monroe County, Ohio.
Son Elias moved west to Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa, around 1841, and then John and Ruth followed around 1850, where they were enumerated next to Elias and his family.[Cen 1850, 1856] Two apparent granddaughters, Mary Ann Murphin/Meskin and Sarah J. Scott, lived with John and Ruth.[Census 1850]
John Fisher died on April 10, 1852, in Jefferson County, Iowa. He was about 70 years old.
After John's death, Mary and Sarah continued to live with Ruth in Des Moines Township.[Cen 1856]
Ruth (Conger) Fisher died five years later on February 19, 1857, in Jefferson County.
- Cen 1820: 1820 Census, Salem Township, Monroe County, Ohio
- Cen 1850: 8 Nov 1850 Census, Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa
- Cen 1856: 1856 Iowa State Census, Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa
George FISHER (1784-1859)
X. George Fisher, a likely relative of David Fisher, and about 11 years David's senior, is found two families over from David's son King David Fisher in the 1850 census of Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa and likely settled the area as early as the 1840 census. George was born about January 1784 in New Jersey and married a Virginia woman named Mary (Cloke?). George and Mary had eight children:
| X1. | David Fisher | -- | -- | -- |
| X2. | John Fisher | -- | -- | -- |
| X3. | Martin Fisher | (1815) | 7 Jan 1892 | (76) |
| X4. | Mary Fisher | -- | -- | -- |
| X5. | Sarah C. Fisher | (1819) | -- | -- |
| X6. | Jacob Fisher | (1824) | -- | -- |
| X7. | Frederick Fisher | (1825-1828) | -- | -- |
| X8. | Hamilton Fisher | (1832) | 26 Mar 1904 | (71) |
The George Fisher family migrated to Ohio by around 1820, into Indiana by around 1832, and settled in Jefferson County, Iowa by the 1840 census, later noted as Libertyville, Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa in the 1850 census.
George Fisher died on August 2, 1859, and is buried at the Winsell Cemetery in Des Moines Township. He was around 75 years old.
After George's death, Mary lived with her son Hamilton and his family in Libertyville.
Mary (Cloke?) Fisher died 29 years later on December 20, 1888, and is also buried at the Winsell Cemetery. She was around 97 years old.
admitted to probate October 25, 1859
"I, George Fisher Seignior of the County of Jefferson, State of Iowa, being of sound mind, memory and understanding do make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament. My will is first that my funeral charges and just debts shall be paid by my executor hereinafter named. The residue of my estate and property which shall remain after the payment of my just debts and funeral charges and the expense attending..."
"...and bequeth to my beloved wife, Mary Fisher, my home, lands, farm and all my household furniture to have and to keep for her own special use during her natural life time. I also further provide that at her decease the above named property of which she may be possessed as follows to wit: To my son, David Fisher, I bequeath five dollars to be paid to him by my executor within one year after the decease of my beloved wife. To my two sons, John Fisher and Jacob Fisher, I bequeath five dollars each to be paid them by my executor within one year after the decease of my beloved wife. To my son, Martin Fisher, I bequeath fifty dollars to be paid him by my executor within one year after the decease of my beloved wife. To my daughter, Mary Brown, I will and bequeath fifty dollars to be paid her by my son, Hamilton Fisher within one year after the decease of my beloved wife. To my daughter, Sarah Cloak [sic] I bequeath four hundred dollars, seventy five dollars of which to be paid by my son, Hamilton, and the balance to be paid by my son, Frederick Fisher within one year after the decease of my beloved wife. The residue of my property I bequeath to my two sons, Frederick Fisher and Hamilton Fisher, to be equally divided between them and their heirs and assigns. I do hereby appoint my brother, Daniel Fisher, of Wapello County, State of Iowa, to be the sole executor of this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this 25th day of June 1850."
s/s George Fisher (X) his mark.
George's birth in New Jersey provides possible insights into the Fisher family origins should George's relation to David Fisher be resolved. If Mary's parentage is confirmed as that of the Clokes of Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey then this may provide help in narrowing down the Fishers' origins. Furthermore, an eight-year old George Cloke was enumerated with George and Mary in 1850 suggesting a grandchild or close relation. Daughter Sarah is believed to have married a Cloke but curiously Sarah and young George are not enumerated consecutively, nor is Sarah enumerated as a Cloke but as a Fisher.
- 6 Nov 1850/Page 97 (Batavia): The "David K. Fisher" family is enumerated next door to George and Mary (Cloke?) Fisher and newlyweds Fred and Mary Fisher
- George Fisher (age 66/born ~1784 in New Jersey), about 16 years David's junior, married Mary J. (Cloke?) (age 55/born ~1795 in Virginia) and their family (Jacob, Sarah, Hamilton, and George Cloke [age 8]).
If Mary's parentage is confirmed and that of the young 8-year old George Cloke, this suggests relations to the ClokeS on the John and Ruth page. - Note: a Daniel Fisher, is identified as a brother in George's will: "my executor, Daniel Fisher, brother, of Wapello County." This identifies a brother of George's and forms a link to Wapello County.
Martin FISHER (~1815-1892)
X. Martin Fisher, an uncertain but close relation to David Fisher, was born about 1815 in Pennsylvania, as was David's son, Samuel Martin, thus causing some confusion. This Martin is likely the son of George Fisher who named a Martin in his will.
Martin married an Ohio woman named Elizabeth and began a family of eight in Indiana by 1839:
| X1. | Mary Jane Fisher | (1839) | -- | -- |
| X2. | William Fisher | (1841) | -- | -- |
| X3. | James Fisher | Jun 1845 | -- | -- |
| X4. | George Fisher | (1847) | -- | -- |
| X5. | David Fisher | (1849) | -- | -- |
| X6. | Louis A. Fisher | (1851) | -- | -- |
| X7. | Anderson Fisher | (1853) | -- | -- |
| X8. | Sarah Ann Fisher | (1854) | -- | -- |
The Martin Fisher family settled in Indiana by the time of the birth of their first daughter around 1839. By the 1840 census, Martin and George (likely his father) had settled in Jefferson County, Iowa Territory, where Martin and Elizabeth's first son was born around 1841. Later, the 1850 census records them in District 13, Wapello County, Iowa, near David Fisher and his family and continued to live on in Ashland, Washington Township, Wapello County near David through 1860.
After David's death in 1868, his widow Nancy and their three young children lived with Martin and his family as noted in the 1870 census of Washington Township.
By the 1880 census of Washington Township, David's widow was no longer living (presumed deceased?) with Martin and his family.
Martin and Elizabeth are buried at the Ashland Cemtery. Martin is recorded to have died on January 7, 1892, at the age of 76. His widow died eight years later in September 1900.
George FISHER (1811-)
X1. George Fisher is a possible relative of the David Fisher family and probably related to Elias and John Fisher. He was born about December 17, 1811, in Washington County, Pennsylvania. He served in the Black Hawk War (1831-1832) and about 1835 married Mary Jane Cloke, allegedly in Indiana or perhaps Illinois. They had at least seven daughters and one son:
| X1. | Mary Ann "Polly" Fisher | 1837/1838 | -- | -- |
| X2. | Ruth Jane Fisher | (1840) | 28 Jul 1921 | (81) |
| X3. | Milton Fisher | (1840-1843) | -- | -- |
| X4. | Rachel Fisher | 28 Dec 1843 | 7 May 1904 | (60) |
| X5. | Rhoda Fisher | 15 Mar 1846 | 30 Jul 1898 | (52) |
| X6. | Martha E. Fisher | (1848) | 29 Dec 1850 | (2) |
| X7. | Clarissa C. Fisher | (1849) | Bef 1876 | (<27) |
| X8. | Barbara A. Fisher | 23 Oct 1852 | 24 Jul 1910 | (57) |
The Sac (Asakiwaki) and Fox (Meskwaki) ancestral homeland was in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. They had been resettled in Saukenuk (modern day Rock Island, Illinois) in the mid-18th century. The U.S. government later forced them out of Saukenuk into a 40-miles square reservation at the forks of the Iowa River in eastern Iowa.
In 1832, Black Hawk made an unsuccessful attempt to retake Saukenuk, his birth place. This marked the last Native American fight for homelands east of the Mississippi.
Their first daughter was born in Illinois and soon thereafter (about 1836) the family moved to Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa, where the rest of their children were likely born.
George Fisher lived near John and Elias Fisher in Des Moines, Jefferson County, Iowa at the time of the 1850 and 1860 censuses[Cen 1850, 1860], which serves as the basis of the suspected interrelationships of these families.
Mary Jane (Cloke) Fisher is recorded to have died on January 23, 1852, (a date that conflicts with the birth of her youngest daughter). She is buried at Winsell Cemetery in Des Moines Township.
Several years after Mary's death, George moved a few miles northeast to Locust Grove Township, in the general area of Fairfield, Jefferson County, in 1865.
George Fisher died on January 25, 1876, in Jefferson County, Iowa. He was also buried at Winsell Cemetery.
Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1890.
"George Fisher, father of Mrs. MYERS, was a native of Pennsylvania, but in his youth removed to Indiana where he became acquainted with and married Miss Cloke, a native of that State. From Indiana they removed to Illinois in 1836 and two years later came to what is now Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa, but was then a part of the Territory of Michigan. He entered land and improved it, settling upon the purchase where he continued to make his home for many years."
"He was a stirring and wide-awake farmer who labored unceasingly for the interests of himself and family. He became a prominent citizen of the community, took and active part in politics and was a untiring worker in the Baptist Church. His upright life commended intself to the respect and confindence of all with whom he came in contact and won him many warm friends."
"He was called to his final home in 1876, having survived his wife for some twenty-six years. They were the parents of eight children; Mary Ann, now Mrs. BLACK of Kansas; Ruth J., the honored wife of Richard MYERS; Milton, who is married and makes his home in Locust Grove Township, enlisted for the late war in 1861, in Company H., Thirtieth Iowa Infantry and after serving three years was honorably discharged in Davenport; Rachel is now the wife of William SALTS; Rhoda married Samuel SALTS; Clara C. married Christian MAXSON and died in 1872; Martha E. died when two years of age. Barbara the youngest, is the wife of David SALTS."
- Cen 1850: 8 Nov 1850 Census, Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa
- Cen 1860: 13 Jun 1860 Census, Libertyville Post Office, Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa
Elias FISHERΔ (~1812-1878)
X2. Elias FisherΔ was the son of John and Ruth (Conger) Fisher, who were likely kin of the David Fisher family. Elias was born in Pennsylvania about 1812 or 1813. He married Sarah White from Virginia and had at least seven children, all born in Iowa:
| X21. | Jesse Franklin FisherΔ | 18 Mar 1838 | 29 Jan 1905 | (66) |
| X22. | Allen R. Fisher | 1841/1842 | -- | -- |
| X23. | Ruth A. Fisher | Aug 1844 | 10 Jan 1847 | (2) |
| X24. | William A. Fisher | 11 Jul 1847 | 19 Dec 1923 | (76) |
| X25. | Nancy J. Fisher | (7 Mar 1850) | 26 Jan 1855 | (4) |
| X26. | George W. Fisher | 1855/1856 | 1926 | (70) |
| X27. | Enos Fisher | 1858/1859 | 1 Jul 1861 | (2) |
The Fishers moved to Jefferson County, Iowa, around 1841[Cen 1856] and lived next door to his parents and brother George Fisher in Des Moines Township.[Cen 1850, 1860]
The family moved about 47 miles west to Urbana Township, Monroe County, Iowa, by 1870.[Cen 1870]
Elias Fisher died on June 3, 1878, in Monroe County, Iowa. He was about 65 years old.
Sarah (White) Fisher died 7 years later on May 13, 1886, in Monroe County, Iowa. She was 69 years old.
- Cen 1850: 8 Nov 1850 Census, Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa
- Cen 1856: 1856 Census, Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa
- Cen 1860: 13 Jun 1860 Census, Libertyville Post Office, Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, Iowa
- Cen 1870: 29 Jun 1870 Cnesus, Albia Post Office, Urbana Township, Monroe County, Iowa
