My Genealogy Hound

JUDGE A. D. FISHER, one of Sedalia’s most respected citizens, has been engaged in the practice of law in this city for over twenty years. He has served longer as a Justice of the Peace than any other occupying a like position in this section. It was in 1874 that he was first elected, serving for two terms of two years each, and later for one term of four years. The ensuing term he resumed his general law practice. In 1886 he was returned to his former place, again in 1890, and once more in 1894.

Judge Fisher was born near Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio, June 11, 1827. His grandfather, Daniel Fisher, a Quaker, was of German descent. He was born in New Jersey and moved to North Carolina, where he was engaged in farming. Our subject’s father, Theodore, was a native of Guilford County, N. C., and was brought up on a farm. After his marriage to Martha Dillon, a native of the same state, he moved to Ohio. Entering land near the county seat of Clinton County at an early day, he improved and made a good farm. During the War of 1812 he left home and fought for his country. In 1829 he moved to Illinois and entered three hundred and twenty acres near Tremont, in Tazewell County. This place he also improved, and after a time engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods on his farm. In 1860 he took up his abode in Washburn, where he died in 1868, in his eighty-fourth year. Both he and his wife had been brought up as members of the Society of Friends. He was first a Whig and afterwards a Republican. His wife was the daughter of Daniel Dillon, a North Carolina farmer, of Scotch-Irish descent. Mrs. Fisher died at the age of seventy-three years.

In a family of six sons and three daughters the Judge is the youngest, and from the time he was two years of age he was reared in Tazewell County, Ill. His education was such as was afforded by the schools of that day. Later he entered Fremont Academy, and in 1847 took up a course of study at Knox College, graduating therefrom in 1851 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Then for the next six years he engaged in teaching school in his home district, and for two years was Principal. In the mean time he had taken up the study of law under the instruction of Judge Putterbaugh, and in 1861 was admitted to the Bar before the Supreme Court in Ottawa, Ill. On commencing practice he settled in Peoria, Ill., in partnership with L. R. Webb and Mr. Davison. In 1870 he went to Watseka, Ill., where he remained a year. Then, going to Little Rock, Ark., he practiced there two years, and in 1872 opened an office in Sedalia, where he has since conducted an extensive practice.

The Judge was first married in Rock Island, Ill., to Addie, daughter of Dr. Hardy, of Tazewell County. They had one son, Theodore H., who is engaged in the job-printing business in this city. Mrs. Fisher died in 1880, and the Judge later wedded Miss E. J. Barker, who was born in Lexington, Mo. Since 1874 he has made his home at the southeast corner of Harrison and Fifteenth Streets. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The Judge materially assisted in ferreting out and breaking up the Golden Circle, thus avoiding a great deal of bloodshed and trouble. For years he has been active in the ranks of the Republican party, and for some time he was a member of the Union League. Formerly he was prominent in the Good Templars’ order and is now connected with the Royal Templars of Temperance.