Albert Fishback
Albert Fishback, blacksmith, was born in Highland County, near East Monroe, June 18, 1837. His parents, Thomas and Martha (Roberts) Fishback, were natives of Madison Court House, Virginia. They were married February 15, 1820. Mrs. Fishback was born September 1, 1804. They united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1823. About the year 1836 they came to Ohio, locating first in Highland County. They came to New Martinsburg in 1837. The mother died July 2, 1872, and her husband died nine days later. Both were ripe, earnest Christians, and active members of the church. Their children were: Benjamin F., Francis E., Charles H., Hugh W., Matilda A., Martha J., John W., Albert, James H., and Richard E. The three younger children were born in Ohio. The father of our subject was by trade a wheelwright, and for many years carried on his occupation at New Martinsburg. He also built and operated a carding-mill in the village, supplying the motive power by means of a tread-wheel horse-power. In later years he erected the saw-mill now owned by Levi Ellis. He was also a merchant, and sold goods in the village for a time.
Our subject learned the blacksmith trade with William Wasson, serving three years as an apprentice, beginning at the age of sixteen. Since 1860 he has carried on for himself, working for twenty-one years past in the same shop.
He was married February 3, 1859, to Lydia M. Ellis, daughter of David iind Hannah Ellis, this county. The Ellises were from Tennessee. The fruits of this union, have been three children: Russell, born November 12, 1859; Alwilda, born October 18, 1861; Starkey, born September 5, 1863.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County