Walton Ward Fisher, DVM in Seward, Nebraska

WILLIAM COOPER > AMOS COOPER > CHALKLEY JARED COOPER > MARY E COOPER > Joseph Fisher > WALTON WARD FISHER, DVM

Seward Courthouse & Fire Dept 1910

Joseph Fisher was the son of Jacob and Mary Fisher who had come from Berks County, Pennsylvania to Oneco, Stephenson County, Illinois prior to 1850. In about 1860, he married Mary Ellen Cooper, daughter of Chalkley Jared Cooper and his wife Margaret Ann Thompson. Mary Ellen was the second of nine known children, born 19 Mar 1843 in Clark County, Illinois.

Mary Ellen and Joseph had one known surviving son, Walton Ward Fisher, born on 29 Jun 1868, prior to her death in 1873. In 1880, W W Fisher was not living with his father, but with his Grandfather C J Cooper, Great Grandmother Susan Gourley Thompson, and aunt Susan Lavica Cooper. His father died on 22 Sep 1881. Both of his parents were buried in Rock Grove Union Cemetery in Stephenson County.

The next sight of Walton is in 1896 when he's living in Nebraska and has married Ruth Hill. Ruth's family was from Cole County, Illinois and her parents had come to Nebraska when she was seven years old.

Walton Ward Fisher, DVM

In 1900, the couple are living in Madison Township in Fillmore County, Nebraska where they are farming. In 1910 they are living in Seward and Walton is working as a contractor. Seward is located just West of Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1913, most of the town's people were attending "the big ball game" south of town when a tornado decimated over 15 blocks, killing 13. In 1918, a modern high school was built. The population reached nearly 2,000 after the rebuilding.

At some point, he attends college (possible UNL) and receives his veterinary degree. In 1918, he is listed in the Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association Journal as practicing n Seward, Nebraska.

Walton Bruce

This also launches him into the "professional" category in town which gave them a higher social standing. Mrs. Fisher was very active in community affairs, but particularly the Order of the Eastern Star. They had three children: Rebecca Louise "Louise", Meda Hill, and Walton Bruce.

In 1927, Walton and his daughters returned to Stephenson County for their first visit since he left for Nebraska to visit a Fisher relative.

The daughters would both become schoolteachers. In 1931, Louise went to Chicago high schools to teach and Meda first went to Idaho, but then also joined Louise in Chicago. Neither would ever marry.

R Louise

Son Walton Bruce "Bud" Fisher married Mary Louise McCreavey and became an insurance salesman and moved to Ft Wayne, Indiana. By the mid-1940s, the growing family would be living in Oak Park, Illinois.

WW and Ruth moved to River Forest, Illinois in about 1940 to be near the rest of the family. WW Fisher died 18 Mar 1953 in Cook County. Ruth would die suddenly on 21 July 1955 while traveling with her daughters in Greeley, Colorado.

All of the children of the Fisher's would eventually end up in Florida. R Louise died 21 Dec 1996 in New Port Richey, Meda Hill died in Dec 1965 in Sarasota, and Walton Bruce 27 Feb 1971 in Brooksville. Walton Bruce and his wife had seven children, One would died at age 9 of illness in Illinois and Walton Thomas "Tom" would die in an auto accident on 24 Mar 1966. He was a junior linebacker for the University of Tennessee who died in a car-semi accident on his way back from Spring Break. Another player was killed and one very gravely injured in the crash. The Tom Fisher Memorial Stadium was built in his honor at Hernando High School, where he attended, in his honor.