This week we take a look at the lineage of the Fisher surname as it pertains to my family’s history on the Fitzgerald side.  I have tried to research on this family line with very little luck.  Outside of recording the family group sheets that my father created in the early 1980’s, there isn’t much for us to go on.  It is such a common name in Indiana in this time frame that I get lost in all the various families that could be matches.  Most of the information below was provided by my great-grandmother, Jennie Mae Fisher.

Earliest Known Ancestor

We know that Samuel M. Fisher came from an area of Ohio that was near the Ohio River.  He was a very strict man, and kicked his children out of the house when they turned 14 years old.  Samuel was a veteran of the Civil War.  His family possibly came from Ireland or Germany, we are not sure which.

My great-grandmother Jennie Mae Fisher told my father that her grandfather, Samuel M. Fisher, was born around 1827 in Ireland or maybe Pennsylvania.  He died sometime before Nov 1898 in North Carolina.  Sometime around 1852 he married Susannah Hale in Columbiana, Ohio.  I think she found this information with the LDS Church in the 1970’s.  I have found it on FamilySearch.org, and my research has show this to be totally incorrect.

I believe my 3rd great-grandfather, Samuel M. Fisher, was born in 1821 in Pennsylvania and died on 15 February 1901 in Wells County, Indiana.  His wife Susannah Hale was born in 1822 in Ohio and died in 1883 in Indiana.  They are buried in Nottingham Cemetery in Wells County, Indiana.  I also believe they were married on 12 Nov 1839 in Jefferson County, Ohio.

Samuel and Susannah had the following children: Frances (Frank) Fisher, Tom W. Fisher, Joe Fisher, William Green Fisher, Anna Fisher, Emeline Fisher, Addeline Fisher and Jane fisher.

Thier son, William Green Fisher, was my 2nd great-grandfather.  He rolled logs down the Ohio river during his early life.  He hunted and trapped a lot in the Columbiana area.  William had 4 children from a previous marriage: Ida F (Douglas Clemens) Fisher, Ethel Fisher, Delmer Fisher and Melvin Fisher.

William Green Fisher was born 03 Mar 1853 in Columbiana, Ohio.  He died 11 Jul 1918 in Valparaiso, Porter, Indiana.  His wife was my second great-grandmother, May Richards.  The couple married on November 1, 1898 in Hebron, Indiana.  They had four boys (Earl Benjamin, John W., Albert L., Samuel J.) and one girl, my great-grandmother Jennie Mae Fisher.

Lineage for the Fisher Surname (Fitzgerald Side)

Lineage

Jessica Marie Cole > Douglass Lyal Cole > Florence Mae Fitzgerald > Jennie Mae Fisher (1909 – 1993) > William Green Fisher (1853 – 1918) > Samuel M. Fisher (1821 – 1901)

Family Notes

• We know our Samuel Fisher served in the Civil War and that his records are probably found in Indiana.  I’m not positive, but I think I found the Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865 Record for Samuel M Fisher.  The Samuel M. Fisher listed was born in Pennsylvania, age 42 in 1863, and was drafted in the 11th Congressional District of Adams County, Indiana.
• I may also have found the family in the 1880 US Census, but I haven’t found them in ANY other Census years.  Check out the 1880 United States Federal Census Record for Samuel Fisher.

Additional Information

Check out my Ancestry Family Tree for Samuel M. Fisher.

See my Virtual Cemetery for this Fisher family members on Find A Grave

Check out the graves of Samuel M. Fisher and Susannah Hale on Find A Grave.