J. W. Fisk, farmer, P. O. Melrose, Among the more enterprising of the farmers of Melrose Township should be mentioned the name of J. W. Fisk.  He was born in Putnam County, Ind., July 10, 1834.  His father, James Fisk, was born in Virginia, January 5, 1805, and was raised principally in Kentucky. He was there married in 1822, to Miss Cassander Frakes, daughter of Joseph Frakes, who was a native of England, and died at the advanced age of one hundred and six years. He served through the Revolution, and was never sick an hour in his long life, and dropped as an autumn leaf falls from the bough. Cassander was born in Kentucky about 1807, and died when William was three years old.   Subject's grandfather on his mother's side was named John, and was born in England.   He also served through the war of the Revolution. The family is somewhat noted for its military record. The father of our subject held the commission of Colonel in the Mexican war, and William Fisk took part in the late war, as did also his three brothers, Robert W., Richard S., and Francis M. Fisk. William was enlisted in Company A, of the Thirty-eighth Indiana, but most of his time was on detailed duty in the Fifteenth Army Corps, Ordnance Brigade.  Discharged July 14, 1865.  Took part in all the service of his corps, incident to Sherman's march to the sea. Received a sunstroke from over fatigue on his return, near the scenes of Bull Run battle-field.  Mr. Fisk was married in Clark County, Ill, January 25, 1858, to Miss Sarah A. Dodd, daughter of Emmanuel and Mary J. (Wells) Dodd.  Her father was a native of Licking County, Ohio, born on the 10th of September 1816, and the mother was born in what is now Melrose Township, May 7, 1824.  They had a family of three children, of whom Mrs. Fisk is the first, she was born in Melrose Village April 2, 1843.  She has a brother, Frank Dodd, resident in Melrose.  One sister, Susanna C. Dodd, born October 10, 1845, and died in infancy.  Subject has  family consisting of four children, of whom two are deceased, viz.:  Robert W. Fisk, born November 7, 1858; Albert S. Fisk, born September 10, 1861, died October 4, 1880; James E. Fisk, born September 21, 1880; Una R. Fisk, born April 21, 1866, died in infancy.  Mr. Fisk came to this county from Indiana in 1856. They settled where they now live in 1861, having bought a tract of timber land, which has been cleared and developed into a beautiful and desirable
home.  They now own a tract of 200 acres in Section 19 of Melrose and 80 in Section 24 of Orange Township; value of land, $30 per acre.  The entire family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Mary J. Dodd died December 30, 1879, at Melrose, and Emanuel Dodd is still living, and a resident of Martinsville Township.  He is married to Lizzie Connel.

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