View source for Emily Fish

{{Short description|American lighthouse keeper (1843–1931)}}

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'''Emily Augusta Fish''' ({{Nee|'''Maitland'''}}; February 22, 1843 &ndash; June 24, 1931), sometimes called the "socialite keeper",<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-27 |title=Female Keepers of the Light |url=https://nicolesnarratives.wordpress.com/2023/02/27/female-keepers-of-the-light/ |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=Nicole's Narratives |language=en}}</ref> was an American [[lighthouse keeper]].  A native of [[Albion, Michigan]], she married Melancthon W. Fish, her sister's [[widower]], at the age of 17. Melancthon, a [[physician|medical doctor]], served in a number of government posts overseas before returning to fight for the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] in the [[American Civil War]].  He died in 1891, when Emily was 50.

Soon after her husband's death Fish's son-in-law, an official with the [[United States Lighthouse Service]], informed her of a vacancy at the [[Point Pinos Light]] in [[California]].  With his help, Fish applied for, and won, the position, moving into the station with her [[China|Chinese]] servant, Lew Kew "Que", and luxurious furnishings.

During her 21 years as keeper, from 1893 to 1914, Fish brought rich soil to the lighthouse grounds, and planted grass, hedges, and trees; she also kept French [[poodle]]s, [[Holstein cow]]s, [[thoroughbred horse]]s, and [[chicken]]s. She became well regarded in the area for her entertaining ability, and always received the highest marks for keeping the station tidy. She co-founded the Monterey-Pacific Grove Chapter of the America Red Cross and chaired the Ladies Welcoming Committee.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/110220.shtml|title = Albion Native Ran Lighthouse in California}}</ref> Her lighthouse log shows that she hired more than 30 men over the course of 21 years and that "most of them were discharged due to incompetence."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook/110220.shtml|title=Albion native ran lighthouse in California|website=www.albionmich.com|access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref>

Fish's nibling Juliet Nichols, whom Fish reared, also became a lighthouse keeper.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mountainviewpeople.blogspot.com/2008/05/emily-fish-juliet-nichols-lighthouse.html|title=Lives of the Dead: Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland: Emily Fish & Juliet Nichols - Lighthouse Keepers|last=Michael|date=2008-05-02|website=Lives of the Dead|access-date=2019-03-05}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=November 2022}}

In later life Fish was awarded the Star of Efficiency medal of the US Lighthouse Service, retired in 1914, and died in 1931. Fish is buried with Nichols in the [[Mountain View Cemetery (Oakland, California)|Mountain View Cemetery]] in [[Oakland, California|Oakland]].

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.lhdigest.com/Digest/StoryPage.cfm?StoryKey=2004 ''Lighthouse Digest'' article]
*{{find a Grave|8862173}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fish, Emily}}
[[Category:1843 births]]
[[Category:1931 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Albion, Michigan]]
[[Category:People from Monterey County, California]]
[[Category:United States Lighthouse Service personnel]]
[[Category:Women lighthouse keepers]]
[[Category:American lighthouse keepers]]
[[Category:Burials at Mountain View Cemetery (Oakland, California)]]


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