Northumberland-Somerset County PA Archives Biographies.....Fischer, William E. 1849 - living in 1899
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com July 2, 2005, 5:26 pm

Author: Biographical Publishing Co.

REV. WILLIAM E. FISCHER, the esteemed and honored pastor of Trinity Lutheran
Church of Shamokin, Northumberland County, is a son of John Henry and Eliza
(Gilbert) Fischer. He was born October 6, 1849, in Berlin, Somerset County, Pa.,
and received a practical education in the public schools of his native place.
After teaching a couple of years in Somerset County he entered the preparatory
department of the Pennsylvania College, from which he graduated in 1872. Having
decided to fit himself for the ministry he entered the theological seminary,
graduating in 1875. He at once took charge of a congregation at Center Hall,
where he was so well liked by his parishioners that they retained him for
eighteen years.

  September 14, 1893, our subject accepted the pastorate of Trinity Lutheran
Church at Shamokin, where his labors are fully appreciated by his congregation.
His labor in Shamokin has been fruitful of much good, both in his church and the
community at large. Being a man of more than ordinary ability, of warm and
generous heart, supplemented with deep convictions and Christian fervor, he is
the friend of all. In times of trouble and deep distress he is with his people
in heart and full sympathy; on joyful occasions no one adds more to the pleasant
hour. He has made many changes and improvements in the church, having thoroughly
remodeled the edifice. His popularity and successful management are shown in the
fact that the membership of the church has been greatly increased, having now
654 members enrolled. Rev. Mr. Fischer also enjoys the distinction of having
rare literary talent and has been a regular correspondent for two of the church
papers of his denomination for the past seven years. He also has prepared a
number of Children's Day services in music, and contributes many articles to the
Lutheran Quarterly. Since his connection with the ministry he has served the
church as delegate to the general synod about twelve times. His services are
frequently sought to make addresses on public occasions, such as commencements,
anniversaries, etc. In 1897 the Susquehanna University conferred upon him the
degree of Doctor of Divinity. Our subject is one of a family of twelve children,
many of whom have led remarkable careers and deserve a place in this sketch, as
does also his father, a man of superior education and ability.

  John Henry Fischer, father of our subject, was a native of Germany, and was
born at Hessen Cassel, on the River Lahn, in 1812. At the age of twenty he
immigrated to America and first located near Berlin, Somerset County, Pa., and
afterward moved to Berlin. He was a man of more than ordinary education and for
years was a correspondent for a German paper published in Germany in the home of
his boyhood. He was a shoemaker by trade and when not occupied at his bench he
pursued his literary work. He was a close student and a careful reader, thereby
acquiring much valuable information. Being a devout member of the Lutheran
Church he took quite an active part in all church work. Elizabeth Gilbert became
his wife; she also was born in 1812, and survived her husband twenty-one years,
he having departed this life in 1872, while she lived until September n, 1893,
having reached the advanced age of eighty-five years. Our subject and the
following ; named are the most prominent of their numerous family: Henry, who
was a graduate of the Millersville State Normal School, and afterward held the
important and responsible office of county superintendent of schools of Bedford
County, Pa.,he discharged the duties of this office with rare ability for three
terms and is now principal of the Seventeenth Ward schools of Pittsburg; John,
who read law, published a paper for a number of years in Bedford County, Pa.,
now resides with a son, who is a very successful attorney at Altoona, Pa.,he
has been prominent in Bedford County politics and frequently mentioned for the
legislature; Rev. A. H. Frank, who took a college course at the Pennsylvania
College at Gettysburg, after which he prepared himself for the ministry by
taking a complete theological course at the Gettysburg Seminary,he graduated in
1883, and since then has labored in the "vineyard of our Master," now being
located at Easton, Pa.; Tobias, whom the goddess of Fortune guarded with a
jealous arm, was a soldier in the Union Army and passed through the entire Civil
War,he was taken prisoner by the Rebels and carried by them to the famous Libby
Prison, and to Salisbury, N. C., from which he escaped; Philip, a popular editor
of an educational journal, resides in California, and has served as county
superintendent of Alameda County, Cal., for three years.

  Our subject was united in marriage with J. Annie Philson, and their home has
been made happy by the presence of three children: Marion L.; Ella P.; and
William B.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
Published by 
Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)



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