Person:Frantisek Fischer (1)

Watchers
  1. Ignatius Fischer1854 - 1925
  2. Maria Fischer1844 - 1911
  3. Frantisek Fischer1857 - 1927
  4. George Fischer
Facts and Events
Name Frantisek Fischer
Religious Name[2][15] Fr. Urban Francis Fischer, O.S.B.
Gender Male
Birth[1][3] 9 Oct 1857 Krchleby, Domažlice, Plzeň, Czech Republic#30
Christening[3] 9 Oct 1857 Krchleby, Domažlice, Plzeň, Czech Republic
Emigration[12][13][14] Abt 1878
Census[5] 1880 Collegeville, Stearns, Minnesota, United States
Education[7] 21 Jun 1881 St. John's UniversityBachelor of Philosophy, St. John's University
Ordination[15] 25 Jul 1882 Collegeville, Stearns, Minnesota, United StatesOrder of St. Benedict
Census[11] 1885 Collegeville, Stearns, Minnesota, United States
Education[9] 1886 St. John's UniversityDoctor of Philology, St. John's University
Census[12] 1900 Mount Angel, Marion, Oregon, United States
Census[13] 1910 Mount Angel, Marion, Oregon, United States
Census[14] 1920 Scappoose, Columbia, Oregon, United States
Death[4] 24 May 1927 Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, United States
Burial[18] Mount Angel, Marion, Oregon, United StatesMount Angel Abbey Cemetery,

Frantisek Fischer took some or all of his primary education in Domažlice and some or all of his secondary education in Plzeň. His cousin Anna Milotova claimed he also studied in Prague, and he and his brother George where there together awhile.[1]

It is not known exactly when he emigrated (or whether he arrived before, after or at the same time as his brother Ignatius), but he entered St. John's College on 20 Mar 1878.[1]. He earned a Bachelor's degree in 21 Jun 1881[7] and served a Professor of Greek, French, Free-Hand and Architectural Drawing, and Phonography (now known as shorthand) from then until 1887[7][8][9]. He also served as Library Director from 1878 to 1887.[10]

He was ordained on 25 Jul 1882 and served as assistant priest and missionary in several nearby churches[15].

On 1 Jan. 1887 he moved to California for his health, until he transferred his vows to the newly built Mt. Angel Abbey, on 14 Apr 1888. He served as professor and librarian and also did mission work at several churches in Columbia Country, Oregon, including the Czech community in South Scappoose.[15]

In 1914 he was appointed to be the first priest of the newly built Saint Wenceslaus Church in Scappoose, Oregon[15][2]. He served in that role until his death in 1927.

He claimed to be an "in-house teacher" to someone he called the young baron of Kronenloid (?) in the town of Krimice, just west of Plzeň[1]. It is not known when, though there are records of him entering the U.S. in 1904[17] and 1921[14]. He called the place a "castle", which was, perhaps, Krimice Castle[1].

References
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 James A. Kocarnik. Fischer Family Tree.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Larry Rocha, and Nancy Rocha. Saint Wenceslaus Catholic Church Centennial History Book. (2011)
    pp. 2, 4, 5, 11.

    Fr. Urban Fischer, O.S.B. was Czech and a professor at Mt. Angel, but he enjoyed mission work and was the brother of a future parish family who would move west from Minnesota. In time he would be the first St. Wenceslaus pastor.

    When Fr. Urban Fischer, O.S.B. was appointed the first pastor in 1914, people were very honored with their learned Czech priest, a PhD, who had taught languages and other college subjects at Mt. Angel. In 1915 a group of 10 children eagerly made their First Communion in the new church. Fr. Fischer’s niece, Anne Geiger, had come to the parish on Saturday afternoons for catechism lessons.

    ... After serving the spiritual needs of the parish for thirteen years, Fr. Fischer died on May 24, 1927.

    [in the list of priests]
    1911-1927: Fr. Urban Fischer, O.S.B. and he also served Rainier, St. Helens & Clatskanie travelling by train or horseback.

  3. 3.0 3.1 http://www.portafontium.eu/register/soap-pn/stankov-25?language=cs, in Plzeň, Czech Republic. Register Collections of Western Bohemia: Sbírka matrik západních Čech
    50.

    Folio 50, image 53, entry 5

    The handwriting is a bit unclear, here is my attempt to translate:

    Frantisek Fišer was born and baptised on the same day. He is from Skrchleb #30.

    Father: Andrej Fišer, crofter of Skrchleb #30, son of Marie, daughter of Jan Fišer, crofter of Puclic #35, and wife Hedvig? Gusdan? from Mířkov.

    Mother: Marie daugter of Josef Romann, crofter of Vráňov #19, wife Katerina Khas of Skrchleb #19

  4. State of Oregon, and Ancestry.com. Oregon Death Index, 1903-1998.

    "Oregon Death Index, 1903-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZWM-JYT : accessed 28 October 2015), Urban F. Fisher, 24 May 1927; from "Oregon, Death Index, 1898-2008," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2000); citing Portland, Oregon, certificate number 1451, Oregon State Archives and Records Center, Salem.

  5. United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T9).

    Listed as Urban Fisher, student, age 22 from Germany.

    "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ95-CTB : accessed 28 October 2015), Urban Fisher in household of Conrad Glatzmeier, Collegeville, Stearns, Minnesota, United States; citing enumeration district 116, sheet 465A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0634; FHL microfilm 1,254,634.

  6.   [1], in 1879-1880 Saint John's University Catalog.

    Urban Fischer, O.S.B. is listed as a student and as an Assistant Professor

  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 [2], in 1880-1881 Saint John's University Catalog
    pp. 7, 26, 34, 38.

    Rev. Urban Fischer, O.S.B. is listed amongst the clerics at St. John's Abbey as a Professor. He is listed as Professor of Greek, French and Free-Hand Drawing. Further, he is listed in the "Catalogue of Students" and is listed as being awarded a "Bachelor of Philosophy" on June 21st [1881]

  8. [3], in 1881-1882 Saint John's University Catalog
    p. 7, 24.

    Rev. Urban Fischer, O.S.B. is listed amongst the clerics at St. John's Abbey as a Professor. He is listed as Professor of Greek, French and Free-Hand and Architectural Drawing and Phonography [shorthand].

  9. 9.0 9.1 [4], in 1885-1886 Saint John's University Catalog
    p. 7, 20, 34, 50.

    Rev. Urban Fischer, O.S.B. is listed amongst the clerics at St. John's Abbey as a Professor. He is listed as Professor of Greek, French, Drawing and Phonography [shorthand]. He is listed as being awarded a "Doctor of Philology", and is also listed as the donor of large collection of Iron Ores, from Vermillion Lake, Minn.

  10. [5], in St. John's University Library: An Historical Evaluation.

    Master's Thesis, U of M, 1953 by Roloff, Ronald W., OSB.

    "The Abbey Library passed under the nominal direction of Father Norbert Hofbauer, O.S.B., who was Prior and Procurator of the monastery and Principal of the Commercial College; but the actual librarian was Frater Urban Fischer, O.S.B., a cleric. Frater Urban was a very talented young man whose artistic works may still be seen in some profusion. He remained in the library until January 1, 1887, and brought to the accession record a very beautiful and accurate hand, in which he recorded the acquisition of 2,477 volumes representing 1,444 different titles."

  11. Minnesota. Census Bureau. State census, 1885. (St. Paul [Minnesota]: State Library and Records Service, 1969)
    May 1885.

    Listed as Urban Fisher, 28 years old from Germany.

    "Minnesota State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQXB-J9J : accessed 28 October 2015), Urban Fisher in household of Bendict Heindl, Collegeville, Stearns, Minnesota; citing p. 6, volume Stearns, State Library and Records Service, St.Paul; FHL microfilm 565,755.

  12. 12.0 12.1 United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T623)
    13 Jul 1900.

    Listed as Reverend Urban Fischer (Brother), born Oct 1857 in Germany (as were both parents). Emmigrated in 1878, naturalized citizen.

    "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSDJ-NB8 : accessed 28 October 2015), Reverend Urban Fisher in household of Odern??Tt Adelhelm, Scotts Mills, Monitor, and Mt. Angel Precincts Mt. Angel town, Marion, Oregon, United States; citing sheet 21A, family 388, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,349.

  13. 13.0 13.1 United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T624)
    26 Apr 1910.

    Listed as Reverend Urban Fisher (professor), 52 yrs old, born in Austria--Bohemmia (same as parents). Emmigrated in 1877.

    "United States Census, 1910", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MLBC-VWB : accessed 28 October 2015), Reverend Urban Fisher in entry for Reverend Thomas Meinhofer, 1910.

  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 United States. 1920 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625).

    Listed as Urban Fisher, age 63, born in Bohemia (same as parents), emigrated in 1885 [clearly wrong], naturalized in 1891.

    "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4Z1-B6D : accessed 28 October 2015), Urban Fisher, ; citing sheet 11A, family 234, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,493.

  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 [6], in 1956-06 Scriptorium Volume 15 Number 01 061.

    Fischer, Father Urban Francis, O.S.B.: B-9 Oct. 1857, in Stankovy, Bohemia; Prof-11 July 1879; Ord-25 July 1882; D-24 May 1927, was AP St. Mary's Church, St. Cloud: 9 Nov. 1882; AP St. Boniface's Church, Minneapolis: 1883; professor of drawing and languages at SJU and missionary to various parishes: 1 Jan. 1887; in California for his health, until he transferred his vows to Mt. Angel Abbey, St. Benedict, Ore., on 14 Apr. 1888. There he taught languages in the abbey school until 1915. For some years he was also librarian and subprior of the abbey. In 1915 he was appointed P St.Wenceslaus' Church, Scappoose, and attended the mission church in Clatskanie, Ore., until his death.

    Both at SJ and Mount Angel, Father Urban was a successful missionary. Because he could hear confessions and preach in twenty languages, he was constantly in demand in places where there was a mixed immigrant population.

  16.   New York, United States. New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924. (FamilySearch Record Search).

    Given Name Urban
    Surname Fisher
    Last Place of Residence Scappoose, Oregon
    Event Date 15 Sep 1921
    Age 63y
    Departure Port Bremen
    Arrival Port New York
    Gender Male
    Marital Status S
    Citizenship Status X
    Ship Name Potomac

    "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6LZ-4Z8 : accessed 28 October 2015), Urban Fisher, 15 Sep 1921; citing departure port Bremen, arrival port New York, ship name Potomac, NARA microfilm publication T715 and M237 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

  17. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, RG 85. (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc).

    Dr. Urban Fischer with Annie Geiger (9) arrived in Quebec on the "S.S. Montrose".24 Sep 1904.

    "Vermont, St. Albans Canadian Border Crossings, 1895-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK31-X9RQ : accessed 28 October 2015), Urban Fischer, 1895-1924; citing M1461, Soundex Index to Canadian Border Entries through the St. Albans, Vermont, District, 1895-1924, 143, NARA microfilm publications M1461, M1463, M1464, and M1465 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, publication year); FHL microfilm 1,472,943.

  18. Fr Urban Fisher, in Find A Grave.

    Birth: 1857
    Death: 1927

  19.   [7], in Thirteenth Biennial Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Oregon
    p. 55, 1898.

    In the list of faculty of Mount Angel College and Seminary:

    Rev. Dr. Urban Fisher, O.S.B.,
    Professor of Physiology, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy, Hebrew, Shorthand, Typewriting, Penmanship, Zoology, and Botany