John Stuchell Fisher

John Stuchell Fisher (May 25, 1867 – June 25, 1940) was Pennsylvania's 29th Governor, a Republican.

Fisher was born in South Mahoning Township, Pennsylvania, in 1867. Fisher graduated from Pennsylvania's Indiana State Normal School (now Indiana University of Pennsylvania) and began his career as a teacher; he then served as principal for schools in Plumville and Indiana, Pennsylvania.

In 1893, Fisher finished his law degree, was admitted into the Pennsylvania Bar, and set up a private practice. He won his first major office, to the Pennsylvania State Senate, in 1901, where he served until 1909. Thereafter he would serve on the state's Commission on Constitutional Revision, and from 1919 to 1922 as State Commissioner of Banking. He rose to the Governor's office in 1927.

As governor, Fisher focused on fiscal policy, public works, and conservation. Partly due to his efforts to eliminate voting fraud, the state began using voting machines. The Department of Revenue was established during his term. Fisher's term was marked by a major investment in public works, most notably the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Bridge in Harrisburg. Also during Fisher’s administration, nearly 500,000 acres (2,000 km²) were added to Pennsylvania’s state forests.

After leaving office, Fisher became a consultant to his son’s law firm. He would also serve on the boards of several financial establishments as well as Indiana Hospital, the State Normal School in Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania State College. He died in Pittsburgh in 1940.

Sources

• National Governors Association
• Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
• ExplorePAHistory.com
• William Ainsworth Cornell, The Political Career of John S. Fisher, Governor of Pennsylvania 1927-1931 (Indiana, Pennsylvania: MA thesis: State Teachers College, 1947).