Fisher, Christian L. (1869-1943)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1943 Dec 2 p. 1

Birth date: 1869

text of obituary:

Early Morning Highway Accident Results In Death of Three Farmers at Ronks, Pa.

FOUR MEN FROM AMISH COMMUNITY WERE ON WAY TO HELP WITH BARN RAISING

Mennonite communities in Pennsylvania were shocked at the report of the tragic death of three members of the Amish district at Ronks, Pa., as the result of an highway accident early Wednesday morning, Nov. 17. Persons killed were Pre. Christian L. Fisher, 74, Amos S. Fisher, 50, and Noah H. Fisher, 48.

The following account of the tragedy, sent to the Review by Mrs. Abram D. Peachey of Belleville, Pa., is from the Sugar Creek (Ohio) budget:

On Wednesday morning, Nov. 17, before daylight, Preacher Christian L. Fisher and son, Preacher Christian M.; Amos S.; and Noah H. Fisher left home and families to be helping hands at the former's son-in-law, John K. Glicks, for the day to help prepare frame lumber to replace a barn that was destroyed by fire from lightning, Oct. 22 of this year.

The four neighbors and members of the Old Order Amish church (in the Christian L. Fisher district) of Ronks, Pa., Route 1, were driving east through Lehman Place on the Lincoln Highway when a loaded trailed-truck with its driver asleep at the wheel approached them going in the same direction, striking them with terrific force in the back of the carriage.

Christian, Sr., and Amos were instantly killed, their bodies horribly disfigured; Noah, from a crushed chest and fractured skull died the following morning at a Lancaster hospital. Christian, Jr., driver of the team was tossed clear of the wreckage with hardly a scratch. The horse was uninjured but the carriage was smashed to kindlings.

The three funerals were held on succeeding days all at the home of the former, whose son, Pre. Amos, lives at the farm end of the house.

Funeral services for Amos were hed [sic] on Saturday conducted by Pre. Obed Diener from Illinois and Bsih. John Renno of Mifflin Co., Pa. John Speicher read the hymn, "Komm Sterblicher Betrachte Mich."

Funeral services for Noah were held o [sic] aturday [sic] conducted by Pre. David Zook and Pre. Jonathan Smucker; Dea. Jonas Beiler read the hymn, "Alle Menchen Muessen Sterben." Texts at the three funerals were read from mark 13:31 to end.

All funerals were largely attended and observed as one of the saddest events of its kind ever known in the community.