Description:Oval of middle-aged man in formal attire
History:The paintings of John and Maria Gauche were given by Alice Marie Gauche Fisher and R.J. Fisher Sr. to Johnnye M. Fisher and R.J. Fisher Jr., also of Athens, TN, in 1938. The paintings later were passed to Mr. & Mrs. Edward M. Fisher of Chattanooga and now are with their daughter, Kitty Fisher Delany. See associated painting of Maria Eve Gauche. During a recent restoration and repair project the artist's name, John Genin, was discovered. He is quite well-known, especially in Louisiana where he resided after coming to America from France.
Notes:John Gauche was a wealthy and well-known resident of New Orleans. He was an importer and store owner. B. 1819, Alsace, France, d. April 1, 1868 New Orleans, LA, buried in St. Louis Cemetary #3, New Orleans. His large home at 704 Esplanade St. was on the walking tour of the French Quarter for many years and still stands, being undamaged by hurricane Katrina. The Tulane Manuscripts Department has in their collection a petition described thusly: Petition to Abraham Lincoln from members of the Louisiana Legislature for the release of John Gauche; March 17, 1865. 504 (18). Signed by members of the legislature, Governor Madison Wells, and President Abraham Lincoln, with a note in Lincoln’s hand “Let this man be discharged on taking the oath of Dec. 8, 1863. A. Lincoln, April 10, 1865.” Lincoln granted the petition fours days before his assassination. He had 12 children, the youngest being Alice Marie Gauche, (b. 1868) married Robert J. Fisher Sr., of Athens, Tennesee on June 9th, 1892 in New Orleans. R. J. Fisher was a well-known inventor and entrepeneur in Tennessee, having started the Athens Hosiery Mill, Athens Plow Company, Athens Stove Works, and Fisher Typwriter Company, later merged into the Elliot-Fisher Typwriter Co.
