A GenConnect Bio. ----- > Source: GC-Germany / Deutschland Biographies > URL: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/Germany/GeneralBios?read=497 > Surname: Fischer, Ebling, Diefenthaler, Koehler > > Hall, Henry, ed. America's Successful Men of Affairs: An Encyclopedia of > Contemporaneous Biography. vol. 1. New York, NY: New York Printing Co., > 1895. page 238 > > BENEDICKT FISCHER, tea merchant, born March 21, 1841, in Ober Schopfheim, > Baden, Germany, has been a resident of the United States since the age > of fourteen. Receiving only a limited education in the village school of > his native place, he was thrown upon his own resources for his success > in life. Beginning as a wheelwright's apprentice, he served his time, and > afterward relinquished a salary of $45 a week become a chemist's assistant > at $3 a week with a view to a future career. He then entered a varnish > factory, aided in the manufacture, and became a salesman of varnish. Later, > he found as salesman for a wholesale grocery house the vocation he has > since pursued. In 1861, he engaged in the tea and grocery trade for himself, > making visits to buyers during the day, and at night preparing the goods > for delivery. Through his own efforts, his present extensive trade is the > outgrowth of a modest beginning. With several changes of partners, and > with occasional mishaps, such as the burning of his store twice, he has > gone bravely on in spite of discouragements, and has won large means by > sheer perseverance and persistent enterprise. Mr. Fischer has a thorough > knowledge of his trade, bears a good reputation, and has set an example > which should prove an encouragement to many young merchants. Mr. Fischer > was the first to introduce American tiles in the market, and is president > of The American Encaustic Tile Co., the largest of its class in the United > States. Of The Mauser Manufacturing Co., silversmiths, he is vice president. > The Riverside Bank was organized by him and others. Mr. Fischer was married > Sept. 21, 1864, to Kathrina Ebling. Of his nine children, five are living, > William H., Florence and Irma Fischer, Mrs. Antonia Diefenthaler and Mrs. > Leonora Koehler.