SAMUEL E. FISHER SR. was born in 1916 to Samuel and Mary Fisher. His father was active in politics as a Democrat and had served as a member of the Camden Police Department from 1903 to 1905, then later was in the tailoring, cleaning and dyeing business. According to the 1920 Census, Samuel E. Fisher was the fifth of six children then at home, the elder children being Roland, Jennie K., Rosie, and William, with younger sister Lillian then the baby of the family. The Fishers live at 756 Sycamore Street, literally a stone's throw from the Wesley AME Zion Church. In 1920 Samuel E. Fisher's father was a tailor and had his own shop. The elder Fisher died in February of 1927.

Samuel E. Fisher attended Camden public schools, attending classes at the James G. Whittier elementary school, Cooper B. Hatch Junior High School, and Camden High School, where he graduated from in 1936. He played football and was starred on the basketball court, playing varsity in his sophomore, junior, and senior years. He attended Lincoln University and West Virginia State College, and excelled on the court there as well, before returning home to Camden.

When the Census was taken in 1940, Samuel Fisher had wed. He and his wife, the former Josephine Huff, were boarding at 760 Sycamore Street, the home of  John and Willamae Evans. Samuel Fisher was then working at a cigar factory, very likely that at South Sixth and Mechanic Street. Samuel E. Fisher was still working at the cigar factory when he inducted into the United States Army in Camden on February 16, 1943. Son Samuel E. Fisher Jr. had already been born, and Josephine Fisher was then carrying son Linwood Fisher, who would arrive in September of 1943.

Returning from returning from the Army, Samuel Fisher rejoined his family in Camden. The 1847 City Directory shows the family living at 115 Branch Village, and that he was working as a library clerk. There is also a listing at 718 Van Hook Street for a Samuel E. Fisher, student, and it is possible that he may have been listed twice. In either event, student and library clerk would not become Samuel E. Fisher's life's work. On April 1, 1947 he began service with the Camden Fire Department, at Engine Company 1, 409 Pine Street.

Samuel E. Fisher was quite active in Camden, as an officer and trustee of Wesley AME Zion Church, the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, whose Camden chapter he was a founding member, and a number of firemen's organizations. He was involved his church's move to its present home at 701 Division Street. The Fishers were living at 1820 South 10th Street in the mid and as late as February of 1959. By 1960 the family had moved to 1620 Kolo Street.

Son Samuel E. "Joe-Boy" Fisher Jr., followed his father to Camden High School and the basketball court. He was a vital part of the 1959 and 1960 Camden High School basketball teams that went undefeated and won consecutive state titles in those years. Samuel E. Fisher Jr. also followed his father into the Camden Fire Department.

Younger son Linwood Fisher served in the United States Army from January 1, 1965 to January 1, 1967, then returned to civilian life in Camden. He was one of the seven men who passed the Civil Service test in 1967. Linwood Fisher began his service on January 5, 1968, and retired on May 1, 2001. 

Samuel E. Fisher Sr. passed away at the Veterans Hospital in Philadelphia on July 31, 1971. He was buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Pennsauken, New Jersey, survived by his wife and sons. Josephine Fisher joined her husband on January 12, 1994.