Fid Bishop

biography

Bishop, Fid, a well and favorably known citizen of South Oil City, is a native of Centerville, Crawford county, this state, a son of Zephaniah and Caroline (Pangmon) Bishop of Whitehall, Washington county, New York, and was born December 25th, 1840. At an early age he began his business life as a clerk in the mercantile establishment of McFarland Brothers at Meadville, Pennsylvania. From there he came to Oil City in January, 1861, as manager of a grocery house for the same firm, and filled that position until April, 1864, when he purchased the stock and goodwill, running the business until the big fire of May 28th, 1866, when the fire consumed the building and most of the stock of goods. He next turned his attention to the production of petroleum, with which he was more or less identified for some time, with but very little success; was appointed postmaster by President Lincoln in March, 1865; the commission was issued by President Johnson the latter part of April, it being among the first signed by President Johnson after the assassination of President Lincoln. He held the office one year and a half and then resigned on account of the salary not being large enough to meet the necessary expenses of the office. Before any banking houses were established the firm of Culver & Company secured his services and bought and sold exchange, Mr. Bishop being cashier and book-keeper at the same time. When the borough of Oil City was organized Mr. Bishop was elected a member of its first council, and was the first treasurer of the borough. At this time the entire receipts from borough taxes were about eight hundred dollars. During the winter of 1868 he held the position of messenger of the house of representatives at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In July, 1877, he was again appointed postmaster by President Hayes, and re-appointed by President Arthur in 1881 without opposition, holding the office until February, 1886, and the record made therein is one of which he may well be proud.

Near the close of his term of office he received the following letter from Mr. Speese, postoffice inspector, stationed at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Dear Sir: I regret that your term of office is fast drawing to a close, not only on account of our pleasant official relations, but because the department will lose an efficient officer, and Oil City a faithful and painstaking postmaster. You have kept a good postoffice; you have been faithful in the discharge of your duties, and I am confident that when your successor demands the property of the office the accounting will be found correct to a penny. You take into your retirement the thanks of this office, and we gladly bear testimony to a duty well performed, and express our thanks for many courtesies received at your hands. Very truly yours, I. M. SPEESE.

Mr. Bishop’ s marriage ceremony was the first one performed after the borough of Oil City was organized. He was married by the Reverend S. J. M. Eaton of Franklin, March 12, 1863, to Miss Sarah E. Hopewell, and has one child, Clara H., now the wife of Thomas G. Phinny. During the whole term that Mr. Bishop has resided in Oil City he has always felt a deep interest in every enterprise having for its object the benefit of the place. To him in a great degree the city is indebted for the beautiful suspension bridge which spans the Allegheny river; he was the originator of the Oil City steam laundry, which has now become a solid and permanent institution. In politics Mr. Bishop has always been a consistent, active, and earnest Republican.

History of Venango County, Pennsylvania: its past and present, including its aboriginal history, the French and British occupation of the country, its early settlement and subsequent growth, a description of its historic and interesting localities, its rich oil deposits and their development, sketches of its cities, boroughs, townships, and villages, neighborhood and family history, portraits and biographies of pioneers and representative citizens, statistics, etc., etc. Chicago, Ill.: Brown, Runk & Co., 1890, pages 852-853.