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{{Short description|Governor of Illinois from 1889 to 1893}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox Governor
{{Infobox officeholder
|name= Joseph Wilson Fifer
|name= Joseph Wilson Fifer
|image= Joseph.W.Fifer.jpg
|image= Joseph.W.Fifer.jpg
|caption=
|caption= Fifer circa 1892
|order= 19th
|order= 19th
|office= Governor of Illinois
|office= Governor of Illinois
|term_start= 1889
|term_start= January 14, 1889
|term_end= 1893
|term_end= January 10, 1893
|lieutenant=
|lieutenant= [[Lyman Ray]]
|predecessor= [[Richard J. Oglesby]]
|predecessor= [[Richard J. Oglesby]]
|successor= [[John Peter Altgeld]]
|successor= [[John Peter Altgeld]]
|office2 = Commissioner of the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]]
|office2 = Commissioner of the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]]
|term_start2 = November 14, 1899
|term_start2 = November 14, 1899
|term_end2 = December 30, 1905
|term_end2 = December 30, 1905
|predecessor2 = [[William J. Calhoun]]
|predecessor2 = [[William J. Calhoun]]
|successor2 = [[Franklin Knight Lane]]
|successor2 = [[Franklin Knight Lane]]
|office3= Member of the [[Illinois Senate]]
|term3= 1881–1883
|signature=Joseph Wilson Fifer Signature.svg
|signature=Joseph Wilson Fifer Signature.svg
|birth_date= October 28, 1840
|birth_date= October 28, 1840
|birth_place=[[Staunton, Virginia]]
|birth_place=[[Staunton, Virginia]]
|death_date={{death date and age|1938|8|6|1840|10|28|mf=y}}
|death_date={{death date and age|1938|8|6|1840|10|28|mf=y}}
|death_place=
|death_place=[[Bloomington, Illinois]]
|party=Republican
|party=Republican
|profession=
|profession=
Line 27: Line 30:
}}
}}


'''Joseph Wilson Fifer''' (October 28, 1840 – August 6, 1938) was the [[List of Governors of Illinois|19th]] [[Governor of Illinois]], serving from 1889 to 1893. He also served as a member of the [[Illinois Senate]], 1881–83.<ref>http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/fiero-finan.html</ref>
'''Joseph Wilson Fifer''' (October 28, 1840 – August 6, 1938) was the 19th [[governor of Illinois]], serving from 1889 to 1893. He also served as a member of the [[Illinois Senate]] from 1881 to 1883.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/fiero-finan.html|title = The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Fields-jacobs to Fincannon}}</ref>


“Private Joe” Fifer was born at [[Staunton, Virginia]] on October 28, 1840. At the age of 16, in 1856, he moved with his family to [[Danvers, Illinois]] and worked in his father’s brickyard for several years.
Fifer was born at [[Staunton, Virginia]] on October 28, 1840. At the age of 16, in 1856, he moved with his family to [[Danvers, Illinois]] and worked in his father's brickyard for several years.


Fifer enlisted as a Private in the [[33rd Illinois Infantry]] at the start of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] and was severely wounded at [[Jackson, Mississippi]] during General Grant’s [[Vicksburg campaign]]. He refused a discharge and spent the rest of the war guarding a prison boat.
Fifer enlisted as a Private in the [[33rd Illinois Infantry]] at the start of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] and was severely wounded at [[Jackson, Mississippi]] during General Grant's [[Vicksburg campaign]]. He refused a discharge and spent the rest of the war guarding a prison boat.


After the war, Fifer married Gertrude Lewis, and had three children. The oldest child died in infancy, leaving Herman and Florence. He studied law at [[Illinois Wesleyan University]] and became the tax collector at Danvers Township. He served as the City Attorney of [[Bloomington, Illinois]] and as a state’s attorney as well.<ref name = MCMH>McLean County Museum of History [http://www.mchistory.org/Fifer_Bohrer_Collection_Finding_Aid.html The Fifer-Bohrer Papers Collection]</ref>
After the war, Fifer married Gertrude Lewis and had three children. The oldest child died in infancy, leaving Herman and Florence. He studied law at [[Illinois Wesleyan University]] and became the tax collector at Danvers Township. He served as the City Attorney of [[Bloomington, Illinois]] and as a state's attorney as well.<ref name="MCMH">McLean County Museum of History [https://web.archive.org/web/20090408190439/http://www.mchistory.org/Fifer_Bohrer_Collection_Finding_Aid.html The Fifer-Bohrer Papers Collection]</ref>


In 1880, he was elected to the state senate where he served for seven years. [[image:909 McLean St..jpg|thumb|left|The Fifer home in Bloomington, IL]] His name was elevated to state level after fighting with General John Black, the pension commissioner, when the latter tried to remove him as a “typical Republican politician who did not deserve a pension.” Fifer’s pension was $24 a month. Due to his celebrity status "Private Joe" Fifer was elected Governor of Illinois in 1889. One of his notable acts as Governor was to commute the life sentence of murderer [[Neill Cream]], allowing his release, and freeing Cream to commit at least four more murders in London.<ref>Shore, W. Teignmouth: "Thomas Neill Cream", ''in'' "Famous Trials 5", Hodge, James H. (ed), Penguin: 1955</ref><ref>McLaren, Angus: ''A Prescription For Murder: The Victorian Serial Killings of Dr. Thomas Neill Cream'' (Chicago series on sexuality, history, and society) Chicago and London: [[The University of Chicago Press]], 1995, ISBN 0-226-56068-6, p.43</ref>
In 1880, he was elected to the state senate where he served for seven years. [[image:909 McLean St..jpg|thumb|left|The Fifer home in Bloomington, IL]] His name was elevated to state level after fighting with General [[John C. Black]], the pension commissioner, when the latter tried to remove him as a "typical Republican politician who did not deserve a pension." Fifer's pension was $24 a month. Due to his celebrity status, Fifer was elected Governor of Illinois in 1889. One of his notable acts as governor was to commute the life sentence of murderer [[Thomas Neill Cream]], allowing his release, and freeing Cream to commit at least four more murders in London.<ref>Shore, W. Teignmouth: "Thomas Neill Cream", ''in'' "Famous Trials 5", Hodge, James H. (ed), Penguin: 1955</ref><ref>McLaren, Angus: ''A Prescription For Murder: The Victorian Serial Killings of Dr. Thomas Neill Cream'' (Chicago series on sexuality, history, and society) Chicago and London: [[The University of Chicago Press]], 1995, {{ISBN|0-226-56068-6}}, p.43</ref>
Fifer lost a reelection bid, and then twice refused the nomination to run again for governor. He was appointed to the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]] (ICC) by President [[William McKinley]] in 1899.
Fifer lost a reelection bid, and then twice refused the nomination to run again for governor. He was appointed to the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]] by President [[William McKinley]] in 1899.


Governor Fifer lived to see his daughter, [[Florence Fifer Bohrer]], elected as the first female State [[Senator of Illinois]] in 1924.
Governor Fifer lived to see his daughter, [[Florence Fifer Bohrer]], elected as the first female state senator of Illinois in 1924.


== Notes ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=Joseph Wilson Fifer}}
* [http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/History/famous/fifer.htm bio squib at Illinois National Guard]
* [http://www.pantagraph.com/cityguide/sesqui/famous2.php bio squib at Daily Pantagraph]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070512164529/http://www.il.ngb.army.mil/History/famous/fifer.htm bio squib at Illinois National Guard]
* [http://www.pantagraph.com/cityguide/sesqui/famous2.php bio squib at Daily Pantagraph]{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Illinois/_Texts/DRUOIH/Central_Illinois/10*.html Joseph Fifer House] (in Bloomington)
* [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Illinois/_Texts/DRUOIH/Central_Illinois/10*.html Joseph Fifer House] (in Bloomington)
* [http://mchistory.org/Fifer_Bohrer_Collection_Finding_Aid.html Fifer-Bohrer Papers Collection] - [[McLean County Museum of History]] archives
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110820210206/http://mchistory.org/Fifer_Bohrer_Collection_Finding_Aid.html Fifer-Bohrer Papers Collection] - [[McLean County Museum of History]] archives

{{s-start}}
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{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Richard J. Oglesby]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Governor of Illinois]]|years=[[1888 Illinois gubernatorial election|1888]], [[1892 Illinois gubernatorial election|1892]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John Riley Tanner]]}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box | before = [[Richard J. Oglesby]] |title=[[List of Governors of Illinois|Governor of Illinois]] | years = 1889–1893 | after = [[John Peter Altgeld|John P. Altgeld]]}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef|before=[[William J. Calhoun]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Commissioner of the [[Interstate Commerce Commission]]|years=1899–1905}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Franklin Knight Lane]]}}
{{s-end}}


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{{pg}}
{{Governors of Illinois}}
{{Governors of Illinois}}
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{{Authority control}}


⚫
{{Authority control|VIAF=1949927}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Fifer, Joseph W.
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = American politician
| DATE OF BIRTH =October 28, 1840
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[Staunton, Virginia]]
| DATE OF DEATH =August 6, 1938
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fifer, Joseph W.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fifer, Joseph W.}}
[[Category:1840 births]]
[[Category:1840 births]]
[[Category:1938 deaths]]
[[Category:1938 deaths]]
[[Category:Governors of Illinois]]
[[Category:Republican Party governors of Illinois]]
[[Category:Illinois Republicans]]
[[Category:Republican Party Illinois state senators]]
[[Category:Illinois State Senators]]
[[Category:People from Bloomington, Illinois]]
[[Category:People from Bloomington, Illinois]]
[[Category:People from Staunton, Virginia]]
[[Category:Politicians from Staunton, Virginia]]
[[Category:People of the Interstate Commerce Commission]]
[[Category:People of the Interstate Commerce Commission]]
[[Category:Republican Party state governors of the United States]]
[[Category:19th-century members of the Illinois General Assembly]]

{{Illinois-politician-stub}}

Latest revision as of 21:35, 18 December 2024

Joseph Wilson Fifer
Fifer circa 1892
19th Governor of Illinois
In office
January 14, 1889 – January 10, 1893
LieutenantLyman Ray
Preceded byRichard J. Oglesby
Succeeded byJohn Peter Altgeld
Commissioner of the Interstate Commerce Commission
In office
November 14, 1899 – December 30, 1905
Preceded byWilliam J. Calhoun
Succeeded byFranklin Knight Lane
Member of the Illinois Senate
In office
1881–1883
Personal details
BornOctober 28, 1840
Staunton, Virginia
DiedAugust 6, 1938(1938-08-06) (aged 97)
Bloomington, Illinois
Political partyRepublican
Signature

Joseph Wilson Fifer (October 28, 1840 – August 6, 1938) was the 19th governor of Illinois, serving from 1889 to 1893. He also served as a member of the Illinois Senate from 1881 to 1883.[1]

Fifer was born at Staunton, Virginia on October 28, 1840. At the age of 16, in 1856, he moved with his family to Danvers, Illinois and worked in his father's brickyard for several years.

Fifer enlisted as a Private in the 33rd Illinois Infantry at the start of the Civil War and was severely wounded at Jackson, Mississippi during General Grant's Vicksburg campaign. He refused a discharge and spent the rest of the war guarding a prison boat.

After the war, Fifer married Gertrude Lewis and had three children. The oldest child died in infancy, leaving Herman and Florence. He studied law at Illinois Wesleyan University and became the tax collector at Danvers Township. He served as the City Attorney of Bloomington, Illinois and as a state's attorney as well.[2]

In 1880, he was elected to the state senate where he served for seven years.

The Fifer home in Bloomington, IL

His name was elevated to state level after fighting with General John C. Black, the pension commissioner, when the latter tried to remove him as a "typical Republican politician who did not deserve a pension." Fifer's pension was $24 a month. Due to his celebrity status, Fifer was elected Governor of Illinois in 1889. One of his notable acts as governor was to commute the life sentence of murderer Thomas Neill Cream, allowing his release, and freeing Cream to commit at least four more murders in London.[3][4]

Fifer lost a reelection bid, and then twice refused the nomination to run again for governor. He was appointed to the Interstate Commerce Commission by President William McKinley in 1899.

Governor Fifer lived to see his daughter, Florence Fifer Bohrer, elected as the first female state senator of Illinois in 1924.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Fields-jacobs to Fincannon".
  2. ^ McLean County Museum of History The Fifer-Bohrer Papers Collection
  3. ^ Shore, W. Teignmouth: "Thomas Neill Cream", in "Famous Trials 5", Hodge, James H. (ed), Penguin: 1955
  4. ^ McLaren, Angus: A Prescription For Murder: The Victorian Serial Killings of Dr. Thomas Neill Cream (Chicago series on sexuality, history, and society) Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 1995, ISBN 0-226-56068-6, p.43
[edit]
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Illinois
1888, 1892 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Illinois
1889–1893 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Commissioner of the Interstate Commerce Commission
1899–1905 		Succeeded by
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