William Thomas Fisher was probably born in Lawrence Co., TN in 1827. I assume that he was part of the Fisher family of William B. Fisher, B. 1768 in VA, who was listed in the Lawrence Co., TN census for 1850.
William and Martha married in 1848 in Wayne Co. TN. They probably immigrated to Arkansas about 1854. William’s family is listed in the Searcy County, Arkansas census, living in Bear Creek Township in 1860.
Their children born between 1848 and 1860 are: Mary, Sarah, Frances, James, George, and William. Children born after 1860 are: Christopher Columbus, Malinda, Charles and Thomas Wayne. Martha’s application for a pension states that she had 10 children.
William Thomas Fisher was listed as a member of the “Arkansas Peace Society.” He was a member of a Chain Gang and was made to join the Confederate Army in Little Rock Arkansas on December 18, 1861. He served in Co 1, 18th Ark Inf. He was later in the 3rd Conf. Inf. (18th Ark. Inf.{Marmaduke}). It was later re-designated the 3rd Conf. Infantry on Jan 31, 1862.
On Feb 28th, 1863 he was made a teamster. On August 4th, 1863, he deserted at Fynch Station. He was captured the same day at Bridgeport, Alabama. On August 11th, he was sent to Louisville, KY. He was released after taking an oath to remain north of the Ohio River.
He enlisted on September 5th, 1864 at Springfield (D L Ruff), MO for 6 months in the Union Army. He was a Pvt. in Co F, 46th Missouri Volunteer Infantry. He was placed on detached service by special order No. 9 on September 20th, 1864 to Quarter Master’s Office. He was discharged because of rheumatism.
About 1875, he took his family to Oregon. They may have come by wagon or have taken a train to Oregon since the days of wagon trains were about over.
The Fisher Family settled in Joseph and then Cove, Oregon. William, 52, is listed as a farmer in the 1880 census. With him are living his wife, Martha 49, and his children, Frances, James, George, Christopher, Charles and Thomas.
William Thomas died in Joseph, Oregon at the age of 58 in 1885. His wife Martha died in Cove, Oregon in 1911.
This biography submitted by Zina Fisher Powning Tuesday Apr 4, 1999