E2 Idella Ora Fisher, born July 22, 1872 in Tinney's Grove, Carroll, Missouri, died April 4, 1965 in Columbia Missouri; Married March 24, 1897 Isom G. Davis in Caldwell County, Missouri. Isom was born January 26, 1871, died July 26, 1970. Three children.

I was born July 22, 1987, the oldest daughter of Leander and Sarah Zumbro Fisher. My birth place was on a little farm owned by my parents in the B 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Sec. 19, Washington Twp. Carroll Co., Mo. We lived here till I was about six years old when we moved to Worth County, Mo. in 1878 where my father had accepted a pastorate. I still have memories of experiences during the years we resided in Carroll Co., Mo. I remember standing by a corn crib and hog pen and seeing a wolf go between me and the house. I remember when my baby sister, Eva, was born. I remember standing by a window, watching the rain fall and looking for Jimmie Gordon to come in from herding cattle on the prairie. And riding with my Aunt Mary on a big horse to go to school my first day at the Lyons School, and some hungry girls eating my dinner.

After we moved to Worth Co. I entered school in a county district. The teacher's name was Cannon, a rather harsh man. In that school individual seats were not provided, and the scholars sat where they liked. I liked to sit with the big girls and one day I failed to learn my lesson (perhaps oftener) and was sat up in front with a dunce cap on my head, a rather humiliating experience. The next fall I entered town school at Grant City where we lived at the time. I did not learn very well and did not get even one headmark which I coveted very much. The fourth of July celebration was an outstanding event during the stay there. A band and some clowns, The Ragmuffin Band, performed around the courthouse square, with musical instruments and a stuffed doll act.

Rev. Lee Fisher returned to the home charge of Polo, Missouri, after three years work at Grant City. The household goods were moved by team and wagon driven by my father. I remember a few incidents of this trip, the team facing a railroad train and becoming terrified but held in check in somebody's barnyard. I remember stopping at Pattonsburg and my father buying something to eat and a red dinner bucket for me to carry to school. Frazier Shouse, a half brother of Eli Shouse, drove one team. We moved into the parsonage located 3/4 miles northwest of the present town of Braymer where we spent several happy years.

It was while living here and attending one of the revival meetings my father held as pastor of Center Church, part of Polo circuit, around the corner and north from the parsonage, that I was converted and joined the Brethern Church to which my parents belonged.

I always loved to sing and carried my song book, The Gospel Hymns, with me. I remember one time I forgot my hymn book and my father stepped from the pulpit and handed me his book. I later learned he took me with him many times to lead the singing for some of the services. This was before musical instruments were in common use. The tune fork was used to get the key. I remember meeting a boy and he yelled, "I know who you are. You are the girl that sings." I sang too much I suppose for I lost my singing voice at about the age of 15.

I attended the public school called Antioch, located by the Antioch Christian Church in what is now the north part of Braymer. Except for living for one year at Polo where my father was pastor, we made our home first in the parsonage referred to, then moved to the recently purchased farm home in Sec. 15, Davis Township, Caldwell County, Missouri, where I lived till I went into a home of my own. One outstanding event of my year of school in Polo was that one the last day of school of the winter term, Mr. Stoutemore, the teacher had a spelling match for the school and I spelled the whole school down and won a copy of Scott's Poems for a prize. Life in the farm home was very happy. The work was plentiful and hard at times. My father's work as minister of the gospel kept him from home a great deal and he died at an early age, 44 years old.

It was a very grand occassion when my father bought me a red plush side saddle from Hamilton as he was coming through one time. He put the saddle on Old Lucy soon after and sent me to Black Oak. Mother later said that Old Lucy was as proud as I was. After Father's death, Mother and children carried on the work of making a living as best we could. My two brothers, Lloyd Tasso and Henry Mark, were born here. When Lloyd was very small, Charley Lane came to Fatherand asked him what he would charge to perform his marriage ceremony with Bells Lamley.

During the years 1886 and 1887 the chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Company built a railrood running from Chicago to Kansas City, Mo. It passed thru this vicinity and established the towns of Ludlow, Braymer and Cowgill among others. It passed thru the Fisher farm. During the summer of the construction, Sarah Fisher assisted by her sister Elizabeth Zumbro and her daughters, Della and Eva, ran a boarding house for some of the railroad workers numbering from two to three to 18 or 20. Also two of the engineers and some of the workers had tents in our yard. I helped in every way I could and some of my duties were to bring in the supplies on the back of Old John.

There was also an old wagon to use when occasion demanded it. Lee Fisher was a Presiding Elder of Mo. Conference at this time and was gone most of the time, as he traveled with a team and buggy. One time when he was home during the laying of the track, he took Lloyd, a baby, Eva and I up to where the R.R. crossed the road north of the house. The engineer running the engine of the train laying the track invited us all up onto the cab of the engine. Wonderful! We saw the ties slide into place and the rails also and nailed then rode over them. Sometimes the section men would invite us to ride on the handcar to or from school since we went up the R.R. to school. How we were glad of the lift. One time after Father died and Mother had to go to Kingston to settle up the estate, she had to go on the train to Polo then across to Kingston and home by the same route. But the train came home late at night. The engineer of the train stopped the train at the crossing of the road about 1/2 mile north of the house and left her off to save walking back from town.

As the town of Braymer expanded homes and business houses were built, and the first church was of the United Brethren faith and was moved from its location on the Cresswell farm, one mile NW of Braymer. The Church known as Center, to the location of the present Methodist Church. Lee Fisher was instrumental in moving and remodeling this church, where his funeral was held not long afterwards.

The schoolhouse of this district was located near where the Christian Church still stands in the north part of Braymer, a one room country school house. The first town school was erected in 1888 on the site two blocks west of Main Street where Braymer had the loss of the schoolhouse in 1849. It was almost 2½ miles to the schoolhouse and an old gray mare and Old Lucy provided the transportation for Eva and I for some years. Then Old John was bought as a family horse. Old Lucy had been in the family for years but as she grew older became very unsafe and was sold. I attended school here for some years and then three terms at Avalon College, Avalon, Mo.

Father died Jan. 22, 1889 and having been a minister and not a very good salary, the family made out as best it could on the 120 A. farm. But mother made an effort to give her children the best education possible. Rev. John B. Toomay loaned Sarah Fisher $35.00 which enabled me to go to Avalon College at Avalon, Mo., two terms and the winter on 1889-1890, and I went one term to Trenton, Missouri, where the college was then located, in the fall of 1892. I had three dresses for wear during my first term at Avalon. One gingham dresss for best, a gingham dress for school, and a calico dress to wear while the school gingham was being washed and ironed. I joined the Philophronian Literary Society and was in a literary class that did me much good.

I taught my first term of school in the Shinn district, Linn Co., Mo., in the spring of 1892. I had to go to Brookfield, Mo., hunt up the County School Superintendent and take my first Teacher's examination, quite a feat for me. I taught for $20.00 a month. My next term was the Hanks School in Carroll Co., Mo., again at $20.00. I had to go to Carrollton to take my examination, Had to go by train to Lawson, stay all night, then by train to Henrietta and Carrollton. My third and last school was Hazel Dell, fall of 1894 at $25.00. I attended the Teacher's Institute at Carrollton in July and August preceding, I always loved the instructing part of school teaching. Mr. Warren Oster said he would put me up with any teacher in Carroll Co. to get my pupils to learn. I began teaching Sunday School at about 19 years of age. First a class of little ones in Linn Co., then a class of young folk in my home church, followed by a class of boys and girls of 8 or 10 till I was married. Then taught classes of boys and girls in the Black Oak S. S. Sorry to leave the boys when we moved to Braymer. I have had a class of women in the Braymer Methodist Church the last 30 years or so. These years of teaching have been an inspiration to me as well as the friendships I have made.

On March 24th, 1897, I took the biggest step of my life when I was married to Isom G. Davis of the Black Oak country. We had high hopes of happiness, and making a living and having a home. We made our home on a farm I. G. had purchased 3½ miles southwest of the village of Black Oak in a little two room house on which he had built a bedroom. In these three rooms we were very happy, tho the debt on the place necessitated much hard work and sacrifice. Our first child was still born, a girl born July 3, 1898, I had a premotion (sic) of her death beginning when I raised the shears to cut her gowns. Clay Troxell was born October 26, 1899. Joe Frank was born Nov. 6, 1904 and Lee Fisher, April 18, 1908.

I united with the Methodist Church at Black Oak while living here, about the time Clay did. I helped with church work as I could, sometimes teaching S. S. classes, helping train children for Children Day Exercises, was organist part of the time and even Assistant Superintendent a year or two. Some of the friendships we made then are still close friends, notably the Steenrods, Nelson and Eph, and families, J. W. Toomays', Lloyd Tuckers' and many others, besides the relatives.

In the fall of 1910, after having sold our Black Oak home we bought one mile west of the town of Braymer, in Sections 9 and 10, and moved in the spring of 1911. Again we went in debt and had to work hard to pay out. This move was like coming home to me, for it was one mile north of where I grew up. Here I saw the three boys go to grade and high school, join the church and mingle with the neighbors and friends all around us. Some time after moving to Braymer we had our church membership moved to the Methodist Church in Braymer, and have made it our church home ever since. We lived on the farm and made it our home till failing health caused us to buy a home in town and moved into it Jan. 3, 1944.

Altho the work on the farm was sometimes hard and it was necessary to be deprived of many things that would have been desirable, we as a family had many good times. We attended S. S. and church regularly; the various exercises of the school at Braymer and many of the school and some of the county fairs. I was president of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society for two years. Worked in the WCTU. Was County Treasurer at one time. I was on the Caldwell County Farm Bureau Committee when Joe was, and attended the meetings with him. Have been on the church sabbath school boards, tho not very active in the work. Was a charter member of the Braymer Society of the Women's Christian Service, in which I found much enjoyment and improvement, and helped in activities as I could. At Christmas time in 1950 this society made me a life member, and gave me a certificate and a gold pin which I think very nice and appreciate the sentiment of the occasion.

I never took any long trips but have quite a number of short very pleasant trips, going to see relatives especially. After acquiring a new Model T Ford in 1917, sometime afterward we visited Rev. and Mrs. Ara D. Davis near Lincoln, Nebraska one week end. Father and I with Lee who drove the car went to southern Arkansas to visit this same uncle and family about 1925. On this trip we saw for the first time cotton growing, cypress trees growing in water, rice fields flooded with water, negro shanties, a large saw mill and many other things new to us.

Some of us have made several trips to Iowa to see Brother Lloyd and family. Visited Clay at Columbia and Cameron quite often, also Joe and Wilfred at Kirksville and Plattsburg, Mo., also Lee and Lenora at Kansas City and Mexico, Mo.

Gertrude and I were in Columbia, Mo., when Joe graduated from the University in 1927. Father and I were there when Lee graduated in 1932 and when Marjory graduated from Christian College in 1948. At this time witnessed Giles Theilmann get his Doctor's Degree and Ray Holder get his Master's degree from the University.

Father and I had a very good time a few years ago going to hog sales within driving distances several seasons. We met many interesting people.

A very enjoyable trip was with Lloyd and Florence Fisher in their new Nash to Linn County, Mo., the afternoon of Oct. 6, 1951. We saw Grandfather Abraham Zumbro's old home place and the place where Uncle Ben Zumbro lived for some years, and where Sarah Zumbro Fisher grew up and was married. We saw the United Brethren in Christ Church site where they attended, and the graveyard where Grandfather and Grandmother and other relatives rest, the site where I taught my first term of school; and visited with the widow of a cousin and her family. I noticed the date the present church building was erected and found I had played the organ for the dedication of this church. Eva and I have been invited by Uncle Ben for the occasion.

Altho there have been many ups and downs, I feel I have had a very enjoyable life and experiences. I am glad my boys and families are useful members of society and the church.

Mrs. Isom G. Davis, 92, died yesterday at the home of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Clay T. Davis Sr., 1407 Paris Rd. She had suffered a stroke Friday.

Mrs. Davis was born July 22, 1872, in Carroll County, to Mr. and Mrs. Leander Fisher. She attended elementary school in Avalon, Mo., high school in Trenton and was awarded a teacher's certificate from the teacher's institute at Carrollton, Mo. Her first teaching assignment was at Browning.

She was married to Mr. Davis March 24, 1897, in Braymer. She and her husband farmed at Braymer until 1945 when they retired. He survives.

Mrs. Davis was a member of the Methodist Church in Braymer and a member of the Senior Citizens' Club in Columbia.

She suffered a stroke in 1960 which confined her to a wheel chair.

Survivors include two sons, Joe Davis, Arlington, Va., and Lee Davis, Memphis, Tenn.; eight grandchildren, Brian Joe Davis, Arlington, Va.; Mrs. Marjory Heatley, Allentown, Pa.; Clay T. Davis Jr., Columbia; John Davis, Kirkwood; Mrs. Mary Jane Hoff, Huntsville, Ala.; Isom J.L. Davis, Miami; two grandchildren, Betty Jo Davis Sheesley, Ellendale, TN and Linda Lee Davis Enoch, Memphis, TN.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Methodist Church in Braymer. The Rev. Larry Sonner will officiate. He will be assisted by Lawrence Wheeler, a former Sunday school pupil of Mrs. Davis.

Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Braymer.

Huntsville, Alabama
Thursday, Match 14, 1968
Oldest City Hall Visitor

Meet Isom G. Davis ... age 97
By TOM JESTER
News Staff Writer

Meet Isom G. Davis...

He is 97 but doesn't look a day over 80. He shakes hands with a firm grip, and delights in telling jokes and talking politics. In fact, he is likely to be one of the most fascinating people you could ever meet, regardless of age.

A native of Black Oak, Mo., where he was born in 1871, he is in Hunstville to visit his grand daughter, Mrs. Mary Jane Hoff.

Being a farmer by trade, from a region in Missouri where the soil is predominately black, his first reaction to Huntsville after getting off the plane was one of amazement at the red clay earth.

He was also somewhat disgruntled that the "waitress" on the jet had offered him a drink while in flight. A devout non-drinker, he said that he saw "more liquor sold on that plane than I have ever seen in my life." "It was a dirty shame," he said.

He likes to fly since taking his first jet ride when he was 94, but on this particular trip, which lasted less than an hour, he was disappointed because he didn't get his "money's worth."

In answer to the inevitable question about his longevity, he attributes his long life to an agreement he made with his wife when they were first married in 1897.

"When my wife and I 'got hitched,'" he says, "We had an agreement. When I did something she didn't like, she was to sit still. When she did something I didn't like, I took my hat and went for a walk."

He thus credits fresh air and exercise with his long life. "Been outdoors most of my life," he says wryly.

"Anyway," he figures, "The Lord ain't ready for me yet, and the Devil don't want nobody who can't shovel coal. I'm just stickin' around.

His wife died in 1965 just a week after they had celebrated their 68th anniversary.

He believes that the youth of today are just going "too fast a gait" to live a long time.

When asked how he spends his day he said that the first thing he does in the morning is get up, bring in the morning paper, and read the headlines and the obituaries. "If I'm not in 'em, then I eat breakfast."

The rest of the day, he says that he likes to work at making people happy, which he does by his smart wit and good humor.

When Mayor Glenn Hearn presented Davis with an honorary citizenship to the city of Huntsville and a key to the city, he complimented him on being the oldest visitor that City Hall has ever had.

"That's nothin'," said Davis, "I'm the oldest wherever I go."

Columbia Mo. Tribune
Tues. July 28, 1970

I. G. Davis

I. G. Davis, who took part in the Cherokee Strip race Sept. 16, 1893 which opened up the north central Oklahoma Territory to settlers, died about noon Sunday at the Golden Age Nursing Home. He was 99.

Since 1960, he had lived with his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Clay T. Davis, 1407 Paris Road. She survives.

Funeral services for Mr. Davis will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Braymer United Methodist Church in Braymer.

Other survivors include two sons, Joe F. Davis, Arlington, Va. and Lee F. Davis, Memphis, Tenn.; a sister, Mrs. Ellen Barnes, Salt Lake City; a brother Homer Davis, Maitland; a half-sister, Mrs. Earle Else, and a half-brother, Roscoe Davis, both of Junction City, Kan.; a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Davis (widow of Clay T. Davis); eight grandchildren, Marjory Davis Heatley, Zionsville, Pa.; Clay T. Davis,Lexington, Ill.; John Paul Davis, Grand Rapids, Mich; Mary Jane Davis Hoff, Huntsville, Ala.; Isom James Louis Davis, Miami, Fla.; Betty Jo Davis Sheesley, Ellendale, Tenn.; Linda Lee Davis Enoch, Memphis, Tenn.; Brian Joe Davis, in service in Heidelberg, Germany; and 18 great-great-grandchildren.(?)

Mr. Davis was born Jan. 26, 1871 in Black Oak near Braymer, son of George W. Davis and Pauline G. Noffsinger Davis. He was the fourth of fourteen children. After his mother died in 1894, his father married Alice West Davis and six more children were born to the family.

Mr. Davis married the former Idella Ora Fisher on March 24, 1897. They were married 68 years before her death April 4, 1965. Mr. Davis was a farmer and raised prize-winning hogs. He sometimes served as a judge of hogs at shows and liked to attend local hog sales here after he retired. He was a member of the United Methodist Church at Black Rock. When he was 94 he took his first commercial airline flight. He travelled by himself to visit his children and grandchildren across the country.

Burial will be in Braymer.

Children of Idella Ora Fisher and Isom G. Davis:

F1 Clay Troxell Davis, born October 26, 1898 in Cowgill, Caldwell County, Missouri, died March 4, 1954 in Jefferson Barracks, Missouri; married on June 10, 1925 Gertrude Theilmann, born December 9, 1898 in Appleton City, Missouri, died October 23, 1988 in Columbia, Missouri.

F2 Joe Frank Davis, born November 6, 1904, died February 8, 1984; married on June 23, 1932 Wilfred Shea, born October 12, 1903 in Plattsburg, Missouri, died 1990 in San Antonio, Texas.

G1 Brian Joseph Davis, born December 25, 1947, died June 26, 1998 in San Antonio, Texas; married June 21, 1986 Karen Malkowski, born June 23, 1952 in Ft. Worth, Texas.

F3 Lee Fisher Davis, born March 18, 1908 in Caldwell County, Missouri, died October 31, 1985; married on April 4, 1936 Lillian Lenora Eichler, born October 22, 1913 in Braymer, Missouri, died May, 1986.

G1 Betty Jo Davis, born November 22, 1939 in Mexico, Missouri, died May 10,2015 , Memphis, Tennessee; married July 29, 1960 William B. Sheesley, died May 30, 2005 .

G2 Linda Lee Davis, born June 9, 1945 in Mexico, Missouri; married (2) Robert Madison Strickland died January 26, 2005 Arlington, Tennessee.