Bio: Fisher, Joseph & Matilda

Surnames: FISHER BOLLINGER

----Source: ABBOTSFORD, WIS. CENTENNIAL BOOK - 1973

Fisher, Joseph & Matilda

Joseph Fisher, an early prominent hardware dealer, was born in New York City on January 14, 1854. In 1856, his parents moved to a farm in the town of Lamartine, Fond du Lac Co., where he lived until Dec. 28, 1881, when he married Matilda Bollinger, at Eden, Wisconsin.

Two daughters were born to them: Emma and Lulu. In 1885, they moved to a farm in the town of Fairview, Clay Co., S.D. A son, Frank, was born to them there in 1886. In the fall of 1888, shortly after harvest time, fire destroyed all their buildings and personal property. The Fisher’s then returned to Fond du Lac Co. and purchased the old homestead from his father and again engaged in farming.

The Fisher’s moved to Abbotsford in June of 1899, to a home he had purchased, located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Highway 13 and 29.

Frank recalled his first day in Abbotsford when he was taken on a sightseeing tour of the village by George Margraff, who was a son of the owner of the Margraff tavern and boarding house, which was the first place George got thoroughly acquainted with. He also recalls some of the business places: Young & Sons, Denney & Olson and Meyers & Chase Stores, Ed Austin Meat Market, John Greve tavern, Paul Woock tavern, boarding and rooming house and the Tennant Hotel.

Through some misunderstanding, Frank and Lulu hiked two and one-half miles to attend school at Colby. After a short time they enrolled in the Abbotsford school where their teachers were Guy Mains and Herbert Francis. His father was a member of the school board, along with Peter Bark and Charles Partridge.

In the fall of 1900, Joseph Fisher purchased an eighty acre farm northwest of the limits of the city of Colby and moved there in the spring of 1901. During their stay on the farm, Frank and Lulu completed their schooling at Colby High School. In the fall of 1905, their father sold the farm and they moved back to the old home in Abbotsford. Mr. Fisher then built two houses just north of their home and moved into one and rented the other to A.H. Luhrsen, where he lived several years.

In 1906, Frank attended the Fountain Business College at Fond du Lac. In 1907, he accepted a position in the Abbotsford Bank, with A.H. Flaig, who was the cashier. He recalls that Mr. Flaig was the first person in Abbotsford to own an automobile, which was a seven passenger Buick touring car that her purchased in 1906.

At the turn of the century, Mr. Galloway had a hardware store in the building now known as the Coffee Shop. Hunt and Tennant purchased the stock, continued the business for a couple of years, and sold to Casper Heimes. Later, Mr. Heimes sold to S.C. Johnson & Son, who moved here from Coloma, Wisconsin. In October 1907, Joseph Fisher purchased the hardware store from S.C. Johnson & Sons. At that time, Frank resigned his position in the bank and was succeeded by George Ouimette. Frank then joined his father in the hardware business under the firm name of Joseph Fisher & Son.

They remained in the same location until 1911 when they moved to the location of the present Abbotsford Hardware Store. Fisher & Son then sold the stock to Fred Parrish, who later sold it to L.H. Weyers. The store changed hands again, this time being sold to Hans Amacher, who operated the hardware store many years.