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View Tree for Ernest Ewald FischerErnest Ewald Fischer (b. September 05, 1890, d. May 09, 1950)


Picture of Ernest Ewald Fischer

Ernest Ewald Fischer (son of John Fischer and Emilia Kuehn)135, 136 was born September 05, 1890 in Eau CLaire, Wisconsin137, 138, and died May 09, 1950 in Eau CLaire, Wisconsin139, 140. He married (1) Bess Gay Oldfield on 1912 in Texas141, daughter of Alfeus Oldfield and Ada Stroud.

 Includes NotesNotes for Ernest Ewald Fischer:
[Kosmo Family.FTW]
From information provided by Virginia Fischer Kosmo
My father grew up in the center of Eau Claire, WI before World War I. He swam in the rivers where he watched the log jams of the bustling lumber industry. He loved to fish in the Eau Claire River, especially at his favorite site by a lumber mill near where the Huebsch Building was later built.

As war rumbled in Europe Ernie met Bessie Oldfield. After a brief romance they eloped. Bessie was a young, tiny, auburn-haired girl. In the beginning both families objected and the run-a-way couple was tracked down and returned to Eau Claire only to escape a second time. The young couple was married in Texas and traveled about the country until they settled in Chicago. After two years their daughter was born (March 10, 1914) in Blue Island, IL. Eventually the families in Wisconsin were notified and a kind of truce was established; although the religious differences remained a problem for the families.

Several years went by and Ernest and Bessie continued to live in Chicago. His skill as a harness maker was in great demand, but he soon learned that the automobile was beginning to replace the horse and buggy. He studied upholstery and in the early 1900s began working on automobiles. The well-to-do kept their cars many years and each spring they would have their autos reupholstered to go with the ladies' spring color scheme. Ernest worked on cars owned by city officials and gangsters alike. He said that he would often replaced the trim with heavy steel plate and installed inch-thick window glass. Among his clients were a police commissioner, gangster Al Capone and Colonel Robert McCormick who owned the Chicago Tribune newspaper and the Chicago Blackhawk professional hockey team. Ernest, who was a rabid hockey fan and often carried rubber chickens to the Blackhawk games to toss on the ice, especially enjoyed hiis relationship Col. McCormick and occasionally obtained hockey tickets from him.

During that time Bessie also became an accomplished semstress and dressmaker, and she worked for many of the wives of Ernie's customers. She even continued to work on dresses for Mrs. McCormick after the Fischers moved to Eau Claire. Her sewing skills also were put to good use in the business they started in the garage.

In 1928 his mother died and four years later his father, John died. Ernest moved his family to Eau Claire in November 1932. It was the depth of the Great Depression and the auto upholstery business was down dramatically. His company closed that spring unable to find work as the banks were closing and people were thrown into poverty everywhere in America. He returned to Eau Claire to join his brother Edward, known as E. John Fischer by signature but called John. in the harness and awning business. The two brothers never got along well and the partnership was short lived. John continued at the harness shop and Ernest started his own business with a small shop in the garage of his home at 215 Wisconsin St. Bessie joined him in the business and they focused on producing large tarpaulins for the trucking industry. At that time many of the large delivery trucks were open and used the large tarps to cover their products. He struck a deal with Briggs Trucking that became a very successful venture.

Next to hockey, Ernie loved to fish and often traveled to Chitek and Hayward, WI, and he and Bessie frequently went on extended vacations, usually in the southwestern part of the U.S., occasionally dipping into Mexico. He didn't drive but Bessie was an excellent driver. Often in the midst of a cold Wisconsin winter they would get their work caught up, call their daughter Virginia, and head to the southwest in their car. The winter excursions usually lasted a month or two.

A diabetic, Ernest concealed his disease from his family until he fell into a diabetic coma in May 1950. He survived only a week in the hospital and died on May 9, 1950. Surely he had known or suspected his disease. He frequently had experienced broken bones and his mood swings were familiar to all who knew him..

More About Ernest Ewald Fischer:
Burial: Unknown, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.142

More About Ernest Ewald Fischer and Bess Gay Oldfield:
Marriage: 1912, Texas.143

More About Ernest Ewald Fischer and <Unnamed>:
Marriage: 1912, Chicago, IL.144

Children of Ernest Ewald Fischer and Bess Gay Oldfield are:
  1. +Virginia Marilyn Fischer, b. March 10, 1914, Blue Island, IL145, 146, d. July 23, 1997, Eau CLaire, Wisconsin147, 148.

Children of Ernest Ewald Fischer are:
  1. +Virginia Marilyn Fischer, b. March 10, 1914, Blue Island, IL149, 150, d. July 23, 1997, Eau CLaire, Wisconsin151, 152.
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