James, Jr. was born December l4, 1857 in Calls Fort, Boxelder County, Utah to James Madison, Sr, and Edith Evaline Pierce, Fisher. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and came with their parents to the West. His Mother and family came in the Fall of 1847. His Father came with his family in the year 1852; both families came as Mormon pioneers. His parents were married in 1857.

James M. Fisher, Sr. then moved to the Southern part of the State in 1858 while Johnson's Army was in Salt Lake City. He and the family later moved back to Salt Lake City where he took over 35 acres in East Mill Creek, on 23rd East; afterwhich, he homesteaded 165 acres. He found squatters on his land, but they were allowed to stay. It was on this land that James Madison, Jr later built his two-room brick home - to which he brought his bride - it was the only home he lived in until his death on August 12, 1925. He is buried in Elysian Gardens in Mill Creek.

My Father was very interested in good government. He was a Democrat to the end. When his Father first came out to Utah, Brigham Young wanted to carry on the two party system here, and he advised the heads of families what party they should represent. The Fishers were to carry on as Democrats - the Neffs, as Republicans. He was an active person and took much interest in many civic affairs. He was Trustee of the School for many years - it was the same as serving on the board of Education as we know it today. His Church duties were many. He was Clerk for the Mill Creek Ward, and M. I. A. Supt. of the Young Men's Improvement Society. Also he was Assistant Supt. of Sunday School. Two sons performed missions: Madison Neff, and Leonidas. Franklin Pierce was sent to Canada at the age of 17 to colonize in Alberta where he lived his entire adult life - he was later made Patriarch. My Father spent his winter months working in the Temple, and served as Vice President of the State Horticulture Society. He sang in the Ward Choir all of his adult life.

James Madison, Jr. was an ardent reader of both religious books, and affairs of the world. Having no time to read during Spring, Summer, and Fall, he took advantage of the cold Winters to read - he was well up on the affairs of the world. He was last to go to bed at night and first to get up in the morning. When he died, the Dr. said that he had simply worn out his heart. When he was first married, he operated the grist mill for 9 years for his Father-in-law, Franklin Neff. It was the first grist mill to produce white flour in the West. After leaving the mill, he became a nursery man, and after his trees began bearing fruit, this is the work he remained with until his death. He also sold plantings, and planted orchards for other people. His fruit farm and nursery were the largest in the West. For 18 consecutive years he took gold medals for his display at the State Fair. He originated the fruit Nectarine, by grafting the plumb, peach, and apricot. There would be as many as 50 fruit pickers in our orchards at picking time - some boarded with us, others went home each evening.

Indians from Southern Utah came to the farm every Fall. There would be as many as 5 families come at once. My father had prepared dried fruit for them, and gave them a place to tent; also, they could have all of the fresh fruit they wanted to eat. He never asked anything in return for his generosity. He was selected by Brigham Young to be a Minute Man to defend the community against troublesome Indians - his horse, saddle, and gun were ready to go at a moment's call.

James Madison, Jr. kept a pound for lost animals. He would feed them and sell those that were not later claimed. If the animals were claimed, he would ask only for the cost of feeding them while in the pound. Wild horses were rounded up on the Nevada Desert and my Father would keep some for his own use, selling others; there would be some 15 head on our farm at one time. We fellows would break them, and we became quite tricky on some of our horses. I can remember when our good neighbors would feel that it was their duty to advise our parents against the racing around that we were doing, especially riding Roman style (1 foot on one horse - the other foot on another one; going at breakneck speed). Some of us children would follow the sheep herd in the canyons, and we would pick up the stray lambs which would have perished otherwise. We would sometimes pay the herder for other head, and then we would take them home and raise and fatten them up for home consumption. Sometimes there would be 6 to 8 cows at the place; at least 2 hogs, and many chickens. We shopped at 2 places of business in the early days - Neilson's in Holiday (sic Holladay), and the Sugar House Merc (My uncle Bert Smoot owned the Merc).

In order to get some coal in, we would have to take the Bobsled to Coalville, Utah (47 miles). The trip would be started real early in a Winter morning, and a stop would be made at Roaches (12 miles) in Parley's Canyon - this was located just west of Lambs Canyon on the North side of Parley's Canyon. The horses would be fed and watered, and a meal would be had by the drivers - then on to Kimball's Junction (27 miles) where an overnight stop was made. Then up early in the morning and on to Coalville where the coal was shoveled from the boxcars. It was a poor grade of coal - much rock in the lumps. Back to Kimball's and another overnight stay, and then on home. The winters were quite harsh, especially when the East blizzards blew - huge drifts covered everything on the East side of buildings - many a tunnel had been made from the barns to the house, and most everything would come to a standstill when these terrific blows would come; sometimes lasting 3 days at a time. It was a frightening thing to be caught out in one. More than once I had to unhitch my horse from the buggy and dive into a neighbor's haystack to get out of the fury of the storm.

My Father was a full tithe payer. At one time during a depression, he parted with an only cow he had rather than not pay his tithing - 4 cows had just died of the bloat. Among some of the papers and magazines that he read were the Deseret News, Farmer's Almanac, and Horticulture Magazine. The family had to travel to Sugar Station (Sugar House) for their mail for many years - it was a big event, to be sure, when Rural Mail delivery began, and one had only to walk down lovely tree-lined Fisher's Lane to collect the mail from the box.

James Madison, Jr. will always be remembered for his pleasant ways. He especially loved children. It never seemed too much trouble for this 5' 8" tall man, whose slenderness made him look even taller, to hitch up the team to the Bobsled for his young folk and take them along the country roads. The sleigh would be partially filled with straw to bury into, and there would be robes and blankets to use for cover. The jingle of the bells on the horses' trappings would add to the merriment and thrill of those rides.

Our family included the following children - not counting the 2 infants who died: Madison Neff, Frances Edith, Franklin Pierce, Leonidas and Lyle, twins, Junius Ferry, Caleb, Minerva, Maude, Alfretta, Joshua, Arta E., and Vivian Lavern. My Father's second wife was Cynthia Burnham (1885). Seven children were born to this union: Arvilla, Ruth, Retta, James M., Emma, Kendall, and Joseph.

By his close attention to business, and his honest, straightforward life, my Father built up a well-deserved reputation as a citizen of one of the leading and growing States in the Union. His sincerity and devotion to his Church; his gentle, courteous manner won for him a host of friends, and respect and love from his family. His career was one to which his children and others were able to point to with much pride.