Biography - William Fancher
WILLIAM FANCHER The family of which our subject is a representative is a
long established American family, descended from German stock. The father of
this gentleman bought about one thousand acres of land in Holland Township,
Shelby County. The father was born in Vermont and was a resident of New York
State thence he removed to Pennsylvania, thence to Ohio, and finally located
in Shelby County, Ill., on a portion of which our subject now lives, having
a farm of one hundred and eighty-one acres adjoining the town of Fancher,
besides considerable land in the town. He is now a retired farmer, making
his home in the village which was named for him by the railroad authorities
in consideration of his liberality in donating land and money to aid in the
construction of the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad.
He of whom we write this brief sketch, first saw the light of life in
Delaware County, Ohio, July 25, 1835. His parents Samuel and Polly (Dickson)
Fancher, were natives of Luzerne County, Pa., and the heads of a truly
patriarchal family. Only five of their twelve children are now living,
namely: John, Morris, William, Henry and Juliana. Morris lives in Kansas,
Juliana in Zanesville, Ohio, and the others are residents of Illinois; Henry
in this county, and John in Effingham County; Juliana has been twice
married, her first husband being Jeremiah Rogers and her present name being
Mrs. Sine.
Our subject came to Illinois with his parents when he was a mere boy and
grew to manhood in Shelby County, having his training and education upon the
farm in the district schools. Here he found his wife, a native of the same
county, and here he expects to spend the balance of his days in the pursuit
of farming, which is with him a dearly loved calling. His wife's maiden name
was Susannah Piper. Her parents were natives of Ohio and her grandparents
were Pennsylvanians and of German descent. Before marrying Mr. Fancher she
was a widow, her first husband being Mr. Shannon W. Gallagher.
The little railroad station of Fancher which was established upon Mr.
Fancher's farm has gathered about it a pleasant little village having two
stores, a hotel and the usual shops. It in is the midst of a very fine
farming district and has an excellent community back of it. Mr. Fancher has
been a life-long Republican in his political views and takes a lively
interest in politics. He is not a member of any church but gives liberally
of bis means to the support of churches, Sunday-schools and other objects of
benevolence. Mrs. Fancher has three children by her former marriage: Nettie,
Gertie and Nellie Gallagher.
Extracted 25 Apr 2020 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, page 675.
