Herman A. Fischer, Sr.

Herman August Fischer Sr. was born on September 6th, 1846 in Du PageCounty Illinois. Graduate of Wheaton College in 1870, after which Fischer immediately became the principle of the preparatory academy at Wheaton until two years later when he was hired to teach Mathematics and German for the college. Fischer served Wheaton College for over 50 years in many forms and offices; he served as professor of many subjects until 1920, as vice-president for several years to Charles Blanchard, and as treasurer of the college, even after he had retired from his teaching position. Fischer married Julia Blanchard, daughter of Jonathan Blanchard in 1873, and had 12 children, most of who graduated from Wheaton. Fischer was influential during the early years of Wheaton College, providing a strong academic backbone to the school with his teaching and publications, as well as through his financial work raising money for the college and managing its money. Herman A. Fischer Sr. died on September 9th 1925, and was considered at that time one of the three most important people in the history of Wheaton College along with Jonathan and Charles A. Blanchard. Fischer dorm is actually not named after this Fischer, but rather his son Herman Fischer Jr. who was a trustee of the college for many years.