I do remember Elton Fischer. But my memories of him are those through the eyes of a little boy - perhaps I was 8 or 10 years old - and they are clouded by all the people and years that have passed since. This Elton I do not remember. Nor would it be possible.This photo of Mr. Fischer is c. 1916-17. He would have been in his mid-20's when these shadows were forever cast in time. And as his granddaughter, Bobbi Riley, remarked to me, "I think (he) Elton is very handsome..."
Hither he stands aside a "Firechief gasolene" (sic) pump in front of his new garage and showroom for his Chevrolet-Buick dealership. His father George stands in the foreground. His faithful pup poses thoughtfully at his feet. And a garage employee relaxes in a chair at the dealership entrance.
Elton Liberman Fischer (Liberman was his mother's maiden name) was born February 23, 1893 in Vermilion. He was the only son of George and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Fischer. They also had a girl they named Maude (Priest). Nicholas was their grandfather's first name.
Both Nicholas and George were lumbermen. Nicholas was a wholesale lumberman who worked the virgin forests of Ohio and Kentucky. And whilst son George followed in his footsteps he was well educated (a lawyer and businessman) and started a retail lumber company on the shores of the Vermilion River. He was, in a word, successful.
I've no idea (yet) as to how long Elton kept his automobile dealership, but he apparently sold his share of the business to his partner, Albert "Waddy" (sp?) Stone, and the concern was moved from the location in this picture to a new building up the street beside what is now Rudy's Bar and Grill and renamed Stone's Garage. This is the brick structure now being partially used as an insurance office across the street from what is currently the Ritter Library Annex. I have been told that before Stone built the existing building that the old Andy Marks' home on Perry Street occupied the site. Stone's business, incidentally, eventually evolved into Sharpnack's Chevrolet Dealership.
In any case Elton eventually assumed the responsibilities inherent in operating his father's lumber company. In January of 1938 a great fire consumed the business along the river and Elton rebuilt on the opposite side of the road. At the beginning of WW2 he sold the company. It would eventually become Crow Lumber.
Mr. Fischer owned and managed a considerable amount of property during his lifetime. He sold one of his properties to the federal government to erect Vermilion's first free-standing Post Office during the late 1950's.
He was a Vermilion Volunteer Fireman, and like many other men in the village was a member of the local post of the American Legion and Masonic Lodge. He was also an active member of the Sandusky Elk's Club.
He and his wife, Ruth, had a daughter, Virginia Ohler, who recently (1-11-06) passed away in California, and a granddaughter, Roberta/Bobbi Riley.
During WW1 Elton served in both the U.S. Army (as seen in picture) and the Merchant Marines. The patch on his uniform in the photo has the initials U.S.T.C. After searching through numerous sources in an attempt to discover the meaning of the initials I (at this time) conclude that he was part of a special training unit that was created during the first war specifically concentrating on training businessmen to be officers in the Army. If anyone knows better, or more, about such matters I'd appreciate hearing from them.
But however you cut it, Elton L. Fischer was a very special person. He went to his final home in October of 1960 at the rather young age of 67 years. And the shadows he cast across Vermilion's yesteryear are unlikely to be forgotten.
Ref: Ancestry.com: (Elyria) Chronicle Telegram: 1-24-38; 10-8-60; 12-14-72; The Vermilion News: 4-15-15; 7-15-15; 7-29-15; 12-9-15; Special Thanks to Bobbi Riley, Santa Maria, CA.
Originally published in the Vermilion (Ohio) Photojournal February 2 , 2006
Written- 1/29/06 @8:32 AMReturn to Last Bio 
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© 2006 Rich Tarrant
