Herman Ernest Fischer (1859 - 1937)

Born 14 Feb 1859 in Freiberg, Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany

Descendants

Died 3 Dec 1937 at age 78 in Sprucedale, Ontario, Canada

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Biography

On February 14, 1859, Herman Alfred Fischer was born in Freiberg, Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany. His surname was recorded as both Fischer and Fisher. The names of his parents are unknown.

Herman married Ida Augusta Biltz. Ida was born on June 27, 1862 in Dresden, Dresden, Saxony, Germany. She was the daughter of Ernest and Theresa Bilz. In 1943, Louise recorded that her mother was “Ida M. Bilz”. In 1901, Ida’s surname was recorded as “Bilz”.

They had 7 children but only 4 survived infancy (geni).

On October 31, 1884, Eliza “Elsie” Martha Fischer was born in Sasceny, Friesbury, Germany.

In 1886, the family arrived in Buffalo, New York (1931 Census).

In 1886, the family the family sailed to New York City with 2 infant daughters. One daughter died while crossing the Atlantic and was buried as sea (1931 Census & geni). They traveled to Buffalo and their first home was at 226 Strauss Avenue. The family was quite poor and Herman could only afford small gifts on their first Christmas. Elsie would later make clothing for her sister’s dolls (geni).

Two boys were born but died in infancy (geni).

On May 28, 1889, Louise Ernestine Fischer was born in Buffalo, NY (SSN).

In May 1891, Bertha Augusta Fischer was born.

The 1892 Buffalo, New York Census recorded Herman Fischer, age 34, a carpenter born in Germany, with his wife Ida, 31, born in Germany, and their children “Elea”, 8, born in Germany, “Louisa”, 3, Bertha, 1, the last two born in the US, and Otto Bilz, 23, a carpenter born in Germany (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1GB-DC?i=14&cc=1529100&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMQSF-Y95).

On May 10, 1893, Freida Ida Fischer was born in Buffalo, NY.

On September 5, 1894, Herman became a naturalized American. He was a carpenter who specialized in making furniture. His family had to wait until he returned home from work before they could eat dinner. If he was late, Ida bribed the children with a penny to go to bed with an empty stomach (geni).

In 1900, the family were living in Sloan Village, NY.

About 1904, the family arrived in Sprucedale, McMurrich, Ontario, Canada.

In 1904 or 1905, Herman immigrated or was naturalized (1911 & 1931 Censuses).

On September 19, 1908, Ida died in McMurrich Township, after 2 months of edema. Herman moved into his daughter Elsie’ house.

The 1911 McMurrich Township Census recorded Herman “Fisher” on Lot 16, Con. 10, as a boarder, born in Feb. 1859, age 52, a Lutheran carpenter born in Germany, immigrated in 1904, in the household of John Cudmore, born August 1882, age 48, a farmer, and his family.

The 1931 McMurrich Township Census recorded Herman “Fisher”, age 72, a carpenter born in Germany, immigrated in 1886, naturalized in 1905, in the household of James Downes, 56, born in Ontario, with his wife Elsie, 47, a farmer born in Germany, immigrated in 1886, naturalized in 1931, and Dotty? Cudmore, 14, James’ niece, born in Ontario.

On December 3, 1937, Herman died of bladder cancer in Sprucedale. He was buried with his wife Ida in St. Paul’s Anglican and United Church Cemetery in Sprucedale. Herman had been a carpenter and had lived in Sprucedale for 33 years.

Herman’s obituary on geni: “Herman Ernest Fischer, born February 14th, 1859 at Freiburg, Saxony, German, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. James Downes, on Friday, December 3rd, 1937. The funeral was conducted from St. Paul's Church, Sprucedale by Rev. R. K. Bamber. The words of his address were taken from Gen. 24: 63-"Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the turning of the evening." Mr. Bamber, compared life to a day, suggesting that sometimes in our youth and in the noonday of our life the fair beauty of those things which we longed for and prayed for, seem to fade when they have been given to us. But in the evening of life we see them in a different light and there comes over the soul a calm and contentment. He likened the evening of life to a New Year's Eve, the looking forward to the dawn of a new year in Paradise. We should think of our dear ones departed, as not lost to us but just living in a different world, much in the same sense as we speak of children living in a different world from ourselves. During the service, three hymns were sung: "Abide with Me, " "My Faith Looks Up to Thee" and "Jesus Saviour Pilot Me." The "Nune Dimittis" was sung as the casket was being carried out of the church. Miss J. Nelson was at the organ. Interment took place at the Anglican Cemetery. Mr. Fischer married Ida Bilz, a sister of Mrs. Oswald Bilz. To this union four daughters survive the mother and father. The late Mrs. Fischer died at her home near Sprucedale in the year of 1908. Mr. Fischer was a carpenter by trade. He resided near Sprucedale for thirty-three years. He came to Buffalo in the year 1886, but moved to Sprucedale in 1904. The daughters surviving are: Mrs. James Downes (Elsie) of Sprucedale; Mrs. Richard Siebert (Louise) of Pembrooke Centre, U. S. A.; Mrs. John Cudmore (Bertha) of South Porcupine, and Mrs. Robert Blair (Frieda) of Sprucedale, who were all present at the bedside of their father during his illness. Mrs. Siebert was unable to stay to the last and did not get back for the funeral. The floral tributes were lovely, and many friends gathered at the home of Mrs. James Downes to express their sympathy to the surviving daughters. Mr. Fischer had lived a hale and hearty life until very near the last. He passed away peacefully, at a good old age. The whole community extend sympathy to the bereaved daughters and other relatives. Those attending the funeral from a distance were Blanche, Esther and Irene Blair, granddaughters, from Toronto.”

Sources

• Fred Blair, firsthand knowledge. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Fred and others.

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L19F-WNP

• https://www.geni.com/people/Herman-Fischer/6000000022715656954