| Life Story
|
John Fisher worked as a weaver at TKWM regularly between 1893 and the 1940s. Siblings Amelia, Jacob, and Phillip also worked at the mill.
John George Fisher was born 4 Jan 1880 in Portland, Oregon to Jacob and Mary [Weinkein] Fisher. He was one of seven children born to the couple. Originally from Missouri, the family came to Oregon by way of Kansas between 1876 and 1880. They settled south of Portland along the macadamized road. His parents divorced in 1883 on cruelty grounds. Mother Mary was awarded custody of the children and the family homestead split. Mary and her children lived in a small house on the property, 300 yards away from the main building. She took in a lodger named William Bloxam engaged to her elder daughter Anna Mary.
On the evening of 5 Jan 1884 tragedy struck when Mary, lodger William and two of her children went to the barn on her husband’s half of the homestead to retrieve some chickens. They were met by father Jacob and Mary’s eldest son Raymond who were armed. Jacob attacked and beat Mary. Mr. Bloxam in coming to Mary’s defense shot and killed her former husband. A sensational trial followed in which Bloxam was sentenced to life in prison for second degree murder. Afterward, mother Mary moved to Salem with five of her children, Anna Mary, Amelia, Jacob Jr., John and Phillip. John would have been 5 years old at the time. In 1888, the three youngest boys were placed under the guardianship of David Simpson of Salem, OR.
As the older children were able, they found work. John and his sister Amelia found work in 1893 at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. Brothers Jacob and Phillip soon joined them. While working as a weaver at the mill, John met Rose Raveaux. They were married 1 Jan 1902 in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Salem. They would become the parents of two children, Lawrence and Leona.
John worked at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill until retirement though he took several breaks to explore other occupations such as plumbing, nursery work, and auto mechanics.
From draft registration cards we have a sense of John’s physical description. On his WW1 card he is described as having a slender build, tall height, with light brown hair and gray eyes. He was 38 years old. On his WW2 card he is described with a height of 5 ft. 11 ½ in. and weight of 172 lbs. His complexion was light, his hair brown and eyes blue.
John’s wife Rose died on 18 Oct 1958 in Salem Hospital following an accident at home. Cause of death was listed as congestive heart failure. John died at the age of 92, on 12 Jan 1972. He and Rose are buried at City View Cemetery in Salem, OR. |
| Salem City Directories |
1890 Fisher Mary (wid Jacob) res 15th n e corner Marion (child in the household)
1891 Fisher Mary (wid Jacob) res 15th n e corner Marion (child in the household)
1896 Fisher John, laborer T K W M Co, res near E Salem School
1905 Fisher John G, plumber Cherry City Plumbing & Heating Co, res 524 N 15th
1905 Fisher John G, weaver T K W M Co, res 406 15th
1907 Fisher John G, plumber T M Barr, res 524 N 15th
1908 Fisher John G, weaver T K W M Co., res 524 N 15th
1909 Fisher John G, laborer Oregon Nursery Co., bds 402 15th
1909 Fisher John G, weaver T K W M Co., res 524 N 15th
1911 Fisher John G, plumber Cherry City Plumbing & Heating Co, res 524 N 15th
1913 Fisher John G (Rose), plumber L Ashliman, res 524 N 15th
1915 Fisher John G (Rose), weaver T K W M Co, res 524 N 15th
1917 Fisher John G (Rose), helper T K W M Co, res 524 N 15th
1924 Fisher John G (Rose), boss weaver T K Woolen Mill Co, h 524 N 15th
1928 Fisher John G (Rose), weaver, h 524 N 15th
1930 Fisher John G (Rose R), mechanic State St. Garage h 524 N 15th
1932 Fisher John G (Rose R), weaver T K Woolen Mill Co h 524 N 15th
1934 Fisher John G (Rose), weaver TKWMCo h 524 N 15th
1935 Fisher John G (Rose), weaver TKWMCo h 524 N 15th
1971 Fisher John G, retired, h524 15th St. NE |
| Census Records |
1880 John Fisher Age: 5 months. Birth Date: abt Jan 1880 in Oregon. Home in 1880: 17 Ward St. Portland, Multnomah, OR. Single, son to HOH. Additional household members: Jacob Fisher, age 50 (father), Mary Fisher, age 28 (mother), Raymond Fisher, age 12 (brother), Mary Fisher, age 10 (sister), Emily Fisher, age 5 (sister), Jacob Fisher, age 3 (brother).
1895 Marion County Census John Fisher Age: 16. Birthplace: Oregon. Occupation: Laborer. Religion: Catholic. Physical Description. Height: 4’10”, Weight: 100#. Complexion: Light. Additional household members include his mother, sister Mary and brothers Jacob and Philip.
1900 John Fisher Age: 20. Birth Date: Jan 1880 in Oregon. Home in 1900: 402 Fifteenth St. Salem Ward 1, Marion, OR. Single, son to HOH. Occupation: Finisher in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Mary Fisher, age 54 (mother), Jacob Fisher, age 22 (brother), Phillip Fisher, age 8 (brother).
1905 Marion County Census John Fisher
1910 John Fisher Age: 30. Birth Date: 1880 in Oregon. Home in 1910: 524 North Fifteenth Street, Salem Ward 1, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Plumber. Additional household members: Rose R. Fisher, age 33 (wife), Lawrence Fisher, age 6 (son), Leona A. Fisher, age 4 (daughter).
1920 John Fisher Age: 39. Birth Year: abt 1881 in Oregon. Home in 1920: 524 Fifteenth Street, Salem Ward 1, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Weaver in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Rose Fisher, age 40 (wife), Lawrence Fisher, age 16 (son), Leona Fisher, age 14 (daughter)
1930 John Fisher Age: 50. Birth Year: abt 1880 in Oregon. Home in 1930: 524 North 15th, Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Laborer in Garage. Additional household members: Rose Fisher, age 50 (wife), Leone A. Fisher, age 24 (daughter), John G. Etzel, age 29 (boarder).
1940 John Fisher Age: 60. Birth Year: abt 1880 in Oregon. Home in 1940: 524 North 15 Street, Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: General Worker, Woolen Mill. Additional household member: Rose Fisher, age 63 (wife).
1950 John Fisher Age: 70. Birth Date: abt 1880 in Oregon. Home in 1950: 524 N 15th, Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. No occupation listed. Additional household member: Rose Fisher, age 73 (wife). |
| Digital Newspapers
|
Oregon Statesman 5 Oct 1888, p. 5 – Guardianship of Fisher boys, David Simpson
Capital Journal 8 Jan 1901, p. 4 – Land transfer, Barbara D’Arcy to Fisher brothers, Lot 8, Reed’s Addition to Salem, $350
Oregon Statesman 3 Jan 1902, p. 8 – Marriage license
Oregon Statesman 2 Nov 1917, p. 7 – Land transfers between John and Jacob Fisher
Capitol Journal 24 Nov 1926, p. 9 – Obituary, Mary Fisher (mother)
Oregon Statesman 20 Oct 1958, p. 5 – Obituary, Rose Fisher
Oregon Statesman 13 Jan 1972, p. 16 – Obituary, John |
