Eli Fisher was born in Tazewell County, Illinois on May 20, 1841. When the Civil war broke out, he enlisted into the 17^th Illinois infantry company G on May 25, 1861 and mustered out on March 1, 1862. He was present at the Battle of Fort Donaldson. He was discharged due to broken health. In the later half of 1862 he entered college and graduated in June of 1863. He pursued education with in the Protestant Church; he arrived in Pacific Grove in 1901 with wife Anna Bradbury-Fisher. He found a half built church and was instrumental in raising the funds to complete “The Christian Church of Pacific Grove”. He was also a member of the Lucius Fairchild GAR (Grand Army of the Republic”) Post #179 based out of Pacific Grove, California. Rev. Eli Fisher died in Roseburg, Oregon on January 4, 1924; his body was transported back to Pacific Grove, where he was buried next to his wife in El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove, California.

The following are transcriptions from two pages from a program souvenir from the Christian Church in 1905, and newspaper transcriptions of obituary, and funeral notice.

FISHER, ELI (1842-1924) Pacific Grove 
(Christian Church Souvenir 1905)
Rev. Eli Fisher

The subject of this sketch; was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, may 20, 1841, and was brought up on a farm.  At the age of sixteen he entered college at Eureka, Ill.; taught school at Hittle’s Grove during the winter of 1859-60 reentered college April 1st, 1860.  when the War of the Rebellion broke out in 1861 he enlisted in Company G, 17th Ill. Vol. Inf., on April 19th.  On account of broken health he was never with his regiment after march 1st 1862.  He was present at the Battle of Fort Donaldson.  In 1862 he re-entered college and graduated in June 1863.  During the winter of 1863-4 he taught school.  Mr. Fisher’s chosen work was the ministry.   In June 1858 he preached his first sermon and n 1864 he entered in the work as an Evangelist in Western Illinois.  Mr. Fisher has held pastorates at Fall Creek, Oak Ridge, Old Bedford, Bushnell, Litchfield, Mt. Zion, Burnside, Adrien, Ferris and Carthage, Illinois; Beatrice, Wahoo and Waterloo Nebraska;  Missoula, Montana, Dallas, Grants’s Pass and Medford, Oregon; Salinas and Petaluma, this State, and is now as Pacific Grove.  About 1000 members have been received in the church under his ministry.

Pacific Grove Daily ReviewJanuary 5, 1924
Eli Fisher Passes Away in Oregon

The sad news of death was received here today from Roseburg, Oregon, that the Rev. Eli Fisher, former pastor of the Christian church here and for many years a resident of Pacific Grove, had passed away in the Oregon city yesterday.

The news came in the form of a telegram from the aged pastor’s wife, Mrs. Eli Fisher.

The deceased who was 81 years of age lived here for many years and moving to Roseburg some two years ago.

Since leaving Pacific Grove his health has been failing and during the past year he has constantly been ailing, though his death comes as a surprise.

He came here several years ago from Indiana, and was one of the early members of the Lucius Fairchild post of the G.A.R. here and active among its affairs being adjutant of the post at one time.  The body is being shipped to Pacific Grove for interment and arrangements are being made for the funeral for 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon with the G.A.R. in charge.

First his death came in a telegram to Cologne T.R. Weaver, a close friend of the deceased and comrade of the Lucius Fairchild post (G.A.R.)  

Pacific Grove Daily Review January 8, 1924
Eli Fisher Is Laid To Rest

Funeral services for the late Rev. Eli Fisher, former pastor of the Christian church here who died in Roseburg, Ore, on January 2, were held in Pacific Grove today.

The body was taken from the Paul’s undertaking parlors at 9 o’clock this morning to the Christian church were it lay in state until the hour of burial at 2 o’clock.

Rev. G.L. Lobdell, pastor of the Christian church paid a touching tribute to the aged pastor whom he referred to as one of the most beloved citizens in Pacific Grove and as one who had devoted his life to the interests of his fellowmen.

Members of Lucius Fairchild Post of which deceased was a past adjutant, acted as pallbearers at the funeral and the aged pastor was laid to rest with full military honors of the post.

The deceased was 82 years of age and lived in the Grove for many years prior to taking up his resident in the Oregon city.  He was always interested in the welfare and growth of Pacific Grove even while residing away from the city and while here was one of the most highly esteemed pastors of the Christian church.  He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Margaret Fisher.

The deceased was a native of Tazewell county, Illinois, and served in the Union Army, enlisting in April 16, 1861.

Pallbearers were: Comrades F.W. Oliver, S.A. Wolff, D.D. Davis, H.R. Starkhouse and J.M. Fitch.

Compiled and Submitted: by Tim P. Reese, PCC  
Camp Abe Lincoln #10 based out of Santa Cruz, Ca  
Dept. of Calif. and Pacific  
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War  
Sep 2009

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