Isaac A. Fancher

Isaac Alger Fancher (September 30, 1833 – March 19, 1934) was an American politician and lawyer from Michigan. He was one of the original settlers of Mount Pleasant, Michigan, and served as its mayor for one term. He served twice in the Michigan House of Representatives and once in the Michigan Senate.

Early life Isaac Alger Fancher was born on September 30, 1833, in Florida, Montgomery County, New York, to Eunice (née Alger) and Jacob Schuyler Fancher. At the age of four, his father died. He attended school in the summer and worked on the farm from the ages of 11 to 15. He attended school in Duanesburg for one year and then continued working on the farm. At the age of 19, he attended Princetown Academy for three terms and then attended Amsterdam Academy for nine months. In September 1856, he left for Kilbourn City, Wisconsin. He taught school during the winter months in Delton, Wisconsin. In the spring of 1857, he returned to New York for a short time before moving near Rochester, Minnesota, and buying of land. He then sold that land and went to Iowa to purchase land for a friend and then returned to Delton. In the fall of 1859, he studied law under Jonathan Bowman at his office in Newport for about 14 months. He then attended Albany Law School in Albany, New York, for about six months. He was admitted to the bar in Albany and later in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Career In 1862, Fancher started practicing law in Kilbourn City. In January 1863, he arrived in New York City and remained with his mother in Schenectady County for about seven months. At one point, he owned 169 lots in Mount Pleasant. In 1870, he was census commissioner for Isabella and Clare counties. He was on the board of control of the state school in Coldwater. He married Mattie (née Pettit) Dodds on July 3, 1902. They had a son, Isaac Alger.

Fancher died on March 19, 1934, at his home in Mount Pleasant.

Legacy

Fancher Avenue, a residential district in Mount Pleasant was named after him. In 1877, he built Fancher Block, a business block that was named after him. A grade school in Mount Pleasant was named after him. On September 30, 1933, Central State Teachers College designated the day in honor of Fancher and his 100th birthday.