The physician who filled out the death certificate got Lucinda's name wrong --- He recorded it as "Elizabeth Jane Fisher" --- and the place of burial, too: Goshen. She actually was laid to rest near her parents, Leonard and Sarah Fisher, in a graveyard now known as Fisher-Webb, a scrap of land atop an embankment on the west side of U.S. 65 about a mile south of Goshen in Union Township. There is no tombstone.
Her age was recorded, and reported, as 78, but she probably was closer to 75. Early census records suggest that she was born in 1837 or 1838 in Jackson County, (West) Virginia. The precise date has been lost.
Her age was recorded, and reported, as 78, but she probably was closer to 75. Early census records suggest that she was born in 1837 or 1838 in Jackson County, (West) Virginia. The precise date has been lost.
Although classified by Lucas County in census records and elsewhere in harsh early 20th century terms as an "idiot," it would appear --- if her brief obituary is any indication --- that Cindy was loved by those she lived among at the county farm. Here's the obituary published on Page 1 of The Chariton Leader on May 9, 1912:
AGED LADY DEAD
Cindy Fisher passed away at the county home Sunday night after an illness of six weeks with stomach trouble. She was seventy eight years of age and was an inmate of the county home for over 30 years. She was a good Christian and died in faith of a risen Savior. She was loved by all at the home and one of the ladies dedicated the following lines in her memory. Interment was made in the Fisher Cemetery Monday.
In remembrance of Cindy Fisher:
"One sweet flower has dropped and faded,
One sweet voice has fled.
We are lonely now in yearning,
Our dear companion now is dead.
"She has gone to heaven long before us,
But she lives and moves her hand,
Beckoning us and pointing to the glories,
Of that far away and spirit land."
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Lucinda had arrived in Lucas County during its earliest days, ca. 1852, with her parents and siblings and settled most likely on rising land south of the Chariton River bottoms about a mile northwest of where the village of Derby would spring up along the new railroad during the 1870s.
Her mother, Sarah, died at the age of 55 on Aug. 22, 1855, and probably was the first to be buried at Fisher-Webb, most likely located on family land. Five years later, when the 1860 census was taken, Lucinda was living nearby with her sister, Hester, and brother-in-law, Matthew Comer. Another sister, Rebecca (Fisher) Harper died in childbirth that year and was buried near her mother. Her brother, John McComas Fisher, died three years later --- on Aug. 11, 1863, at the age of 38, and was buried there, too. Leonard died June 4, 1865, age 76, and joined his family on this little hill.
It's not clear where Lucinda was living in 1870 --- the Comers had by this time moved to Missouri ---but schedules attached to the 1880 federal census of Lucas County show that she became an "inmate" of the Lucas County Poor House during December of 1874 --- and remained there for the balance of her life.
During July of 1860, neighbors north of the river --- George and Elzey Courtney --- lost an infant. Elzey herself died during January of 1861. Both were buried on land that George then donated to the Goshen Baptist congregation as site for its first church --- and a community cemetery. Although occasional burials of Fisher family members and others continued in the old graveyard south of the river, nearly everyone who died in the neighborhood after that was buried at Goshen. A cemetery was begun northeast of Derby when that town was founded and it, too, became a popular burial place.
William Evans Webb and his family arrived in Lucas County during 1869 and purchased the farm that included the Fisher Cemetery and so it became known as Fisher-Webb, although no one of that name is buried there.
The little cemetery marooned above a busy road with no easy access fell into disrepair and was in a bad state when the Lucas County Pioneer Cemetery Commission arrived on the scene to restore it during 2004-2005. Today, it is well cared for.
Her mother, Sarah, died at the age of 55 on Aug. 22, 1855, and probably was the first to be buried at Fisher-Webb, most likely located on family land. Five years later, when the 1860 census was taken, Lucinda was living nearby with her sister, Hester, and brother-in-law, Matthew Comer. Another sister, Rebecca (Fisher) Harper died in childbirth that year and was buried near her mother. Her brother, John McComas Fisher, died three years later --- on Aug. 11, 1863, at the age of 38, and was buried there, too. Leonard died June 4, 1865, age 76, and joined his family on this little hill.
It's not clear where Lucinda was living in 1870 --- the Comers had by this time moved to Missouri ---but schedules attached to the 1880 federal census of Lucas County show that she became an "inmate" of the Lucas County Poor House during December of 1874 --- and remained there for the balance of her life.
During July of 1860, neighbors north of the river --- George and Elzey Courtney --- lost an infant. Elzey herself died during January of 1861. Both were buried on land that George then donated to the Goshen Baptist congregation as site for its first church --- and a community cemetery. Although occasional burials of Fisher family members and others continued in the old graveyard south of the river, nearly everyone who died in the neighborhood after that was buried at Goshen. A cemetery was begun northeast of Derby when that town was founded and it, too, became a popular burial place.
William Evans Webb and his family arrived in Lucas County during 1869 and purchased the farm that included the Fisher Cemetery and so it became known as Fisher-Webb, although no one of that name is buried there.
The little cemetery marooned above a busy road with no easy access fell into disrepair and was in a bad state when the Lucas County Pioneer Cemetery Commission arrived on the scene to restore it during 2004-2005. Today, it is well cared for.
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