JOHN M. FISCUS, a well-known resident of Apollo, now retired
from active business, was born Dec. 11, 1841, in Valley township, Armstrong
Co., P., son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Martin) Fiscus, also natives of
Pennsylvania.
Christopher Fiscus, his grandfather, was born in France, and from that
country came to America during the latter part of the eighteenth century.
For a number of years he was engaged in farming in Westmoreland and
Armstrong counties, Pa., and became a man of large estate, owning at one time
600 acres of excellent land in Armstrong County.
He had several sons and daughters.
Abraham Fiscus, son of Christopher, was born in 1791 in what is now
Burrell township, Armstrong Co., Pa., and died at the age of sixty-nine years.
He took an active part in the affairs of his time, serving as a soldier
in the war of the 1812, and later was a leader in the public affairs of the
communities in which he lived. He served as one of the first officers of
Valley township, when it was organized in 1835.
In religious faith he was a Lutheran, in politics a Republican. He was
twice married, his first wife, a Miss Ourie, leaving seven children, and his
second wife, Elizabeth Martin, died in 1853, the mother of eight children.
She was a daughter of John Martin, a resident of Allegheny township,
Armstrong county. The children of the second marriage were:
Sarah J., Sidney, Elizabeth, John M., William, Harry, Hugh and Amanda.
John M. Fiscus attended school until he was fourteen years of age and
remained at home until his father died, after which the family moved to
Allegheny township, Armstrong county, and on Sept. 3, 1861, he enlisted for
service in the Civil war, entering Company K, 78th Pa. Vol. Inf.
He served faithfully until March, 1863, when he was honorably
discharged on account of disability, but by no means gave up his ambition to
serve his country. As soon as his health was restored he reenlisted, on Sept 3,
1864, entering Company H, 5th Pa. Vols., of which company he became sergeant,
and served in this capacity until June 30,
1865. His command was
known as Battery H, Heavy Artillery, and was stationed in front of Washington,
D. C., at Manassas, and on the Rapidan river.
After the war was over Mr. Fiscus returned to Armstrong county and two
months afterward became an employee in the old sheet iron mill at Apollo,
afterward being advanced to the position of a heater and continuing as such
until 1874, when he went to Pittsburgh. There
he became a sheet roller in the rolling mill of Moorhead, McClean & Co.
In June 1887, he returned to Apollo and entered the Apollo rolling mill
as a sheet roller, and continued to perform the difficult duties of that
responsible position until a few years ago, when he retired from hard work and
is enjoying well-earned rest. His
life has been one of industry and he has always commanded the respect of his
fellow citizens.
On July 26, 1863, Mr. Fiscus was married to Anna M. Stivison, a
daughter of William Stivison, and six children have been born to them, as
follows: William S.; Lolla M.;
Hugh W.; Logan T., and _______. Mr.
Fiscus and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Politically a Republican, he has always given the candidates of that
party his support, but has been no office seeker himself.
Source: Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and
Present, J. H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed April 2002 by James R. Hindman for the Armstrong County Beers
Project
Contributed for use by the Armstrong County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/armstrong/)
