This is the tombstone of Christian and Mary A. (Bollenbacher) Fisher, located in row 6 of Kessler (aka Liberty) Cemetery, Mercer County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:
Mother
MARY A.
His Wife
Mar. 7, 1848
May 2, 1920
Father
CHRISTIAN
FISHER
Aug. 29, 1839
Mar. 26, 1909
FISHER
John “Christian” Fisher was born in Germany on 29 August 1839, the son of John Andrew and Gertrude (Miller) Fisher. His parents were also born in Germany and, according to the census, Christian immigrated in 1849, probably with his parents. [1]
They settled in Liberty Township, Mercer County, Ohio, soon after they arrived in America, living there by 1850. Their household in 1850: John A Fisher, 53; Charity, 52; Mathias, 13; and Christian, 11. All were born in Germany and the father farmed. [2]
The Andrew Fisher household in 1860: Andrew, 60, Germany; Catharine, 63, Germany; and Christian, 21, Germany. Andrew was a farmer the family had a Skeels Crossroad post office address. [3]
During those years (1850-60) the Andrew Fisher family was enumerated next to the Adam Bollenbacher family. They lived very near each other, if not next door to each other, south of Chatt.
Christian Fisher married his neighbor Mary Ann Bollenbacher on 10 December 1867 in Mercer County. [4]
Mary Ann Bollenbacher was born in Ohio on 7 March 1848, the daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Mitchel) Bollenbacher.
The Adam Bollenbacher family in 1850: Adam, 44; Elizabeth, 30; Christian, 12; Catherine, 9; George, 6; Henry, 4; and Mary Ann, 2. Adam and Elizabeth were born in Germany but their children were born in Ohio. Adam farmed. [5]
The Adam Bollenbacher household in 1860: Adam, 54; Christina, 23; Mary Ann, 13; and Andrew, 14,again enumerated next to the Andrew Fisher household. [6]
Christian and Mary Ann set up housekeeping in Liberty Township and had two children by 1870. Their household in 1870: John C Fisher, 29, Prussia; Mary, 22, Ohio; Magdalene, 1, Ohio; Louisa, 3 months, Ohio. John “Christian” was a farmer. [7]
Their household in 1880: John C Fisher, 40; Mary A, 30; Magdalena B, 11; Minnie L, 10; Margaret E, 4; John A, 2; and twins, William M and Mary E, both 2 months old. John “Christian” was a farmer. [8]
The John “Christian” Fisher family in 1900: John, 60; Mary A, 52; Emma, 24; Adam, 22; Lizzie, 20; and William, 20. Mary Ann had given birth to 9 children and 6 of them were still living. [1]
John “Christian” Fisher died in Liberty Township on 26 March 1909 of cerebral apoplexy. He was 69 years old. He was buried on 29 March and H.B. Cowan, Rockford, was in charge of the funeral arrangements. [9]
After Christian’s death Mary Ann lived with her son William, his wife Hulda (Betzel), and their two sons. Their household in 1910: William Fisher, 30; Hulda, 24; Luther, 4; John, 2; and Mary Ann Fisher, 62, mother. [10]
Mary Ann Fisher died of tuberculosis of the lungs on 2 April 1920 in Liberty Township. According to her death certificate her father was Adam Bollenbacher, born in Germany, but her mother’s name was not known by the informant, who was her son William Fisher, of Celina. She was 72 years old and was buried on the 4th. [11]
Christian and Mary Ann (Bollenbacher) Fisher had the following children:
Magdalena (1868-1947), married John Fritzinger
Wilhelmine “Louise” (1870-1953), married Peter Strabel
Carolina E (1872-1873)
Louis Charles (1874-1876)
Emma Margaret (1876-1959), married William C. Weitz
Adam John “AJ” (1878-1949), married Minnie Christine Koch
Mary Elizabeth (1880-1973), married John Koch
William Michael Fisher (1880-1955), married Hulda A. Betzel
The 1900 and 1910 censuses indicated that Mary Ann had given birth to 9 children, but I could only account for 8.
[1] 1900 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 85, p.6, dwelling 117, family 122, John Fisher; Ancestry.com.
[2] 1850 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p.286B, dwelling 9, family 10, John A Fisher; Ancestry.com.
[3] 1860: 1860 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p. 359, dwelling 1017, family 1022, Andw Fisher; Ancestry.com.
[4] “Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013,” database with images, FamilySearch.org, John C Fisher & Mary A Bollenbaugh, 19 Dec 1867; from Mercer County Marriages, Vol. 3, p.172; FHL microfilm 914956.
[5] 1850 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p.286B, dwelling 8, family 9, Adam Bullenbaugh; Ancestry.com.
[6] 1860 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p.359, dwelling 1018, family 1023, Adam Bollenbaugh; Ancestry.com.
[7] 1870 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, p.148B, dwelling 103, family 95, John C Fisher; Ancestry.com.
[8] 1880 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 188, p.474C, dwelling 53, family 56, John C Fisher; Ancestry.com.
[9] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch.org, John Christian Fisher, 26 Mar 1909; from Liberty, Mercer deaths, no. 15124; FHL microfilm 1926957.
[10] 1910 U.S. Census, Liberty, Mercer, Ohio, ED 119, p.11B, dwelling 209, family 216, William Fisher; Ancestry.com.
[11] “Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953,” database with images, FamilySearch.org, Mary A Fisher, 2 May 1920; from Liberty, Mercer County deaths, no. 38157; FHL microfilm 1991134.
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Karen,
Thanks for all the info on my great grandparents. I sure enjoyed their old brick home when I was a little girl,
Martha Lawler
Author
You are welcome! Where exactly did they live?
The Fisher homestead was 2 miles south of Chatt on 49. Just past Oregon Road. I think the Bollenbacher’s lived on Oregon Road sort of behind the Fisher’s. The big brick house doesn’t look nearly as big now as it did when I was kid. Thanks for all the interesting information you find for Chatt.
Author
Thank you for that information!