MR. JOSEPH FISHER

DEATH OF A DALTON WORTHY

A UNIQUE RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE
75 YEARS ODDFELLOWSHIP

We have much regret in recording the death of Mr. Joseph Fisher, which took place at The Farm, Dalton, about 9.30 on Monday morning in his 94th year.

Few men can point to such a lengthy and honourable period of public service as was his, rendered in a variety of useful ways, and distinguished by business acumen and sound common sense. It is 63 years since he first entered public life, and in 1923 he not only celebrated his jubilee of unbroken membership of the local governing authority in Dalton, first the Local Board and afterwards the Urban District Council, but he also completed his 60th year as Guardian of the Poor of the Ulverston Union. Such a history has very few counterparts in the whole history of local government. Moreover, his long period of membership was a time of active service. Mr. Fisher had never been content to take his duties lightly, and even at his advanced age he was to be found in his seat in the Council, making useful and effective contributions to the discussions.

He first took up public work in 1869, when he was appointed one of the first board of eight Surveyors of Highways for the Township or Division of Dalton Proper, and he retained his membership until 1873 when the duties of the surveyors devolved upon the Local Board, which was formed in that year.

As long ago as 1866, prior to the incorporation of the borough of Barrow, the adoption of the Local Government Act for the Parish of Dalton was mooted, but it was not until six years later, when the powers exercised in the district by the Guardians of the Ulverston Union under the Sanitary Acts were being put into force and felt in Dalton, that a petition by ratepayers and owners of property in the parish was presented to the Local Government Board asking that the boundaries of a local government district should be determined. Quite a difference of opinion arose on this point. One section favoured the inclusion of the whole of the ancient parish of Dalton not included in the borough of Barrow. This meant that Rampside would remain in the Dalton district, and Councillor Fisher was one of those who fought for retaining as large a part of the old parish as possible. A meeting held on October 16th, 1872, however, decided in favour of the present boundaries.

Subsequently the district was divided into three wards, and the first members of the Local Board were elected in June, 1873, holding their first meeting on the 27th day of that month. There were 18 members, Mr. Fisher being one of the six representatives of South Ward. It was a strenuous year. Askam was then beginning to develop as a centre of industry, and there was a claim that Mr. William Crossley, one of the North Ward members, should be the first chairman of the Board. The Dalton members were in favour of Dr. Edward Hall, but as the voting was equal, no election could be made, and a temporary chairman was chosen at each meeting. In this way Mr. Fisher was one of the first occupants of the chair. The following year Dr. Hall was elected chairman, and Mr. Crossley succeeded him. Coun. Fisher was elected chairman in 1885, and again in 1892, and was chairman of the urban council from 1908 to 1911. His name appears in the oldest list of members for Dalton Gas Committee, now extant, being one of the three members elected in 1871. He resigned in 1921. He was chairman of the committee for several terms. He was also a member of the Dalton Burial Board in 1873, and retained his membership until 1897, when the Board was merged into the Urban Council.

Mr. Fisher was the oldest trustee of the National Schools at Dalton, which were erected on the site of the old Free School built and managed originally by the “Four and Twenty”. He had also been associated with that ancient body of sidesmen for a great number of years. The Four and Twenty at one time controlled practically every public institution in the parish of Dalton. They were the Guardians, the School Board, the Watch Committee, and the Charity Commissioners all combined. Mr. Fisher joined them in the year 1875. He was elected an Overseer of the Poor in 1877. The Court Leet claimed him as a juryman and an officer, and he was still foreman of the jury for the Manor of Plain Furness at the last Court Leet in 1925, and discharged his duty as a constable, being one of the two guards armed with a javelin, who accompanied the Acting Bailiff.

In his younger days he joined the 1st Volunteer Regiment, and became a non-commissioned officer. He was a member of the Masonic craft, and for about 75 years he was connected with the Furness Abbey Lodge of Oddfellows, of which he was a trustee.

On 31st January, 1867, Mr. Fisher married Elizabeth Barben, eldest daughter of the late Mr. William Barben, builder and contractor, Dalton. Mrs. Fisher passed away about 10 years ago. Six children survive – Mr. John Fisher, Dalton; Mr. Frank Fisher, J.P., of Barrow (who was 15 years a member of the Dalton Council, and for two years chairman of that body and has been nine years a member of the Barrow Council); Mrs. William Langhorn, Far Old Park; Mr. Joseph Fisher, junr., of Dalton; Miss E. Fisher, who resided with her father; and Mr. William Fisher, J.P., bank manager, of Carlisle.

Mr. Joseph Fisher has seen vast changes in Dalton. In his early days it was a purely agricultural district. The Wellington Hotel was Broadstone House, with meadows stretching out behind where Nelson-street and Wellington- street now stand. There was an orchard between the Wellington and Mr. J. Rigg’s shop site, and where the “News and Mail” office is built a kitchen garden flourished. Farm buildings stood on the site of the present Post Office. There were several farms in the vicinity. Mr. Fisher’s father had one of them. Beckside farm was another, and Crooklands a third. There was a number of crofts round about.

The discovery of iron ore completely changed the aspect of the place, and soon it was busy with the carting of iron ore through the narrow streets to Barrow. The streets themselves were little more than rough country lanes. Mr. Fisher remembers the cock fighting at the Cockpit, at the place where the Cemetery Lodge has been erected. Regular gatherings were held for this class of sport. There were several local industries, of which malting and brewing were the chief.

A pleasant little interlude occurred in the Dalton Council Chamber one Council meeting in 1923, when the Chairman, Mr. John Wharton, J.P., on behalf of the councillors, congratulated Coun. Fisher, the “father” of the Council, on attaining his jubilee in the service of the town. The occasion was marked by inserting in the frame of the portrait of Coun. Fisher, a gilt tablet commemorating the event. The tablet is very simple, and at the request of Mr. Fisher himself the wording, done in enamel, was reduced to this:

1873 – Jubilee of Service – 1923

The chairman extended the very best wishes of all the members to Coun. Fisher, and declared that they were unanimous in hoping that he would still enjoy many more years of service in the Council on behalf of the town of Dalton.

Mr. Fisher relinquished his connection with both the Council and the Public Assistance Committee – the Guardian’s successor – last year. He underwent an operation some time ago with, apparently, successful results, but was later overtaken by the illness which terminated as has been said, this morning.

There is also a detailed account of the funeral and list of mourners, including ‘family and friends walked in solemn slow procession from The Farm up the hill to the Parish Church.’

Barrow News, 30 January 1932