SHEBOYGAN HISTORY

Godlib Fisher, Page 395

GODLIB FISHER, a practical farmer, whose home is on section 7, Lima Township, is one of the honored veterans of the late war.  He is one of a family of four sons and four daughters, whose parents were John and Mary (Shiller) Fisher.  The father was a mechanic and carpenter by trade, and followed contracting and building extensively.  He was thoroughly educated in the German language, and was a participant to several of the most important battles of the Franco-German War of 1812, fighting against the Emperor Napoleon in the German army.  he was severely wounded in the right foot and left leg.  For his bravery he was presented with a beautiful silver medal by the King of Wurtemberg.  This medal is now in the possession of our subject.  There is only one sister of the family living, Louisa, wife of Andrew Gunter, who resides near Sandusky, Ohio.

    Godlib Fisher set sail from Havre, France, with his parents in 1834, and was thirty-six days on the ocean in the good ship "France Age Steppo."  On landing in New York, they proceeded to Buffalo, where the Government tried to press the father into the service.  However, he continued his journey as far as Sandusky, Ohio, near which he entered fifty acres of land in the thick forest.  The country was sparsely settled, and Indians and wild animals were abundant.  The parents died on this homestead, the father at the age of seventy-three years, and the mother in her eightieth year.

    On coming to America, our subject was a child of seven years, and his youth was spent in the wilderness, engaging in clearing and improving his father's farm.  He received a fair English and German education, and continued under the parental roof until twenty-three years of age.  His first active business for himself was in Sandusky, where he obtained employment in the depot warehouse, where he remained for some three years.  Then returning to the old farm, he operated it for a year, but as it did not seem profitable he decided to return to his former employment, but, in Sandusky, he met a friend, who said, "Let us go West and buy a farm."  Accordingly, with five of his comrades, he came to Sheboygan County.

    Ere leaving the Buckeye State, Mr. Fisher married Miss Lena Crysinger, their union being celebrated March 22, 1853.  The lady was born in Germany, February 5, 1832, and has become the mother of six sons and three daughters.  The seven following are living:  John, who is married and is a successful farmer in Clark County, Wis.; George, who also married and is engaged in farming in the came county; Henry and Gottleib, at home; Louisa, the wife of Harmon Trutschell, a prosperous farmer of Lima Township; and Mary and Lena, who live with their parents.  The children have all been given good educations, and the two elder boys are farming on land given them by our subject.  To each one he gave eighty acres of land, with a good residence, necessary buildings and farming implements.  Mrs. Fisher has been a valuable helpmate to her husband, aiding him in every possible way.

    One of the brave boys who came to his country's aid in her time of peril was our subject, who enlisted in Company F, Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry, in 1864, and served until the close of the war.  He was ordered at once to Fortress Monroe, then to City Point, and thence into the hottest of the battle near Petersburgh, Va.  On the 25th of March, 1865, he was present at the hard-fought battle of Ft. Stedman.  On the 2d of the following April he was in the terrible battle at Ft. Mahon, where many of his comrades met death.  An incident related by Mr. Fisher shows one of his own narrow escapes.  He was sitting in his tent writing a letter, when a shell came rolling near his feet.  It stopped only a short distance from him, and there exploded, but as he had instantly thrown himself flat on the ground, he escaped without injury.  His regiment was later placed to guard a railroad until the surrender of Gen. Lee, at which time they were only four miles from Richmond.  They took part in the Grand Review at Washington, one of the greatest military displays ever witnessed, after which they were discharged at Finleytown, four miles from Washington, and their final discharge papers were received in Madison, Wis.  Our subject was a faithful soldier during his term of service, and was never absent on a furlough.  In the battle of Ft. Mahon he received a flesh wound in the right leg.

    In 1863, Mr. Fisher became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres in Lima Township, and has himself made every improvement upon the farm.  He has a beautiful residence, substantial barns and outbuildings, and the thrifty appearance of everything denotes that the owner is one of the model farmers of this section.  He is a Republican in politics, but was formerly a Whig.  He was Township Supervisor for two terms, and is a man who always upholds the best measures and is firm in his convictions.  He has been recognized as a man of honor, and has saved his township much money.  The cause of education is warmly supported by him, and, religiously, he and his wife are adherents of the Methodist Church.