The T>Iaries of Sidney Qeorge Fisher
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The T>iaries of Sidney Qeorge Fisher 1849-1852 N THIS installment of the diaries, continued from our last issue, the most important event in Sidney George Fisher's life is his I marriage at the age of forty-three to Elizabeth Ingersoll, a union that was to prove so ideally happy and ultimately so tragic. This marriage was to lead in several years to the Fishers' settling at Forest Hill, the Ingersoll's summer place just north of Philadelphia at Rising Sun, which, in turn, was near a more rural section where their wealthy friends were creating palatial estates. During the years covered by this section of Fisher's diary, the early suburban movement is reflected in the building of Brookwood, his brother Henry's great mansion, and of his cousin Joshua Francis Fisher's equally impressive Alverthorpe. The grounds of many of these show places were laid out by Andrew J. Downing, the cele- brated landscape gardener. Unfortunately for the diarist, he could not afford a substantial country place of his own, and the years 1849 through 1852 find him living modestly in a small house in the city and trying to improve his Maryland farm, Mount Harmon, into a productive source of income. The names mentioned in the pages which follow are, for the most part, familiar ones which have already been identified in previous installments of the diaries. They include, notably, his brother and sister-in-law, Henry and Sarah Ann, "Fisher," as he called his cousin Joshua, his uncle William Logan Fisher of Wakefield, his father-in- law, Charles J. Ingersoll, and his brothers-in-law, Charles, Harry, Edward, Benjamin, and John Ingersoll, as well as his most intimate friend, George R. Smith. October 28, 1849 Yesterday went out with Henry to dinner & returned this evening. He has purchased a piece of land in the neigh- 181 I 82 SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER April borhood, about 50 acres, where he intends to build a country house. It is at the corner of Green Lane & the 2nd St. road, diagonally opposite to Chas. Fox's wood, & opposite on the same side of the land to Judge Kane's place, which adjoins Harry IngersolPs.1 He could not have chosen a better situation as regards health, beauty, convenience to town & agreeable neighbors. Thirty-one acres he bought from a man named Rorer at $150 per acre, & 19 at public sale at $240 per acre. At 10 o'clock this morning George Smith came out, and we went over first to Ingersoll's and then accompanied by him & Fox to the land to fix upon a site for the house. I went there the year before last with Ingersoll & his wife & George Smith to see the view which is extensive and very beautiful. It is the place Ingersoll first thought of buying, and he has regretted ever since that he did not. I never saw a piece of land more finely placed or better adapted for a country residence or for ornamental improvement. It rolls & swells in every variety of gentle & graceful slopes, with two fine pieces of wood admirably situated, and a wide & rich prospect to the south, east & west. On the north the ground rises in a very gradual & easy manner, just enough for protection from cold winds, with abundant space for grouping trees. Since I first saw it, I have wished Henry to buy it and I rejoice that he has done so. He will make it a beautiful place, and the improvement of it will give healthful occupation for mind & body, strengthen his constitution and, I hope, lead him to feel inter- est & pleasure in something better & higher than business & money- making, in which he is far too much absorbed. His career of pros- perity is a wonder to me & to everyone. He is worth half a million, & there seems no end to his accumulation. He has made $100,000 this year. But in making money the great thing is to get a start & the command of capital. With this & judgment to use it, such is the rapid increase in the value of property in our growing cities, it is easy enough to get rich. Henry can command money to any amount, con- sequently he has the offer of the best bargains. Most of his fortune is the result of speculations in lots, which he has carried on to an immense extent. He buys a lot for 40 or $50,000, cuts it up, lets it on ground rent sometimes at a profit of 2 or 300 per ct., &, as soon as 1 The three properties referred to were Charles P. Fox's Champlost, Judge John K. Kane's Fern Rock, and Harry Ingersoll's Medary. 1962 DIARIES 1849-1852 183 the lots are improved, sells the grd. rents. He has now 150 houses building on various lots. This place will cost a good deal of money, some 50 to $60,000 before it is done, but that is of no consequence as he can well afford it, and will probably pay for it out of the profits of the next year's operations. It was a question last evening as to the name to be given to the new place, a matter of some importance and some difficulty. A romantic name is absurd, and yet is often selected, and all the varieties of cottage, lodge, hall &c, are hacknied. A name should be chosen from some family or local association or from some charac- teristic feature of the place, and it should also be short and musical. Thro the wood on this place runs a stream of water, and, happening to think of that, I suggested the name of "Brookwood" as being at once short, pretty and descriptive. The ladies all approved, but I doubt whether Henry will choose it.2 November 5, 1849 On Thursday drove out to dine at Fisher's to meet Downing, the landscape gardener, who was there for a few days to help him lay out the grounds of his place. Edward Middleton3 there, too. Came in at 10 after a pleasant conversation &good dinner. Engaged Downing to give Henry a few hours on Saturday to deter- mine the site for his house. Downing goes in this way to give advice, professionally. His charge is $20 per diem. Dec% ember 7, 1849 On Saturday, the 1st, Sarah Ann had a son. They have named him Jas. Logan after our admirable brother. May he resemble him in strength & richness of intellect, in nobleness and purity of character, in manly beauty, in gentlemanlike elegance & grace, in warmth of feeling & truth of sentiment & affection.4 December 23, 1849 At Henry's in the evening for an hour. My little nephew flourishes finely. Henry has bought 30 acres more land adjoining his place with a house on it that will do for a farmer or gardener. He now has 100. It is a beautiful piece of ground finely 2 Henry approved the name despite Fisher's misgivings. 3 Lt. Edward Middleton of the Navy was a brother-in-law of Joshua Francis Fisher, and at this time was trying to obtain a divorce from his Italian wife Edda. During Middleton's absence at sea, Edda had created a scandal involving Harry McCall. Sidney George Fisher was retained to persuade the Pennsylvania legislature to grant the divorce, which it refused to do. 4 James Logan Fisher, named for his uncle who died in Paris in 1833,wa s to marry Mary Ingersoll in 1890. They had no children. He died on Mar. 21, 1925, having survived to be the last member of The Philadelphia Club to drive to the club in a carriage. 184 SIDNEY GEORGE FISHER April situated & particularly well calculated from its slopes & undulations & pieces of wood for ornamental improvement. Wheeler5 is to build his house, Downing to lay out the grounds. Wheeler has drawn two plans for the house, one in the Italian, the other in the Elizabethan style. The latter is not only in itself the handsomer by far, in my judgment, but accords well with the picturesque character of the surrounding scenery, which the Italian does not suit. The Eliza- bethan is, however, considerably the more expensive. As that is a matter Henry does not much regard I have no doubt he will choose it, and he will certainly have a very large, convenient & elegant house & his place will be the handsomest in the neighborhood of the city.6 December 2J, 1849 This morning Edwd. Middleton came in with the good news that Hannah Fenney's father7 had consented that she should be examined. He had a conversation with him himself. I fancy he succeeded partly by giving him some assurance that the affair would not lead to a duel, that being one of the reasons given by Fenney for his previous refusal. Fisher told me yesterday that Middleton had determined not to challenge McCall.8 It seems he has conscientious scruples on the subject. I doubt whether he can main- tain his position in the navy or among gentlemen, particularly in South, unless he does. Our notions on this matter are much more savage than those of Europe. Already many severe things have been said here & in Carolina about NlAddletoxis forbearancey people seem- ing to think he should have sought his revenge ere this, regardless of consequences, & everyone considering it as matter of course that he will fight after he obtains his divorce.9 Opinions on this subject are graduated according to the standard of civilization & refinement. In the Southwest & many parts of the South, a man would be permitted, indeed almost required, to shoot or stab his injurer wherever he 5 Gervase Wheeler, later author of Rural Homes; or Sketches of Houses suited to American Country Life (Auburn, N.Y., 1853), was a young English architect recommended by Andrew J.