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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published by Biographical Review Publishing Company in 1896.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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REV. GEORGE E. FISHER, of North Amherst, pastor of the Congregational church in Leverett, Mass., was born in Harvard, Worcester County, Mass., January 22, 1823, son of the Rev. George and Mary (Fisk) Fisher. Mr. Fisher’s grandfather, Luther Fisher, was a prosperous farmer of Wrentham, Mass. His son George was born in Wrentham, November 7, 1796, and graduated from Brown University, Providence, R. I., being a classmate of Horace Mann. He was a ripe scholar and became a prominent Congregational minister, preaching in Harvard. The Rev. George Fisher died in September, 1853, at the age of fifty-six years and ten months. His wife, Mary Fisk, who was a daughter of the Rev. Elisha Fisk, was born in Wrentham, November 9, 1801. They were married December 12, 1821, and she became the mother of six children, as follows: Elizabeth S., deceased; Harriet F., who married William A. Parker, of Harvard, and is now dead; Charles Luther, who died in infancy; Mary R., widow of Andrew Farwell, of Harvard; Henry M., a resident of Milford, Mass.; and George E., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Mary F. Fisher died April 29, 1852.

George E. Fisher commenced his education in his native town, and fitted for college at the Lawrence Academy in Groton, Mass. He entered Amherst College in 1842, was graduated with the class of 1846, and immediately began his theological course at Andover Seminary. He was graduated from that institution in 1849, and was ordained a minister on February 27, 1850. Since his ordination Mr. Fisher has been pastor of the following churches: the Congregational church in Rutland, Mass., which was his first charge, and where he remained for three years; at North Amherst six years; Greenville, N.H., for three years; Ashburnham, Mass., five years; South Hadley Falls from 1867 to 1879; East Amherst from 1879 to 1885, at which time he moved to North Amherst, where he now resides. Since 1886 Mr. Fisher has been pastor of the Congregational church in Leverett. He is a Republican in politics, and takes a deep interest in all important issues of the day. In 1867 he ably served as a Representative to the legislature from the district which includes Ashburnham and Winchendon.

The Rev. Mr. Fisher’s first wife, whom he married May 1, 1850, and who died August 8, 1858, was Harriet B. Holt, of Amherst. On September 7, 1859, Mr. Fisher wedded for his second wife Ellen E. Kellogg. She was born in North Amherst, September 25, 1833, daughter of Lyman and Mary A. (Porter) Kellogg. Lyman Kellogg was a native of Amherst, and was a successful farmer. He died in North Amherst, October 19, 1885, just thirty-one days after the death of his wife. Mrs. Kellogg was born in Bolton, Conn., on the 18th of September. She and her husband were members of the Congregational church.

Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have had four children, namely: Hattie H., who was born in Greenville, N.H., May 22, 1861, and died July 29 of the same year; Alice Belle, born in Ashburnham, Mass., February 25, 1864, and died September 14, 1865; George Lyman, born in South Hadley Falls, June 18, 1869, and died July 27, 1870; and Nellie Kellogg, born in South Hadley Falls, January 14, 1874, and died December 25, 1886.

Deeply imbued with the spirit of his sacred calling, for which he has an inherent love and capacity, the Rev. George E. Fisher has preached and faithfully devoted himself to his other pastoral duties continuously since 1850, exerting a moral and spiritual influence which has been widely felt. Mr. Fisher and his wife occupy a very pleasant home in North Amherst, and are highly esteemed members of the community, Mrs. Fisher also being, actively interested in the work of the church. The accompanying portrait of Mr. Fisher will be recognized with pleasure by his parishioners and many other warm friends.

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This family biography is one of the numerous biographies included in the Biographical Review Volume of Biographical Sketches of The Leading Citizens of Hampshire County, Massachusetts published in 1896. 

View additional Hampshire County, Massachusetts family biographies here: Hampshire County, Massachusetts Biographies

View a map of 1901 Hampshire County, Massachusetts here: Hampshire County Massachusetts Map

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