Nelson W. Fisk

Nelson W. Fisk

Nelson W. Fisk (August 5, 1854 – October 1, 1923) was a Vermont businessman and political figure who served as Lieutenant Governor of the state from 1896 to 1898.

Biography

Nelson Wilbur Fisk was born in Isle La Motte, Vermont on August 5, 1854. He graduated from Eastman Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York and was employed at his family's marble quarry, becoming sole proprietor after his father Hiram's death in 1884.[1][2][3] Fisk married Elizabeth B. Hubbell of Chazy, New York in 1880. Mrs. Fisk became an expert in textile weaving and dyeing, and her wall hangings, placemats and tablecloths are prized by collectors.[4][5][6]

A Republican, Fisk was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives from 1883 to 1887 and the Vermont Senate from 1889 to 1891. As a legislator he played a key role in the construction of three Grand Isle bridges, including the first one to connect it with the Vermont mainland at Alburg.[7][8] He served as a Trustee of the State Normal School (now Johnson State College), the State Industrial School in Vergennes (then Vermont's reform institution for juveniles) and the University of Vermont. He was also a Delegate to the 1888 and 1892 Republican national conventions. In 1896 he was elected Lieutenant Governor and served one term, 1897 to 1899.[9]

In 1901 Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was visiting with Fisk and other Vermont Republicans at Fisk's home when Roosevelt was informed that President William McKinley had been shot. (McKinley died eight days later and Roosevelt became President.)[10][11][12]

Fisk died in Isle La Motte on October 1, 1923 and was buried in Isle La Motte's South Cemetery.[13][14] The Fisk quarry on Isle La Motte's West Shore Road has been turned into an environmental interpretive site that is open to the public.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Jeffrey, William Hartley (1907). Successful Vermonters: A Modern Gazetteer of Lamoille, Franklin and Grand Isle Counties. The Historical publishing company. pp. 432–36.
  2. ↑ Vermont Secretary of State (1882). Joint Rules, Rules and Orders of the Senate and House of Representatives. J. & J.M. Poland, Steam Book and Job Printers. p. 147.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Liloia, Tara (2009). Lake Champlain Islands. Arcadia Publishing. p. 58. ISBN 0-7385-6211-4.
  4. ↑ Dodge, Prentiss Cutler (1912). Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography. Ullery publishing company. p. 190.
  5. ↑ Handweaver and Craftsman. 19–20: 18–19. 1968. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ Eaton, Allen Hendershott (1949). Handicrafts of New England. Harper. pp. 87–88, 119.
  7. ↑ Vermont Secretary of State (1915). Vermont Legislative Directory. Rand, Avery. p. 546.
  8. ↑ Who's Who in New England, published by A. N. Marquis & Co., Chicago, Volume 1, 1909, page 365
  9. ↑ Lawrence Barinerd 2nd (February 1901). "Vermont Men of Today". The Vermonter magazine: 73–75.
  10. ↑ Duffy, John J.; Hand, Samuel B.; Orth, Ralph H. (2003). The Vermont Encyclopedia. UPNE. p. 126. ISBN 1-58465-086-9.
  11. ↑ Grondahl, Paul (2007). I Rose Like a Rocket: The Political Education of Theodore Roosevelt. U of Nebraska Press. pp. 367–68. ISBN 0-8032-5987-5.
  12. ↑ Crockett, Walter Hill (1921). Vermont: The Green Mountain State 4. The Century history company, inc. pp. 350–51.
  13. ↑ Vermont Death Records, 1909–2008, Record for Nelson Wilbur Fisk, accessed December 24, 2011
  14. ↑ Newspaper article, Nelson W. Fisk Dies, New York Times, October 3, 1923

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Zophar M. Mansur		 Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
1896–1898 		Succeeded by
Henry C. Bates