Descendents of Henry George Grabenhorst
Descendents of Dorothea Auguste Elizabeth Grabenhorst Fisher Wolf

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Ferdinand Maximillian (Max) Fisher
 

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1-Ferdinand Maximillian (Max) Fisher, son of Jacob Ferdinand Fischer and Dorothea (Dorothea Auguste Elizabeth) Grabenhorst, was born on 30 Sept 1865 in Dayton, Webster, Iowa, died on 19 Jul 1931 in Hooppole, Henry, Illinois at age 65 and was buried in Hooppole Cemetery.

Ferdinand married Katharine Anna (Katie) Berge, daughter of Charles Berge and Catherine Wetzel, on 27 Sep 1892 in Henry County, Illinois. Catharine was born on 27 Apr 1867 in Hooppole, Henry, Illinois, died on 28 Mar 1916 in Hooppole, Henry, Illinois at age 48 and was buried in Hooppole Cemetery. They had no children.

Ferdinand next married Elizabeth Gerber, daughter of Frank Otto Gerber and Elizabeth Arnold and widow of , on 21 Jun 1917 in Hooppole, Henry, Illinois. Elizabeth was born in Apr 1877 in Sundhausen, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France, died 31 Jan 1964 in Hooppole, Henry, Illinois at age 86 and was buried in Hooppole Cemetery. They had no children.

Prior to her marriage to Max, Elizabeth was married on 28 Aug 1895 in Henry County, Illinois to Philip Wiederhold, son of Conrad Wiederhold and Margaret Wilhart.  Philip was born in Nov 1863 in Kleba Kreis, Hersfeld, Germany, died on 21 Aug 1896 in Henry County, Illinois at age 32 and was buried in Hooppole Cemetery. Philip and Elizabeth had a daughter, Mabel, who was born six months after Philip died.

2-Mabel Wiederhold was born on 5 Feb 1897 in Henry County, Illinois, died on 29 Oct 1941 in Princeton, Bureau, Illinois at age 44, and was buried in Hooppole Cemetery. 

Mabel married Edward Clarence Morse, son of Clifford Eugene Morse and Anna Margaretha Brandts, on 15 Feb 1917 in Sterling, Whiteside, Illinois. Edward was born on 21 May 1889 in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansa and died on 15 Jun 1983 in Prophetstown, Whiteside, Illinois at age 94. They had one son: Robert Morton.

3-Robert Morton Morse was born on 2 Oct 1922 in Hooppole, Henry, Illinois, died on 15 Oct 1979 in Hooppole, Henry, Illinois at age 57, and was buried in Hooppole Cemetery. 

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Biography
Photographs
Documents and Articles
Records
Gravestones

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Biography
by Audrey Polson

Ferdinand Maximillian (Max) Fisher was born September 30, 1865 at Dayton, Iowa to Jacob and Dorothea Grabenhorst Fisher.  His father died when he was young. After his mother married Barnhart Wolf on March 7, 1871, Max moved with his family to Yorktown Township, Henry County, Illinois and resided on a farm west of Hooppole.  Max married Katherine Berge, daughter of Charles and Kathryn Wetzel Berge on September 27, 1892.  Katherine was born on April 27, 1867 in Illinois.  Max and Katherine farmed in Yorktown and Bureau Townships before moving to Hooppole in 1910. Max became the Hooppole post master and remained in that job for 17 years.  Katherine died on March 28, 1916. Max then married Mrs. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Gerber Wiederhold, daughter of Frank and Elizabeth Arnold Gerber June 21, 1917. Elizabeth was born in Germany on April 1877 and died January 31, 1964 at the Henry County Convalescent Home.   Max died July 19, 1931 in Hooppole.  Max, Katherine and Elizabeth are buried in the Hooppole Cemetery. 

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Photographs

Max Fisher (Ferdinand Maximillian)

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Documents and Articles

Articles

The Dispatch (Moline, Illinois) · 14 Apr 1930

Auto Overturns In Green River
Four Hooppole Residents Escape by Breaking Glass in Windows
Atkinson, April 14,- Mr. and Mrs. Ben Wolf and Mr. and Mrs. Max Fisher of Hooppole narrowly escaped serious injury yesterday afternoon when their car ran off the approach to a Green river bridge north of Atkinson, plunged into the river and turned over.
The occupants broke the glass windows and succeeded in getting out of the machine. They were on their way home from Geneseo.

The Geneseo Republic September 4, 1914

"COMPLETE NEWS OF THE WEEK OF HOOPPOLE"
Max Fisher expects to begin building his post office building soon. He will use cement blocks as material.
Note from Audrey Polson: The house Max built has the same blocks as the post office. A relative of ours used to visit Lizzie at this house as a child and both the house and post office are still standing. The post office was decommissioned about 10-15 years ago.

Obituaries

Ferdinand Maximillian Fischer

The Geneseo Republic Friday, June 24, 1931
F. MAX FISHER
Ferdinand Max Fischer was born Sept. 30, 1865 at Dayton, Iowa. Here he spent his childhood days till he was 10 years of age. Then he moved with his mother and stepfather to Hooppole, residing on a farm west of town until he was a young man. He later married to Catherine Berge and together they lived on the farm until the year 1910 when they retired and built the home in which he last resided with the hope of spending the remaining years in the village. He was then engaged as the village postmaster, which position he had held for 17 years. In 1916 his wife passed away. In June of 1917 he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Wiederhold of Hooppole who had been his faithful and devoted companion until his death. In his youth, Mr. Fisher was converted and joined the Evangelical church of Hooppole and has been a respected leader in it throughout the years. He has held the following important offices over the period of years. Sunday school superintendent, class leader, teacher, trustee and steward: the two latter offices he held until his death. He leaves to morn his departure his wife, Elizabeth Fisher, two sisters, Mrs. Caroline Holzinger of Geneseo, Mrs. Loretta Murphy of Wyoming; two half sisters, Mrs. Lovina Seyller of Hooppole, Mrs. Margaret Wolever of Chicago; one half brother Ben Wolf of Hooppole, a stepdaughter Mrs. Ed Morse and a dutiful son-in-law, Ed Morse and a grandchild Robert Morse. Also many cousins, nephews, nieces and a host of friends. Three brothers, two sisters and his parents are deceased.

The Daily Times, Davenport, Iowa July 21, 1931
HOOPPOLE, Ill., July 21 (Special) -Funeral Services were held at 2 p.m. today at the Zion church for Ferdinand M. Fisher, Hooppole postmaster who committed suicide by swallowing poison Sunday. It was revealed at the inquest that Mr. Fisher was found by the family in the barn, dying from the effects of poison. He had been in poor health, and the jury returned a verdict of suicide while despondent. He suffered a stroke of paralysis two years ago and had been failing since. Mr. Fisher was born Sept. 30, 1866 and was educated in the rural schools of this vicinity . He married Catherine Berge, who died March 29, 1916, and married Mrs. Elizabeth Wiederhold June 21, 1917. The decedent was a member of the Zion Evangelical church, and held the office of postmaster in Hooppole 16 years. Survivors are the widow, two sisters, Mr. J.J. Holzinger of Geneseo and Mrs. Loretta Murphy of Los Angeles, a half brother, Ben Wolf of Hooppole, and two half sisters, Mrs. Lovina Seyller of Hooppole and Mrs. Margaret Wolever of Chicago.

Catharine Mary Berge Fisher

The Geneseo Republic Friday, April 7, 1916
Katherine Mary Fisher
Katherine Mary Fisher, wife of Max Fisher and daughter of Charles and Katherine Berge, was born Hooppole, Henry County, Ill., April 27, 1867, and there quietly fell asleep in Jesus, trusting her all to His mighty resurrection power, on March 28, 1916. Her age was 48 years, 11 months and 1 day. Her short illness ended abruptly, and the news of her sudden death saddened the whole community. She was married to Max Fisher Sept. 27, 1892. Practically her whole lifetime was spent in this community. She was converted under the labors of the sainted Rev. C Gaggstetter and united with the Evangelical Association in 1882. At the time of her death she was a faithful and consistent member of Calvary United Evangelical church, Hooppole.  .....several general paragraphs on character.....  She wrote in her bible the words, that in our opinion, are the fullest expression of her philosophy of life, viz: "Do the things that make you really happy." .....several general paragraphs on religion...Besides the large number of friends and relatives, she leaves to mourn her departure when life was at its zenith, a husband, two brothers, Charles W. Berge of Annawan and Rev. W.F. Berge of Sterling; and three sisters, Mrs. Herman Wolf and Misses Minnie and Anna Berge of Hooppole. Funeral services were conducted from Calvary United Evangelical church, Hooppole, March 31, in charge of her pastor, Rev. R.E. Brothers. A brief appreciation of the character of the deceased was given by the pastor of the Zion church, Rev. W.H. Manshardt. Messrs. Ed Zinse, Charles Groves, H.J. Ringle, William Vandermoon, A.L. Soliday and W.H. Schinleber acted as pall bearers. Although the roads were were well nigh impassable, a concourse of friends that overtaxed the capacity of the church gathered from near and far to attend the services. Among those were friends from Mount Morris, Sterling and Prophetstown, Mineral, Geneseo and Tampico. Many beautiful floral offerings were testified to the esteem in which her friends held her.

Elizabeth Gerber Wiederhold Fisher

The Geneseo Republic Friday, February 7, 1964
Death Claims Hooppole Lady
Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher, 86, of Hooppole died Friday evening, January 31, in the Henry county convalescent home. Funeral services were Monday afternoon, February 3, in the Zion EUB church, Hooppole, with the Rev. John H. Osborn, pastor, officiating. Mrs. George Arnold was organist. Pallbearers were Lowell Houch, Marvin Harker, Fay Gish, Wayne Simpson and Milton Gerber, all of Hooppole and Clayton Countryman of Prophetstown. Burial was inn Hooppole cemetery. The former Elizabeth Gerber was born April 3, 1877, in Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, the daughter of Frank and Elizabeth Arnold Gerber. She attended school in Germany and had lived in Hooppole the last 50 years. In 1917 she married Max Fisher. She was a member of the Zion EUB church. Surviving are a brother, Frank of Tampico; two sisters, Mrs. Sophie Talley and Mrs. Lena Shere, both of Hooppole, and one grandson. Her husband on daughter preceded her in death.

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Records

Census Records

1900 census
	F M Fisher age 34 born in Illinois farmer Katherine M Fisher age 33 born in Illinois Fairfield, Bureau, Illinois; Roll: 238; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0009; FHL microfilm: 1240238
1910 census
	Ferdinand M Fisher age 44 born in Illinois farmer Katherine Fisher age 43 born in Illinois Yorktown, Henry, Illinois; Roll: T624_291; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0203; FHL microfilm: 1374304.
1920 census
	Ferdinand M Fisher age 54 born in Illinois postmaster Elizabeth Fisher age 42 born in Germany Yorktown, Henry, Illinois; Roll: T625_371; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 149; Image: 1135.
1930 census
	Ferdinand M Fisher age 64 born in Illinois postmaster Elizabeth Fisher age 52 born in Germany Yorktown, Henry, Illinois; Roll: 519; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 50; Image: 550.0; FHL microfilm: 2340254.

Vital Records

Marriage Records

Illinois Marriage Records

Ferdinand M Fischer and Catharine M Berge
Name: Ferdinand M Fischer
Gender: Male
Spouse Name:
Marriage Date: 27 Sep 1892
Marriage County: Henry
County Court Records, Film # 1435944 - 1435945.

Ferdinand M Fischer and Elizabeth Gerber Wiederhold
Name: F . M. Fisher
Gender: Male
Age: 51
Birth Date: abt 1866
Marriage Date: 1917
Marriage Place: Henry, Illinois, USA
Spouse:
Film Number: 001435951

Death Records  

Illinois Death Record
Name: Ferdinand M. Fisher
Birth Date: abt 1866
Death Date: 19 Jul 1931
Death Place: Hooppole, Henry, Illinois
Death Age: 65
Gender: Male
Father Name: Jacob Fisher
Mother Name: Dorthy Grabenherst
Spouse Name: Elizabeth Fisher
FHL Film Number: 1653945

Illinois Death Record
Name: Catherine Anna Fisher
[Catherine Anna Birge]
Birth Date: 27 Apr 1867
Birth Place: Hooppole
Death Date: 28 Mar 1916
Death Place: Hooppole, York Town Twp , Henry, Illinois
Burial Date: 31 Mar 1916
Burial Place: Hooppole
Death Age: 48
Occupation: House Wife
Race: White
Marital Status: M
Gender: Female
Residence: Hooppole, York Town Twp., Henry, Illinois
Father Name: Charlie Birge
Father Birth Place: Germany, Hessen
Mother Name: Catherine Wetzel
Mother Birth Place: Germany, Hessen
FHL Film Number: 1531028

Illinois Death Record
Name: Elizabeth Gerber Wiederhold Fisher
Illinois death records not online past 1947 (see obituary)

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Gravestones

Max Fisher is buried with his two wives: Elizabeth Berge Fisher and Katherine Gerber Fisher
Hooppole Cemetery 
Hooppole, Henry, Illinois

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