FANCHER, GEORGE LEWIS

Copyright 2011-2018 John N. Lupia, III

George Lewis Fancher (1852-1922), was born on October 8, 1852, in Camillus, Onondaga County, New York, son of Harry (1809-1896-), and Harriet Phillips Fancher (1812-1873), both native New Yorkers.

Fancher was raised at Camillus, New York and graduated the elementary school.

In 1870, he served a three year apprenticeship at a druggist on the corner of 8th Avenue and 43rd Street, New York City. The 1870 New York City Directory listed him as George S. Fancher working as a clerk in a drug store at 680 8th Avenue. He remained there until 1873.

In 1873 he moved to Plantsville, Connecticut, managing a drug store there for two years.

On December 3, 1874, he married his childhood sweetheart, Emma J. Fergus (1854-) of Camillus, New York. They had two children Grace L. (1876-), and William D. Fancher (1885-). His son went on to become a banker at Harlbut National Bank, Winsted, Connecticut.

In 1875, he moved to Waterbury, Connecticut, working at the drug store of R. S. Woodruff on Bank Street.

In the winter of 1877, he worked at Woodbury, Connecticut closing out drug stock.

Since May 1878, he was a Druggist at West Winsted, a subdivision of Winchester, Litchfield County, Connecticut working in the Apothecary of Mrs. Harriet Lee, established 1847.

In 1876, the drug store became the property of George W. Lee. Mr. Lee took on a partner W. L. Mix and the drug store became known as Lee & Mix. This partnership was dissolved in 1878 when Fancher entered the drug store. Fancher eventually bought the drug store after 29 years employment there in 1907, from the son of Mr. & Mrs. George W. Lee.

In June 1881, Fancher was a correspondent of Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr.

Fancher began advertising he is a dealer in Coins, Medals, Colonial, Continental and Confederate Money, Old Newspapers, Almanacs, Old and Rare Coins, &c., Bought, Sold and Exchanged.

Fig. Fancher correspondence with the Chapman Brothers for the Bushnell sale, postmarked March 11, 1882. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive.

Fig. Fancher correspondence with the Chapman Brothers February 14, 1884. Note he is advertising his fixed price list or Premium Coin Book, just 13 cents. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive.

On June 11-12, 1884, George Massamore, Sale 24, 1250 lots, sold part of the George L. Fancher collection together with A. M. Wortman, et alia.

Fig. Fancher to the Chapman Brothers, postmarked December 14, 1885. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive.

Fig. Fancher correspondence with the Chapman Brothers July 19, 1886. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive.

Fig. Fancher to the Chapman Brothers, postmarked May 12, 1888. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive.

Fancher was a coin dealer who published a Fixed Price List. He applied for ANA Membership in November 1903.

In 1907, Fancher became the sole proprietor of Lee’s Apothecaries Hall, a well known drug store established 70 years, inside he also kept his coin and curiosity store, located at 667 Main Street. Fancher's residence is at 59 Meadow.

The 1920 U. S. Census lists him still living at 59 Meadow Street, Winchester, Litchfield County, Connecticut.

He died on November 15, 1922, at the family home at Camillus, New York.

Fancher was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, the Winsted Club, the Winsted Chamber of Commerce, and the Connecticut Retail Druggist Association.

Fig. Coin auction sale notice of the estate of the late George L. Fancher sold posthumously on Saturday, July 7, 1923 at C. C. Middlebrooks. Not listed in Gengerke. Hartford Courant, Thursday, July 5, 1923, page 19

For bibliography see below advertisement.