John Stuchell Fisher (May 25, 1867June 25, 1940) was an American politician who served as the 29th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1927 until 1931. A

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

, he had previously served as a

Pennsylvania State Senator The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered ever ...

from 1901 until 1907.

Life and career

Fisher was born in

South Mahoning Township, Pennsylvania South Mahoning Township is a township in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,841 at the 2020 census. Historic communities in the township include Ambrose, Denton, Elkin, Frantz, McCormick, Rossmoyne and Wells.http:/ ...

, 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 Indiana is a borough in and the county seat of Indiana County in the U.S. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The population was 13,564 at the 2020 census, and since 2013 has been part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. After being a long time par ...

. 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 1900. He was re-elected in 1904 but did not seek re-election in 1908. He later served on the state's Commission on Constitutional Revision. From 1919 to 1922 he served in the cabinet of Governor

William Cameron Sproul William Cameron Sproul (September 16, 1870 – March 21, 1928) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1897 to 1919 and as the 27th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 ...

as State Commissioner of Banking. He was elected Governor in 1926. As governor, Fisher focused on fiscal policy, public works, and conservation. Partly due to his efforts to eliminate voting fraud, the state began using mechanical voting machines. The Department of Revenue was established during his term. Fisher's term was marked by major investments in public works, most notably the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Bridge in Harrisburg. Fisher was nicknamed "The Builder"; during his administration nearly was added to Pennsylvania's state forests. According to

Major Israel McCreight American Horse ( lkt, Wašíčuŋ Tȟašúŋke) (a/k/a "American Horse the Younger") (1840 – December 16, 1908) was an Oglala Lakota chief, statesman, educator and historian. American Horse is notable in American history as a U.S. Army Indian S ...

, "Without his vigorous strokes for justice and fair play there would not now be the

Cook Forest State Park Cook Forest State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Farmington Township, Clarion County, Barnett Township, Forest County and Barnett Township, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania in the United States. Located just south of the Allegheny Na ...

." M. I. McCreight (1936) ''Cook Forest Park: Story of the Sixteen Year Battle to Save the Last Stand of Historic Penn's Woods. The When, The Why and How of I.'' p. 101-102. After leaving office, Fisher became a consultant to his son's law firm. He also served on the boards of several financial establishments, Indiana Hospital, Indiana State Normal School, and

Pennsylvania State College The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvan ...

. He died in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

in 1940.

Sources

National Governors AssociationPennsylvania Historical and Museum CommissionExplorePAHistory.com
*William Ainsworth Cornell, ''The Political Career of John S. Fisher, Governor of Pennsylvania 1927-1931'' (Indiana, Pennsylvania: MA thesis: State Teachers College, 1947). {{DEFAULTSORT:Fisher, John Stuchell Republican Party governors of Pennsylvania 1867 births 1940 deaths Republican Party Pennsylvania state senators Indiana University of Pennsylvania alumni