Dec. 12, 1901 Elyria Daily Reporter:
Adam Kishman, who passed away after a painful illness of nearly seven years on Nov. 29th at 12:30a.m., was born in Germany July 22nd 1831. Came to America in 1850 at the age of nineteen years. Soon after he arrived commenced work for Mr. Joseph Swift, of Brownhelm township, at $12 per month as a farm hand. During the winter months worked for his board and attended school.
In 1854 was united in marriage with Miss Martha Claus. This union was blessed with twelve children, four having died in early childhood. He leaves a wife, five sons, three daughters, twelve grandchildren, two brothers and three sisters to mourn their loss. The deceased purchased farm on which he lived and died in 1860, having resided on it for 41 years. In 1862, he engaged in the fishing business, was very successful and accumulated a good fortune.
He served as justice of the peace for several years of Brownhelm township. Was well known and very highly respected by the citizens of Lorain and Erie counties.
He was a devoted husband, kind father, soliciting for his family safety and comfort which was his main object and aim in life. He was in fact a genial and pleasant gentleman, kind to his neighbors and all with whome he came in contact. His long unfortunate illness and death is regretted by a host of real friends.
Sent to me by Linda B. of Find A Grave
*************************
KISHMAN = COMMERCIAL FISHING IN VERMILION: The the name Kishman is synonymous with commercial fishing in Vermilion and perhaps all along the northern shores of Lake Erie. During the late historians call the quote golden age” of the industry the Kishman family owned and operated fisheries in grand Harbour, Huron, and (of course) Vermilion. The story of how this came to be is purely an American story wherein success is a consequence, not only a good fortune, but also of intelligence and hard work.
This story really begins in 1854. In April of that year Adam Kishman, who had been born in Germany 23 years earlier, married a lady named Martha Claus. Adam purchased a 100 acre tract of farmland bordering the lake just 4 miles east of those busy little shipbuilding port named Vermillion (then spelled with 2 el’s).
In 1854 he acquired a scow with the manpowered drop hammer. With it he drove pilings into the lake bottom off the beach of his farm, fastened some fishnets to those pilings, and went into the business of fishing.
Early every morning, before their duties in the field had begun, two farm workers from the area would launch a dory from the beach, one operating the oars, the other steering and removing the fish from the nets. Upon returning to shore with their bounty the fish were packed in ice harvested from the lake during the winter, and then placed into storage. Some of the fish were taken in boxes to the Brownhelm Station to be shipped by train to other parts of the country. The remainder was either sold locally are purchased by peddlers who took them by horse and wagon over the very corduroy roads to markets as far away as Wooster.
During their marriage Adam and Martha parented 12 children. Of that number eight survived into adulthood. Three took up their fathers vocation(s). Henry, the elder child, began working the farm and the fishery as early as 1872. Brother, Edward, followed him in seventh 1874 and brother, Charles joined in two years later. As the years passed and the boys grew older outside help was no longer needed in both the business of farming fishery became strictly a family affair.
Innovations in the fishing operation induced the boys to forgo the inherent difficulties in the old shore-shuttle fishing style with a dory - to that of using sailboats to set nets out further in the lake. With the arrival of steam powered boats and the advent of gill nets in the latter part of the 19th century the boys abandoned the sure operation altogether and moved to a new location on the Vermillion River. The approximate site of this concern was just southwest of the present-day Vermilion River bridge. The area is currently occupied by the Alan, Thorley and DeLloyd Insurance Agency. Henry managed the fish house and retail end of the business, and Edward captained their steam tug "Telephone". Charles left for Lorain to operate another fishery called the A. Booth and Company.
At the turn-of-the-century Edward left of the Vermilion fishery and with the financial support of some Sandusky men began to manage a new fishery located in Huron. Brother Henry took a manager position with the Driscoll Fish Company. The Driscoll company was situated on the west bank of the river north of the river bridge in a place that eventually became Parsons Boat Marina / Storage. In 1905 Henry, who had found his work with Driscoll to be less than agreeable, purchased the Edson and Nichols river front property about a quarter-mile north of the Driscoll houses. It was in this spot the business officially known as the Kishman Fish Company of Vermilion was born, thrived, and grew into one of the most successful fisheries on Lake Erie.
In 1909 Edward's company in Huron joined the Vermilion operation. Henry B. was elected company president and Edward VP. Three years later they assumed control of another fishery in grand Harbour and brother Charles joined them as manager of that concern.
The Kishman brothers worked the family business together for the remainder of their lives. Edward died in 1944, and Charles passed away two years later. While Henry remained president of the company until his death in 1948 his son, Lester, who had joined the business in 1931 took over management in 1935, and eventually took his father’s place as the head of the company. When Lester retired on December 31, 1959, local resident Ray Full became company president.
Nearly 100 years have passed since Adam Kishman pushed his old dory off the beach of his farm to collect his first harvest from Lake Erie. The consequence of that rather mundane action was but the first step in the realization of a story of success that is purely, and unconditionally, American.
Ref: the Great Lakes Historical Society archives; Published in the Vermilion Photojouranl 8/05/2004; Oral transcription / adaptation made at the Olympic club on July 1, 2009 @2:48 PM.
Adam Kishman, who passed away after a painful illness of nearly seven years on Nov. 29th at 12:30a.m., was born in Germany July 22nd 1831. Came to America in 1850 at the age of nineteen years. Soon after he arrived commenced work for Mr. Joseph Swift, of Brownhelm township, at $12 per month as a farm hand. During the winter months worked for his board and attended school.
In 1854 was united in marriage with Miss Martha Claus. This union was blessed with twelve children, four having died in early childhood. He leaves a wife, five sons, three daughters, twelve grandchildren, two brothers and three sisters to mourn their loss. The deceased purchased farm on which he lived and died in 1860, having resided on it for 41 years. In 1862, he engaged in the fishing business, was very successful and accumulated a good fortune.
He served as justice of the peace for several years of Brownhelm township. Was well known and very highly respected by the citizens of Lorain and Erie counties.
He was a devoted husband, kind father, soliciting for his family safety and comfort which was his main object and aim in life. He was in fact a genial and pleasant gentleman, kind to his neighbors and all with whome he came in contact. His long unfortunate illness and death is regretted by a host of real friends.
Sent to me by Linda B. of Find A Grave
*************************
KISHMAN = COMMERCIAL FISHING IN VERMILION: The the name Kishman is synonymous with commercial fishing in Vermilion and perhaps all along the northern shores of Lake Erie. During the late historians call the quote golden age” of the industry the Kishman family owned and operated fisheries in grand Harbour, Huron, and (of course) Vermilion. The story of how this came to be is purely an American story wherein success is a consequence, not only a good fortune, but also of intelligence and hard work.
This story really begins in 1854. In April of that year Adam Kishman, who had been born in Germany 23 years earlier, married a lady named Martha Claus. Adam purchased a 100 acre tract of farmland bordering the lake just 4 miles east of those busy little shipbuilding port named Vermillion (then spelled with 2 el’s).
In 1854 he acquired a scow with the manpowered drop hammer. With it he drove pilings into the lake bottom off the beach of his farm, fastened some fishnets to those pilings, and went into the business of fishing.
Early every morning, before their duties in the field had begun, two farm workers from the area would launch a dory from the beach, one operating the oars, the other steering and removing the fish from the nets. Upon returning to shore with their bounty the fish were packed in ice harvested from the lake during the winter, and then placed into storage. Some of the fish were taken in boxes to the Brownhelm Station to be shipped by train to other parts of the country. The remainder was either sold locally are purchased by peddlers who took them by horse and wagon over the very corduroy roads to markets as far away as Wooster.
During their marriage Adam and Martha parented 12 children. Of that number eight survived into adulthood. Three took up their fathers vocation(s). Henry, the elder child, began working the farm and the fishery as early as 1872. Brother, Edward, followed him in seventh 1874 and brother, Charles joined in two years later. As the years passed and the boys grew older outside help was no longer needed in both the business of farming fishery became strictly a family affair.
Innovations in the fishing operation induced the boys to forgo the inherent difficulties in the old shore-shuttle fishing style with a dory - to that of using sailboats to set nets out further in the lake. With the arrival of steam powered boats and the advent of gill nets in the latter part of the 19th century the boys abandoned the sure operation altogether and moved to a new location on the Vermillion River. The approximate site of this concern was just southwest of the present-day Vermilion River bridge. The area is currently occupied by the Alan, Thorley and DeLloyd Insurance Agency. Henry managed the fish house and retail end of the business, and Edward captained their steam tug "Telephone". Charles left for Lorain to operate another fishery called the A. Booth and Company.
At the turn-of-the-century Edward left of the Vermilion fishery and with the financial support of some Sandusky men began to manage a new fishery located in Huron. Brother Henry took a manager position with the Driscoll Fish Company. The Driscoll company was situated on the west bank of the river north of the river bridge in a place that eventually became Parsons Boat Marina / Storage. In 1905 Henry, who had found his work with Driscoll to be less than agreeable, purchased the Edson and Nichols river front property about a quarter-mile north of the Driscoll houses. It was in this spot the business officially known as the Kishman Fish Company of Vermilion was born, thrived, and grew into one of the most successful fisheries on Lake Erie.
In 1909 Edward's company in Huron joined the Vermilion operation. Henry B. was elected company president and Edward VP. Three years later they assumed control of another fishery in grand Harbour and brother Charles joined them as manager of that concern.
The Kishman brothers worked the family business together for the remainder of their lives. Edward died in 1944, and Charles passed away two years later. While Henry remained president of the company until his death in 1948 his son, Lester, who had joined the business in 1931 took over management in 1935, and eventually took his father’s place as the head of the company. When Lester retired on December 31, 1959, local resident Ray Full became company president.
Nearly 100 years have passed since Adam Kishman pushed his old dory off the beach of his farm to collect his first harvest from Lake Erie. The consequence of that rather mundane action was but the first step in the realization of a story of success that is purely, and unconditionally, American.
Ref: the Great Lakes Historical Society archives; Published in the Vermilion Photojouranl 8/05/2004; Oral transcription / adaptation made at the Olympic club on July 1, 2009 @2:48 PM.
Dec. 12, 1901 Elyria Daily Reporter:
Adam Kishman, who passed away after a painful illness of nearly seven years on Nov. 29th at 12:30a.m., was born in Germany July 22nd 1831. Came to America in 1850 at the age of nineteen years. Soon after he arrived commenced work for Mr. Joseph Swift, of Brownhelm township, at $12 per month as a farm hand. During the winter months worked for his board and attended school.
In 1854 was united in marriage with Miss Martha Claus. This union was blessed with twelve children, four having died in early childhood. He leaves a wife, five sons, three daughters, twelve grandchildren, two brothers and three sisters to mourn their loss. The deceased purchased farm on which he lived and died in 1860, having resided on it for 41 years. In 1862, he engaged in the fishing business, was very successful and accumulated a good fortune.
He served as justice of the peace for several years of Brownhelm township. Was well known and very highly respected by the citizens of Lorain and Erie counties.
He was a devoted husband, kind father, soliciting for his family safety and comfort which was his main object and aim in life. He was in fact a genial and pleasant gentleman, kind to his neighbors and all with whome he came in contact. His long unfortunate illness and death is regretted by a host of real friends.
Sent to me by Linda B. of Find A Grave
*************************
KISHMAN = COMMERCIAL FISHING IN VERMILION: The the name Kishman is synonymous with commercial fishing in Vermilion and perhaps all along the northern shores of Lake Erie. During the late historians call the quote golden age” of the industry the Kishman family owned and operated fisheries in grand Harbour, Huron, and (of course) Vermilion. The story of how this came to be is purely an American story wherein success is a consequence, not only a good fortune, but also of intelligence and hard work.
This story really begins in 1854. In April of that year Adam Kishman, who had been born in Germany 23 years earlier, married a lady named Martha Claus. Adam purchased a 100 acre tract of farmland bordering the lake just 4 miles east of those busy little shipbuilding port named Vermillion (then spelled with 2 el’s).
In 1854 he acquired a scow with the manpowered drop hammer. With it he drove pilings into the lake bottom off the beach of his farm, fastened some fishnets to those pilings, and went into the business of fishing.
Early every morning, before their duties in the field had begun, two farm workers from the area would launch a dory from the beach, one operating the oars, the other steering and removing the fish from the nets. Upon returning to shore with their bounty the fish were packed in ice harvested from the lake during the winter, and then placed into storage. Some of the fish were taken in boxes to the Brownhelm Station to be shipped by train to other parts of the country. The remainder was either sold locally are purchased by peddlers who took them by horse and wagon over the very corduroy roads to markets as far away as Wooster.
During their marriage Adam and Martha parented 12 children. Of that number eight survived into adulthood. Three took up their fathers vocation(s). Henry, the elder child, began working the farm and the fishery as early as 1872. Brother, Edward, followed him in seventh 1874 and brother, Charles joined in two years later. As the years passed and the boys grew older outside help was no longer needed in both the business of farming fishery became strictly a family affair.
Innovations in the fishing operation induced the boys to forgo the inherent difficulties in the old shore-shuttle fishing style with a dory - to that of using sailboats to set nets out further in the lake. With the arrival of steam powered boats and the advent of gill nets in the latter part of the 19th century the boys abandoned the sure operation altogether and moved to a new location on the Vermillion River. The approximate site of this concern was just southwest of the present-day Vermilion River bridge. The area is currently occupied by the Alan, Thorley and DeLloyd Insurance Agency. Henry managed the fish house and retail end of the business, and Edward captained their steam tug "Telephone". Charles left for Lorain to operate another fishery called the A. Booth and Company.
At the turn-of-the-century Edward left of the Vermilion fishery and with the financial support of some Sandusky men began to manage a new fishery located in Huron. Brother Henry took a manager position with the Driscoll Fish Company. The Driscoll company was situated on the west bank of the river north of the river bridge in a place that eventually became Parsons Boat Marina / Storage. In 1905 Henry, who had found his work with Driscoll to be less than agreeable, purchased the Edson and Nichols river front property about a quarter-mile north of the Driscoll houses. It was in this spot the business officially known as the Kishman Fish Company of Vermilion was born, thrived, and grew into one of the most successful fisheries on Lake Erie.
In 1909 Edward's company in Huron joined the Vermilion operation. Henry B. was elected company president and Edward VP. Three years later they assumed control of another fishery in grand Harbour and brother Charles joined them as manager of that concern.
The Kishman brothers worked the family business together for the remainder of their lives. Edward died in 1944, and Charles passed away two years later. While Henry remained president of the company until his death in 1948 his son, Lester, who had joined the business in 1931 took over management in 1935, and eventually took his father’s place as the head of the company. When Lester retired on December 31, 1959, local resident Ray Full became company president.
Nearly 100 years have passed since Adam Kishman pushed his old dory off the beach of his farm to collect his first harvest from Lake Erie. The consequence of that rather mundane action was but the first step in the realization of a story of success that is purely, and unconditionally, American.
Ref: the Great Lakes Historical Society archives; Published in the Vermilion Photojouranl 8/05/2004; Oral transcription / adaptation made at the Olympic club on July 1, 2009 @2:48 PM.
Adam Kishman, who passed away after a painful illness of nearly seven years on Nov. 29th at 12:30a.m., was born in Germany July 22nd 1831. Came to America in 1850 at the age of nineteen years. Soon after he arrived commenced work for Mr. Joseph Swift, of Brownhelm township, at $12 per month as a farm hand. During the winter months worked for his board and attended school.
In 1854 was united in marriage with Miss Martha Claus. This union was blessed with twelve children, four having died in early childhood. He leaves a wife, five sons, three daughters, twelve grandchildren, two brothers and three sisters to mourn their loss. The deceased purchased farm on which he lived and died in 1860, having resided on it for 41 years. In 1862, he engaged in the fishing business, was very successful and accumulated a good fortune.
He served as justice of the peace for several years of Brownhelm township. Was well known and very highly respected by the citizens of Lorain and Erie counties.
He was a devoted husband, kind father, soliciting for his family safety and comfort which was his main object and aim in life. He was in fact a genial and pleasant gentleman, kind to his neighbors and all with whome he came in contact. His long unfortunate illness and death is regretted by a host of real friends.
Sent to me by Linda B. of Find A Grave
*************************
KISHMAN = COMMERCIAL FISHING IN VERMILION: The the name Kishman is synonymous with commercial fishing in Vermilion and perhaps all along the northern shores of Lake Erie. During the late historians call the quote golden age” of the industry the Kishman family owned and operated fisheries in grand Harbour, Huron, and (of course) Vermilion. The story of how this came to be is purely an American story wherein success is a consequence, not only a good fortune, but also of intelligence and hard work.
This story really begins in 1854. In April of that year Adam Kishman, who had been born in Germany 23 years earlier, married a lady named Martha Claus. Adam purchased a 100 acre tract of farmland bordering the lake just 4 miles east of those busy little shipbuilding port named Vermillion (then spelled with 2 el’s).
In 1854 he acquired a scow with the manpowered drop hammer. With it he drove pilings into the lake bottom off the beach of his farm, fastened some fishnets to those pilings, and went into the business of fishing.
Early every morning, before their duties in the field had begun, two farm workers from the area would launch a dory from the beach, one operating the oars, the other steering and removing the fish from the nets. Upon returning to shore with their bounty the fish were packed in ice harvested from the lake during the winter, and then placed into storage. Some of the fish were taken in boxes to the Brownhelm Station to be shipped by train to other parts of the country. The remainder was either sold locally are purchased by peddlers who took them by horse and wagon over the very corduroy roads to markets as far away as Wooster.
During their marriage Adam and Martha parented 12 children. Of that number eight survived into adulthood. Three took up their fathers vocation(s). Henry, the elder child, began working the farm and the fishery as early as 1872. Brother, Edward, followed him in seventh 1874 and brother, Charles joined in two years later. As the years passed and the boys grew older outside help was no longer needed in both the business of farming fishery became strictly a family affair.
Innovations in the fishing operation induced the boys to forgo the inherent difficulties in the old shore-shuttle fishing style with a dory - to that of using sailboats to set nets out further in the lake. With the arrival of steam powered boats and the advent of gill nets in the latter part of the 19th century the boys abandoned the sure operation altogether and moved to a new location on the Vermillion River. The approximate site of this concern was just southwest of the present-day Vermilion River bridge. The area is currently occupied by the Alan, Thorley and DeLloyd Insurance Agency. Henry managed the fish house and retail end of the business, and Edward captained their steam tug "Telephone". Charles left for Lorain to operate another fishery called the A. Booth and Company.
At the turn-of-the-century Edward left of the Vermilion fishery and with the financial support of some Sandusky men began to manage a new fishery located in Huron. Brother Henry took a manager position with the Driscoll Fish Company. The Driscoll company was situated on the west bank of the river north of the river bridge in a place that eventually became Parsons Boat Marina / Storage. In 1905 Henry, who had found his work with Driscoll to be less than agreeable, purchased the Edson and Nichols river front property about a quarter-mile north of the Driscoll houses. It was in this spot the business officially known as the Kishman Fish Company of Vermilion was born, thrived, and grew into one of the most successful fisheries on Lake Erie.
In 1909 Edward's company in Huron joined the Vermilion operation. Henry B. was elected company president and Edward VP. Three years later they assumed control of another fishery in grand Harbour and brother Charles joined them as manager of that concern.
The Kishman brothers worked the family business together for the remainder of their lives. Edward died in 1944, and Charles passed away two years later. While Henry remained president of the company until his death in 1948 his son, Lester, who had joined the business in 1931 took over management in 1935, and eventually took his father’s place as the head of the company. When Lester retired on December 31, 1959, local resident Ray Full became company president.
Nearly 100 years have passed since Adam Kishman pushed his old dory off the beach of his farm to collect his first harvest from Lake Erie. The consequence of that rather mundane action was but the first step in the realization of a story of success that is purely, and unconditionally, American.
Ref: the Great Lakes Historical Society archives; Published in the Vermilion Photojouranl 8/05/2004; Oral transcription / adaptation made at the Olympic club on July 1, 2009 @2:48 PM.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
See more Kishman memorials in:
Advertisement
