| Life Story
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Jake Fisher worked as a weaver at TKWM in the early 1900s. His wife Sabina Cheney worked in the same department and for the same short duration. Three of Jake’s siblings also worked for the mill, John, Amelia, and Phillip.
Jacob “Jake” Fisher was born 22 July 1877 in Portland, OR to Mary [Weinkein] and Jacob “Jocko” Fisher Sr. He was one of seven children born to the couple. At six years of age, he witnessed the brutal murder of his father, a result of a domestic dispute. His mother Mary was granted a divorce in 1883 on cruelty grounds and given custody of the children. The court settlement split the family homestead giving Mary and the children a small house 300 yards from the main farmhouse. On the evening of 5 Jan 1884, Mary with two children and a lodger named William Bloxam, went to the barn on father Jacob’s half of the homestead to get some chickens that belonged to her. They were met by oldest brother Raymond and their father Jacob, armed with a pistol and shotgun. Jacob attacked his wife Mary while the children looked on. Mr. Bloxam in defense of Mary fired on Jacob and killed him. A sensational trial followed with Fisher children testifying on both sides. William Bloxam was found guilty of murder and sentenced to the State Penitentiary.
In 1883, Mary Fisher and her five youngest children moved to Salem. Then in 1888, as part of their Father’s probate settlement the three youngest boys, Jacob, John and Phillip were placed under the guardianship of David Simpson of Salem, OR.
As soon as the older children were able, they found work. Jacob’s sister Amelia and brother John went to work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill in 1893, Jacob and Phillip later followed.
Jake married Sabina Cheney on 24 Sep 1902 in Glendale, Douglas, OR. The couple met in the weaving department at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill. The couple returned to Salem following the marriage. No children were born to this union.
By 1910 the couple had moved to Douglas County, OR. They purchased the property of Sabina’s grandfather Charles Cheney, five miles out of Azalea, on Cow Creek Rd. He lived with them until his death.
From draft registration cards we have clues to Jake’s appearance. On his WW1 card at the age of 41, he was described as medium height, medium build with brown hair and blue eyes. His WW2 draft card records his height as 5 ft. 11 in. and weight as 135 lbs. He had a light complexion with gray hair and blue eyes. He was 64 years old.
Jake’s wife Sabina died 16 Nov 1959 in Azalea, OR at the age of 82. She was buried in the Glendale Memorial Cemetery. Jake died 10 Dec 1968 in Canyonville, OR. His death certificate records burial at the Masonic Cemetery in Glendale, OR. |
| Census Records |
1880 Jacob Fisher. Age: 3. Birth Date: abt 1877 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), John Fisher, age 5 months (brother).
1895 Marion County Census. Jacob Fisher. Age: 18. Birth Year: abt 1877 in Oregon. Residence: Salem, Marion, OR. Religion: Catholic. Occupation Laborer. Height: 5’6”. Weight: 125#. Complexion: Light.
1900 Jacob Fisher. Age: 22. Birth Date: Jul 1877 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), John Fisher, age 20 (brother), Philip Fisher, age 8 (brother).
1910 Jake Fisher. Age: 32. Birth Date: 1878 in Oregon. Home in 1910: Cow Creek, Douglas, OR. Married, grandson-in-law to HOH. Occupation: Farmer. Additional household members: Charles Cheney, age 86 (grandfather-in-law), Sabina Fisher, age 33 (wife).
1920 Jacob Fisher. Age: 42. Birth Date: 1878 in Oregon. Home in 1920: Cow Creek, Douglas, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Farmer. Additional household members: Sabina Fisher, age 42 (wife), Charles Cheney, age 94 (grandfather), Edna E. Williams, age 23 (boarder).
1930 Jacob Fisher. Age: 52. Birth Year: abt 1878 in Oregon. Home in 1930: Cow Creek, Douglas, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Farmer. Additional household member: Sabina Fisher, age 52 (wife).
1940 Jacob Fisher. Age: 62. Birth Year: abt 1878 in Oregon. Home in 1940: Cow Creek, Douglas, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Farmer. Additional household member: Bina Fisher, age 62 (wife).
1950 Jacob Fisher. Age: 72. Birth Year: abt 1878 in Oregon. Home in 1950: Cow Creek, Douglas, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Farmer. Additional household member: Sibina [Sabina] Fisher, age 72 (wife). |
| Digital Newspapers
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Oregon Statesman 6 Oct 1888, p. 5 – Guardianship of Fisher boys, David Simpson
Capital Journal 8 Jan 1901, p. 4 – Land Transfer, Barbara D’Arcy to Jacob Fisher & John G. Fisher and Philip Fisher to Jacob Fisher, lot 8, Reed’s Addition to Salem, $350.
Rogue River Courier 2 Oct 1902, p. 3 – Marriage to Sabina Cheney
Weekly Rogue River Courier (Grants Pass, OR) 2 Oct 1902, p. 3 – Marriage, Fisher-Cheney
Capital Journal 3 Sep 1902, p. 4 – Sidewalk Ordinance Compliance
Capital Journal 2 Nov 1917, p. 6 – Real Estate Transfer, John to Jacob Fisher
News Review (Roseburg, OR) 17 Nov 1959, p. 2 – Death Notice, Sabina
News Review (Roseburg, OR) 18 Nov 1959, p. 2 – Obituary, Sabina
The World (Coos Bay, OR) 11 Dec 1968, p. 2 – Death Notice, Jake |
