497 S 18th St. 

1440 Bellevue St. 

1970 Broadway 

Phillip Harold Fisher was born 18 Mar 1882 in Portland, OR to Jacob and Mary [Weinkein] Fisher. He was one of seven children born to the couple. Originally from Missouri, the family came to Oregon by way of Kansas between 1876 and 1880. They took up a homestead along the macadamized road south of Portland. In 1883 Phillip’s mother sued for divorce citing cruelty. The court settlement awarded custody of the children to her and split the family homestead, giving mother Mary a small house 300 yards away from the main dwelling. On the evening of 5 Jan 1884, tragedy struck. Mary, two of her children, and William Bloxam, a lodger, went to the barn on father Jacob’s half of the homestead to get some chickens. Father Jacob met them with a pistol and attacked Mary. Bloxam, in defense fired on Jacob and killed him. A sensational trial followed, the coverage of which reached across the Western United States. William Bloxam was found guilty of murder in the second degree and sentenced to the penitentiary for life.   

Following the trial, Mary Fisher moved to Salem with five of her children, Mary, Amelia, Jacob “Jake,” John, and Phillip. In 1888, the three youngest boys were placed under the guardianship of David Simpson of Salem, OR.   

As soon as the older children were able, they found work. Sister Amelia and brother John found work at the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill in 1893. Siblings Jacob and Phillip soon joined them. While working at the mill Phillip met his future wife Lottie Denny Gilson. They married on 22 June 1902 in the Lutheran Christus Church in Salem. They would become parents of three daughters, Esther, Dorothy and Viola.  

Phillip worked for the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill for over thirty years until retirement. He left briefly in 1911 for a couple of years and again in the mid 1920s to work as a plumber but returned to millwork each time.   

From his military draft registration cards, we have the following physical description of Phillip at two points in time. In 1918 at age 36, he was described as tall with a medium build, light brown hair and blue eyes. Then in 1942 at age 60, his height was recorded as 6 feet and his weight 165 lbs. He had a light complexion with gray hair and blue eyes. 

In September 1934, Phillip was the president of Union 2090, the local Woolen Textile Workers, of which 90% were TKWM workers. He had taken an active role in the unionization of mill employees and during the Fall strike at the mill he represented them during negotiations with mill management.  

Phillip died 9 Apr 1954 in Salem. He was 72 years old. His obituary stated that he had been ill for 8 months. His wife Lottie died 28 July 1969, at the age of 84. Both are buried in City View Cemetery.  

1896  Fisher Philip, laborer, TKWM Co., res nr E. Salem School 

1904  Fisher Philip H, weaver, TKWM Co, res Oak n w corner 22d 

1905 Fisher Philip H, weaver TKWM Co, res Oak n w cor 22d 

1907  Fisher Philip H, weaver, TKWM Co, res 497 S 18th  

1909 Fisher Philip H, weaver TKWM Co, res 497 S 18th 

1911 Fisher Philip H, steamfitter T M Barr, res 497 S 18th 

1913 Fisher Philip H (Lottie L), plumber, res 497 S 18th 

1917 Fisher Philip H (Lottie) weaver TKWM Co, res 497 S 18th 

1924 Fisher Philip H (Lottie L) plumber, h 497 S 18th 

1928 Fisher Phillip H (Lottie L) plumber J B Nathman h 1440 Bellevue 

1930 Fisher Philip H (Lottie L) with T K Woolen Mill Co h 1440 Bellevue 

1932 Fisher Philip H (Lottie L) employee T K Woolen Mill Co h 1440 Bellevue 

1934 Fisher Philip H (Lottie) millworker TKWMCo h 1440 Bellevue 

1935 Fisher Philip H (Lottie L) weaver TKWMCo h 1440 Bellevue 

1936-37 Fisher Phillip H (Lottie L) weaver TKWMCo h 1440 Bellevue 

1938-39 Fisher Philip H (Lottie L) factoryworker TKWMCo h 1440 Bellevue 

1940-41 Fisher Philip H (Lottie L) drawer in TKWMCo h 1440 Bellevue 

1942 Fisher Phillip H (Lottie L) laborer TKWMCo h 1440 Bellevue 

1945 Fisher Phillip H (Lottie L) janitor Ladd & Bush bldg. h 1970 Broadway 

1947 Fisher Phillip H (Lottie L) h 1970 Broadway 

1949 Fisher Phillip H (Lottie L) h 1970 Broadway 

1951 Fisher Phillip H (Lottie) h 1970 Broadway 

1953-54 Fisher Phillip H (Lottie) h 1970 Broadway 

1956 Fisher Lottie L (wid Phillip) h 1970 Broadway 

1958 Fisher Lottie L (wid Phillip) h 1970 Broadway 

1960 Fisher Lottie L (wid Phillip) h 1970 Broadway 

1900  Philip Fisher. Age: 18. Birth Date: Mar 1882 in Oregon. Home in 1900: 402 Fifteenth St. Salem Ward 1, Marion, OR. Single, son to HOH. Occupation: Carder in Woolen Mill. Additional household members: Mary Fisher, age 54 (mother), Jacob Fisher, age 22 (brother), John Fisher, age 20 (brother).  

1905 Marion County Census. Philip Fisher. Age: 22. Occupation: Laborer. Listed with wife Lottie and daughter Esther.  

1910  Philip Fisher. Age: 28. Birth Date: 1882 in Oregon. Home in 1910: 497 S 18th St. Salem Ward 4, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Plumber. Years Married: 8. Additional household members: Lottie Fisher, age 24 (wife), Esther Fisher, age 6 (daughter), Dorothy Fisher, age 1 (daughter).  

1920  Philip H. Fisher. Age: 37. Birth Year: abt 1883 in Oregon. Home in 1920: 497 S. 18th St. Salem Ward 4, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Plumber. Additional household members: Lottie L. Fisher, age 34 (wife), Esther C. Fisher, age 16 (daughter), Dorothy M. Fisher, age 11 (daughter), Viola M. Fisher, age 9 (daughter).  

1930  Philip Fisher. Age: 48. Birth Year: abt 1882 in Oregon. Home in 1930: 1440 Bellevue St. Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Drawing-in Man, Woolen Mill. Additional household member: Lottie L. Fisher, age 44 (wife).  

1940  Philip H. Fisher. Age: 58. Birth Year: abt 1882 in Oregon. Home in 1940: 1440 Bellevue St. Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. Occupation: Threader in Woolen Mill. Additional household member: Lottie L. Fisher, age 54 (wife).  

1950  Philip H. Fisher. Age: 68. Birth Date: abt 1882 in Oregon. Home in 1950: 1970 Broadway, Salem, Marion, OR. Married, HOH. No additional household members listed. 

Lottie Linn Denny Fisher. Birth: 10 Jun 1885 Bethel, Polk County, OR. Death: 28 Jul 1969 (aged 84). Burial: City View Cemetery, Salem, Marion County, OR. Plot: Section M. Memorial ID: 75537849 

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. 

Oregon Statesman 21 Jun 1902, p. 5 – Marriage license, Lottie 

Oregon Statesman 1 July 1902, p. 4 – Marriage announcement, Lottie 

Capital Journal 5 Sep 1934, p. 1 – Kay Woolen Mill Workers Vote to Strike, Phil Fisher president of local textile union 

Capital Journal 6 Sep 1934, p. 1 – Zero Hour at 7 Today as Kay Mill Tie-up Approaches, Phil Fisher, president of local textile union 

Oregon Statesman 23 Sep 1934, p. 1 – Textile Workers Here and Over Entire Nation Will Return to Work Monday, Strike is Ended, Philip Fisher, president of local textile union 

Capital Journal 13 Nov 1940 p. 1 – Mill Strikers Ask Union Shop, Philip Fisher, president of local textile union 

Oregon Statesman 24 Nov 1940, p. 1 – Check-Out Setup may reopen mill, Philip Fisher, president of local textile union 

Capital Journal 10 Apr 1954, p. 13 – Obituary, Phillip 

OR Statesman 30 July 1969, p. 23 – Obituary, Lottie 

M3 1978-004-0004     Group Photo