Death of Rev. O. A. Fisher

Just as we go to press, Judge Fisher hands us a postal card announcing the death of his brother, Rev. O. A. Fisher at his home at Waresville, on Saturday last. Universal regret among all who knew him will be felt at the loss of this good man and faithful Christian minister.

San Marcos Free Press, January 1, 1885
 

Tribute of Respect.

At a meeting of San Marcos Lodge 342 A. F. and A. M. held Feb. 7 1885 the following preamble and resolutions were adopted:

Whereas It has pleased Almighty God to remove from his earthly labors one who formerly dwelt among us Rev. O. A. Fisher and whereas be was for year intimately associated with this lodge and community, therefore be it

Resolved, That in the loss of 0. A. Fisher we mourn a man good and true in whose praise it would be hard to say too much.

2. That we recognize his great devotion to this community and his usefulness in it and feel that we have endured a personal bereavement

3. That we will cherish his example and memory among our jewels and while mourning his loss rejoice that he has indeed passed from labor to refreshment.

4. That we tender to the family of our deceased brother our sympathies; that a copy of these resolutions be spread on our minutes; a copy sent to me bereaved family and one furnished to the Free Press for publication.

J. E. Pritchett
P. J. C. Smith
R. J. Smith.

San Marcos Free Press, February 12, 1885
 

Mary Susan Simons Fisher
A Devoted Christian and Pioneer Lady

Mrs. Mary Susan Fisher was born in Texana, Jackson County, Texas, January 1, 1843. She was a daughter of Capt. Thomas Simons and Mrs. Susan Simpson.

She was married to Rev. O. A. Fisher, December 4, 1861. This union was blessed with eleven children—Mrs. Fannie Simpson, Rev. Sterling Fisher, Mrs. Judith Harper, Mrs. Annilee Fly, Travis Fisher, Jesse Fisher, Willie Fisher, Mrs. Lizzie Wentworth, Mrs. Ella Harper, Thomas Fisher and Mrs. Carrie Laughter.

Mrs. Fisher joined the Methodist Church when a child at Texana. She was devoted and faithful throughout her life. She was a great mother and raised a fine family. A son of hers became one of Texas’ greatest Methodist preachers.

Mrs. Fisher died at a ripe old age.

Biography & photo from The Cavalcade of Jackson County, by I. T. Taylor, Third Edition, Page 378
 Used by permission of the Jackson County Historical Commission
 

Mary Susan Fisher

Edna, Tex., June 18.--Mrs. Mary Susan Fisher died last evening at the home of her daughter, Mrs. H. Simpson of this city. Mrs. Fisher was born in Texana, January 1, 1843, and married Rev. O. A. Fisher December 4, 1861. Eleven children were born of this union, all surviving. Besides these eleven children, there are forty-nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, living descendants of this pioneer Texas. The body will be taken to Utopia to rest beside that of her husband.

San Antonio Express, June 19, 1912
 

Fannie Fisher Simpson
Former Citizen of Edna Died Sunday

Sunday at Buffalo, Texas, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. R. E. Ledbetter, Mrs. Harper Simpson, a native of Jackson County, passed away at the age of 83 years.  The remains were brought to Edna Tuesday and the funeral service for this beloved lady was held at the Edna Methodist Church Tuesday afternoon at 2:00 o’clock, and was conducted by Rev. E. C. Young, local Methodist pastor.

Interment was made in the Edna Cemetery were her husband was laid to rest in 1940.

Mrs. Harper Simpson (nee Fannie Fisher) was born at old Texana, near Edna, Feb. 2, 1863.  Her mother was Mary Susan Simons of the Simons family, still prominent at Edna.  Her father, the Rev. O. A. Fisher, was a Methodist preacher, and the daughter was early to know the life of the pioneer preacher’s home.  She was the oldest of eleven children and grew up in a strong Christian atmosphere which influenced her life to the end.

Mrs. Simpson attended the schools in the various towns where the family lived and in the early 80s she was graduated from Control Institute at San Marcos.  She then taught school near Hondo where she met her future husband.  They were married on Nov. 1, 1885 and lived on a sheep ranch near Eagle Pass for several years.

About 1891 the family moved to Beeville, and a few years later to Edna, which was “home” for about 30 years.  Mr. Simpson served as postmaster for 16 years.  In 1920, Mr. and Mrs. Simpson moved to Austin where he died in 1940.

For the past 3 years Mrs. Simpson had made her home with the children, and died in Buffalo (Texas).

She is survived by six of the seven children.  A daughter Lena (Mrs. R. O. Little) died in Houston in 1944.  The other children are: Rev. Fisher Simpson, on the staff of the General Board of Education of the Methodist Church, Nashville, Tenn., Mary (Mrs. R. E. Ledbetter) Buffalo; Fannie (Mrs. John Bethea) Wharton; Sue (Mrs. H. H. Lewis) Winters; Corinne (Mrs. E. J. Compton) Texon; Emily Joyce (Mrs. H. A. Keen) Houston.

There are also 18 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  Surviving brothers and sisters are Thomas A. Fisher, Austin; Mrs. Gordon Laughter, Edna; Mrs. J. S. Fly, Hondo; Mrs. Murry Wentworth, Utopia; and Mrs. Rollie Harper, Marfa.

Throughout her life Mrs. Simpson was actively identified with the Methodist Church.  There was never a debate in the home about going to Sunday School, that was a regular activity for the whole family.  All the children grew up in the church and are closely related to its work.  They bear living witness to the Christian influence of their parents.

The Women’s Missionary Society was the center of interest and loyalty for Mrs. Simpson to the end.  She served in many ways, and her children remember her as one who did the kitchen duties for the suppers and other occasions.  For many years Mrs. Simpson was identified with various phases of the work in University Church, Austin.

The long life of this Christian mother will continue to wield its influence in those who come after her.

Staples, H. K. Edna Weekly Herald (Edna, Tex.), Vol. 39, No. 36, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 18, 1946, newspaper, July 18, 1946, page 1. 

Courtesy of Heather Jennings

Fannie Simpson Bethea

Fannie Simpson Bethea, age 89, died Wednesday in a local hospital.

A former resident of Houston, she had resided in Austin for the past year. She was a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Houston, and was a graduate of Coronal Institute in San Marcos.

Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, John William and Margaret Bethea of Heidelberg, Germany; daughter, Mary Sue Bethea of Austin; daughters and sons-in-law, Grace and Joseph A. Ross of Houston, Corinne and James W. Griffin of Juneau, Alaska, Frances and Charles Stephenson of Austin; sister, Corinne Compton of McGregor, Texas; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside services, 11:00 AM, Friday at Memory Gardens Cemetery, Edna, Texas, with Dr. Robert E. Ledbetter, Jr. officiating.

Arrangements by Weed-Corley Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar. 452-8811.

Austin American-Statesmen, Austin, Texas, Mary 24, 1991
 

Rev. Sterling Wesley Fisher

Former Angelo Area Presiding  Elder Is Dead
Methodist Leader of Half Century Passes On At 78

The Rev. Sterling Fisher, presiding elder of the San Angelo district of the West Texas Conference of Methodism at the time the Rev. Gaston Hartsfield served as pastor of the First Methodist Church here, died Sunday in San Antonio. He had been a prominent figure in the Methodist Church for more than half a century.

Licensed to preach in 1883, he was an active minister for 54 years. He was secretary of the West Texas Conference for 47 years and had been secretary emeritus since.

Survivors are five daughters, Mrs. John D. Wheeler, San Antonio; Mrs. S. G. Kone of Austin; Mrs. W. D. Woods, Somerton, Ariz.; and Mrs. Wallace McIlhany, San Gabriel, Calif.; a son, Sterling Fisher, Jr., Tarrytown, N. Y.; five sisters, Mrs. Harper Simpson, Austin; Mrs. Sidney Fly, Hondo; Mrs. Rollie Harper, Marfa; Mrs. Murray Wentworth, Utopia; and Mrs. Gordon Laughter, Edna; and two brothers, Will of Utopia and T. A. Fisher of Austin.

Dr. Fisher was one of four generations of Methodist ministers, whose service spanned a century in the church. His father, the Rev. O. A. fisher, served in the active ministry from 1856 to 1884. His grandfather, the Rev. Orcenath Fisher was active from 1824 to 1880. Dr. J. Fisher Simpson, a grandson, known here, is the fourth generation. He has been associated with the general board of Christian education at Nashville.

Funeral arrangements were now known here.

San Angelo Standard-Times, April 26, 1943
 

George Travis Fisher

George T. Fisher

George Travis Fisher passed away early this morning at his home on W. Dessau street, Ontario, after a prolonged illness. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 o’clock next Monday afternoon at the Todd & Reeves funeral parlors, Pomona and interment will be in Pomona cemetery.

Besides his wife, six daughters and one son survive: Miss Judith and Miss Ola Fisher, both of Ontario; Mrs. Maud Nunneley and Mrs. Leslie Tarter, both of Pomona; Mrs. Mildred Kideney, Alhambra; Mrs. Flora Davenport, Santa Ana, and George Travis Fisher, Jr., Ontario.

Mr. Fisher was one of 11 children. The other 10, still living, are: Mrs. Fannie Simpson, Austin, Tex.; the Rev. Sterling Fisher, Brownsville, Tex.; Mrs. Judith Harper, San Antonio, Tex.; Mrs. Annalee Fly, Hondo, Tex.; J. W. Fisher, Yuma, Ariz.; W. H. Fisher, Utopia, Tex.; Mrs. Lizzie Wentworth, Utopia, Tex.; Mrs. Flora Harper, Banquette, Tex.; Prof. T. A. Fisher, Cameron, Tex., and Mrs. Carrie Laughter, Edna, Tex. There are four grandchildren: Johnnie and Bettie Jean Davenport, Judith Annette Nunneley and Mary Allison Kideney. All four of the brothers visited Mr. Fisher during his last illness.

George Travis Fisher was born March 23, 1871, in San Marcos, Tex., the son of the Rev. O. A. Fisher and Mrs. Mary Simons Fisher. He was the grandson of the Rev. O. Fisher, D. D., a pioneer Methodist missionary on the Pacific coast, who came to California in 1853. Mr. Fisher was married to Miss Olalee Boyce of Utopia, Tex., August 5, 1891. They moved to Yuma, Ariz., in 1917, and to Ontario in 1925.

The Pomona Progress Bulletin, Pomona, California, December 27, 1930
 

Jesse Woods Fisher

Rites Friday at 4:30 For J. W. Fisher

J. W. Fisher, 63-year-old Yuma valley cattleman, widely known throughout the southwest as a cattle buyer, died shortly at 11 o'clock last night at Loma Linda sanitarium following an illness of double pneumonia contracted early in the fall, relatives announced.

Funeral services will be held from the O.C. Johnson chapel at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Interment will take place in the Yuma cemetery.

Yuma Weekly Sun,  Yuma, Arizona, November 20, 1936
 

Elizabeth Simons Fisher Wentworth

Elizabeth F. Wentworth

Funeral services for Mrs. Elizabeth Fisher Wentworth, 93, were held Nov. 24 at Utopia United Methodist Church. She died Sunday, Nov. 22, at Brown’s Nursing Home in Hondo.

Mrs. Wentworth had received her 50-year pin as a member of the Order of the Eastern Star last week.

She is survived by five daughters, Mrs. J. H. Mauldin, Sr., Mrs. D. W. Matthews and Mrs. Henry F. Burns of Utopia and Mrs. Cecil Arnim, Sr. and Mrs. V. H. Smith of Sabinal; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Interment was in Jones Cemetery.

The Hondo Anvil Herald, Hondo, Texas, November 26, 1970
 

Thomas Asbury Fisher

Former School Head Here Died in Austin
(From the Daily)

Thomas A. Fisher, former Superintendent of Schools in Cameron died late Sunday, October 12.

Chas. M. Hicks, County Superintendent, and close friend of the deceased, received the news of the death of Mr. Fisher and immediately communicated the news to other friends here.

Funeral services were due to be held in Austin on Tuesday and Mr. Hicks and others planned to attend.

Mr. Fisher was superintendent of the schools in Cameron for about 19 years. He succeeded Superintendent Kidd in 1921 shortly after the completion of Yoe High School and was here during the time of the construction of the Ada Henderson school and the Negro high school. He was about 70 years of age.

After he left Cameron he moved to Austin and was with a mutual insurance company, organized for the benefit of the school Teachers of Texas. Later he left the company and was employed by the State Department of Education and at the time of his death was with the state land office.

Surviving are his widow, one daughter, Margaret and one son, Thomas, Jr.

It was understood here that Mr. Fisher had succumbed to a heart attack. His health had been poor for a number of years.

The Cameron Herald, October 16, 1947
 

Find a Grave Memorial
 

Rev. O. A. Fisher’s Dream.

Galveston Christian Advocate.

At the Session of the West Texas Conference for 1882 Ret. O. A. Fisher was appointed to Sabinal mission for the ensuing year. Soon after removing his family to the canyon he was stricken down by disease and his life despaired of. The physician in the canyon having exhausted his skill without success called in another from Frio canyon for consultation. By their united efforts the disease was broken up and the crisis passed. Now convalescent and comparatively free from pain he fell asleep and had a remarkable dream which struck me with such force I wrote it down substantially as I received it from his lips.

Said he: "I dreamed that the doctors in consultation wanted a medicine which could not be procured nearer than Uvalde and they decided that I must go and get it. Hence I called on one of my stewards Bro. Jobe Anglin, who took me to Uvalde in his buggy. On our arrival at that place we walked into a drug store and Bro. Anglin requested me to go into the back room and lie down and try to sleep a little which I did. He then walked down town. On his return he appeared a little excited but asked me if I had slept any. I told him I thought I had. Said he I have some bad news but do not know that I ought to tell you but perhaps I had better do it. Said he a man fell dead across the street just now. Ah, who is he” It is a saloonist. While standing in the door talking of this sudden death another man came up the street and remarked that a man had fallen dead down town. Ah, who is he? He is a saloon keeper. Well what could have caused such sudden deaths? It must be heart disease. No said a physician I have examined both the bodies and can find nothing wrong or peculiar save a small indentation in the right temple as though you had pressed it with the end of your finger which caused a white circle around the indentation. While thus conversing the telephone began to report and every town connected by telephone reported every saloonist as having fallen dead about the same time and all had the same peculiar mark in the temple. By this time the telegraph wires began to report from every part of the Union stating that the saloon-keepers had all fallen dead everywhere. By this time the newspapers had began to arrive filled with the same reports Nothing else was talked of or thought of. In Houston there was a widow lady of respectability, a church member who stood above suspicion, but she had secretly furnished means and her brother had run the saloon. But her sin had found her out and she fell dead at her home with the well known mark in her temple. And many others who were never suspicioned of being connected with the whiskey traffic in any way were found dead with the mark in their temple. By this time the drinking part of the community at Uvalde were clamoring for whisky. They cursed and swore and raved and finally broke down the door of the saloon. But every bottle demijohn and barrel was empty. They then charged upon the drug store and demanded stimulants. The druggist issued out till it was all gone. They raved and clamored for more and threatened violence but finally gave it up. There was no whiskey in the country and the demand was great. Finally some wealthy man ordered a whole cargo of whiskey across the ocean and the vessel landed at New Orleans and the barrels placed upon the wharf. The owner, with a number of drays, went down to take it away. But the first man that laid his hands on a barrel fell dead, and the second and third. After which no one could be induced to touch it. The owner then raved and swore he would load it on himself. So saying, he took hold of a barrel, and fell dead, with the mark in his temple. The question then was with the citizens, what shall we do with it?—a whole cargo of whiskey on the wharf and in the way. The decision was to roll it into the Mississippi and let it go. Some man gave a barrel a kick and it wheeled around lightly as though it were empty—when, upon examination, all were empty, not a drop if whisky aboard. Then said he, I went aboard of a train at Uvalde and started east, and the country was most delightful. The waving grain, the beautiful vineyards, orchards and delicious fruits. Fine churches and school buildings; and everything indicated the highest state of prosperity until I reached Washington county, when I awoke. My wife, whose vigilance never ceased, remarked, this has been the best nap you had had since you were taken sick.

There are two points in this dream worthy of note. First, many persons are engaged in the liquor traffic who are least suspected, but the mark is upon them. Second. It is ominous. Whisky must go. Then such prosperity our country never witnessed before as when this curse is removed.

T. A. Lancaster.

San Marcos Free Press, November 19, 1885
 

Rev. B. Harris writes to the Galveston Christian Advocate as follows

A trip to Sabinal Canyon just completed suggested memories of times past in meeting old friends and reviving the memory of others now in the better land. …Rev. O. A. Fisher had moved from San Marcos to Sabinal and here on his last charge he finished his work and went to his reward and home in heaven. To meet his widow and children and conduct a service to his memory so precious to the church of God was an occasion of sadness mingled with joy. He had fallen at his post and in full assurance of faith. We could sorrow at our loss without remembering his virtues and graces as a minister of Jesus Christ and abundant entrance into His everlasting kingdom. A better community on the whole than that inhabiting this canyon I do not know.

San Marcos Free Press, August 13, 1885
 

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