A Young Leander Fisher (?)

Leander Fisher & Sarah Zumbro Wedding day - January 1, 1870

Leander Fisher in his Civil War Uniform 126th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Sergeant, Company A

D1 Leander Fisher, born November 24, 1844 in Monroe Township, Harrison County, Ohio; died January 22, 1889 in Braymer, Caldwell County, Missouri; Married January 1, 1870 Sarah Zumbro in Linn, Missouri. Five children.

Sarah Zumbro was born on September 29, 1848 in Sewickley Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and died on December 8, 1933 in Braymer, Caldwell, Missouri.

Rev. Lee Fisher was born at Bowerston, Harrison County, Ohio, November 24th, 1844. He Enlisted in the federal army when about eighteen (126th Ohio Volunteer Infantry); was engaged on many a hotly-contested field; received a large number of wounds, but none very serious (Leander was wounded in action on September 21, 1864, in the Battle of Fisher's Hill); was honorably discharged (on June 25, 1865, near Washington), and returned to his home in Ohio. He was converted to God in 1866. He came to Missouri in 1867 and was married to Miss Sarah Zumbro in 1870. The quarterly conference of Polo circuit voted him license to preach, April 17th, 1875, and he took annual-conference license July 24th, 1879. He died of cancer of the stomach at Braymer, Missouri, Jan 22nd, 1889. Here are some of his last statements to his wife: "God is my father; he is my Savior," "I am in perfect harmony with God.: "If I die, I will die in harmony with him' who said 'I am the resurrection and the life.'"

As Brother Fisher became prominent in Missouri Conference, we deem it proper to give an account of the peculiar mental exercise and severe trial experienced by him under the devine call to the gospel ministry. The writer became acquainted with him in Carroll County, Mo., in the spring of 1873, while in charge of the field on which Bro. Fisher lived. I soon discovered that he was laboring under the call, and ventured to speak to him of it, and encouraged him to take the cross. He told his wife that he had a mind to kick me out of the yard. He would frequently say to his wife, "I cannot live this way, I am going to quit trying to live a Christian." But the faithful wife always made ready for family worship when the time came, and gave encouraging words, and thus held on to him and the Lord. Who can tell what her influence did for this man, for his family, and for the Missouri Conference. Soon there was to be a Sabbath-school organized at a new point on the charge, near the parsonage where we lived. By the suggestions and planning of his wife and some others, he was made superintendent against his protest. Encouragement from every quarter induced him to undertake the work, which soon became pleasant to him and a blessing to the community. But to preach, he could not, and would not try. I then advised his class to vote him a recommendation to the quarterly conference for license to preach, without his consent, which it did, and the license was duly given. One year passed without an effort to preach. Then the license came before the quarterly conference for renewal. The elder declared it was useless to renew unless he would agree to use his license. A time was given for the promise to be made, but no promise came. The business of the conference went on and was completed, and still no promise. It was decided to wait a few minutes, the adjournment of conference, that Bro. Fisher might make a final decision. All was suspense for a few moments, but finally he rose, and in a feeble tone, said, "I will try." Thus he had to be pressed and encouraged to begin the work, but was a grand worker after he became enlisted. He took his first charge in 1877, on which he was continued three years. He was continued on his second charge for four years. Then he served as presiding elder of the west district two years, then he was presiding elder over the entire conference two years. After closing the last year as elder, he was placed back on the field from which he went to the district first. He labored hard for a few months to get the circuit into running order and complete a new church-house in a thriving railroad town near his home, but was unable to be at the dedication. That he was highly esteemed at home was demonstrated on the occasion of his funeral when all business, even the flouring-mill and bank, was closed, and the business men attended the services. That he was successful in his work is seen by the length of time he remained on each field of labor. That he was esteemed by his conference appears in that it chose him as elder four consecutive years, for its secretary a number of years, as president of the Board of Trustees of Avalon College, and he was elected to represent the conference in the next General Conference. A recognized leader in Missouri Conference has fallen just in the prime of life, but for the fact that Christ, the devine leader, abides, and "doeth all things well." Bro. Fisher leaves a wife, two girls and two boys to mourn his loss, and struggle on through life's rugged, uncertain way, toward the evergreen shore, whereon the husband's and father's feet now walk. There is ample room for efficient labors in the rich territory occupied by Missouri Conference.

The following is the paper read by U. P. Wardrip before the General Conference at York, Pa., on our beloved Lee Fisher.:

"Death involves a shining mark." It was so when in selecting his victim from the ministry of Missouri Conference his cold hand was laid upon Rev. Lee Fisher, a delegate elect to this General Conference.

Brother Fisher was born in Ohio, in 1844. From that state, though quite young, he entered the volunteer service of his country in the war of the Rebellion. Soon after the close of the war, he went to North Missouri, which continued to be his home to the time of his death, January 22, 1889. His only schooling beyond that secured in a country school was in Lane University, where he remained several terms. After marriage to Miss Sarah Zumbro, his occupation was farming in summer and teaching in the public schools during the winter until about fifteen years ago, when he was given license to preach, signed by Bishop Glossbrenner. From that time he was actively, zealously engaged in the work of the ministry. Prior to his election to the presiding eldership four years ago, he had served Grant City charge three years, and Polo, seven. Two years he traveled the west district when the Conference was reduced to one presiding elder's district, which he traveled two years, when he was so worn from the work of a district so large, that rest was absolutely necessary. But many think it came too late. He was returned to Polo again, only to do two months' work when his long, final sickness began.

To the church at large he was unknown. In his own conference none was more widely, none more favorably known. During the last four years of his life he was looked upon by all as the leader of his conference. The largest vote ever given by any man or measure in Missouri Conference, excepting that which adopted the revised confession of faith and amended constitution, was that which made him a delegate to this body. And it is due to the memory of our brother to say that to his work is largely due the fact that alienation to the Church did not and does not obtain in Missouri, as in some other conferences, where, as in Missouri, at the outset there was opposition to the commission act of the General Conference of four years ago. Though at the first not favoring that act himself. he said and urged upon the people all over the Conference, as has been so well said by some on this conference floor, "It is the act of the constituted authority of the Church; let us abide it." And in this respect, as in many others, Brother Fisher's work will follow him.

His preaching was effective. It had soul in it. Many are the trophies of the cross won through its instrumentality. His idea of exalted character of the Christian ministry, and that which the minister should possess as well, is voiced in these words of his, written in the last letter his hand penned: "It is a fearful thing to be a minister of the gospel, and how dreadful it must be to desecrate so holy a calling. Oh, how earnest, faithful, pure hearted, pure minded we ought to be! I have been at the river's edge for several weeks, and have seen, as never before, the necessity of a more sincere and consecrated like than most of us live."

When so weak he could no longer read he asked after the welfare of the Church, especially in Missouri Conference. Among his last words, after giving directions respecting some business interests to his wife, he said, "Bring up my little boys to be men." Again he said, "I die as I have lived, in harmony with God." "He was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost of faith."

His last sickness was short and severe. Few people experience such suffering as he experienced and no one suffered more patiently. He wore a smile always and continued with it until the very end.

Anyone who knew him became his friend. There was nothing he would not do for those who needed his services.

There were many friends here from a distance to attend the funeral, particularly from Excelsior Springs: -- Messrs and Mesdames W. J. Kincaid, Chas. Schreiver, Harvey Lynn, Harry Pack, Paul Clevenger, E. M. Nading, Chas. Smoot, James Stewart, Irving McQuerry, and Mrs. Ida Oster, Ralph Oster, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wood, Mr. and Mrs. Will Goodwin, Lynn and Mac Hurt, Mrs James Rhodus and Miss Reda Rhodes, all of Excelsior, several from the vicinity of Hamilton and other localities whose names we did not get.

Children of Leander Fisher and Sarah Zumbro:

E1 Roscoe Abbot Fisher, born December 2, 1870 in Linn, Missouri, died September 28, 1873 in Tinney's Grove, Carroll, Missouri, buried in Black Oak Cemetery near Braymer, Caldwell, Missouri.

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.

E3 Eva Rebecca Fisher, born December 28, 1875 in Tinney's Grove, Carroll, Missouri, died January 13, 1946 in Downey, Los Angeles, California; buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Braymer, Caldwell, Missouri; Married September 29, 1897 Oscar Smith Strine in Braymer, Caldwell, Missouri. Oscar was born on December 28, 1873 in Braymer, Caldwell, Missouri, died February 21, 1969 in Downey, Los Angeles, California.

E4 Henry Mark Fisher, born September 1881, died January 14, 1923, buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Braymer, Caldwell, Missouri; married March 1, 1911 Kit Byrl Burnett in Braymer, Caldwell, Missouri.

E5 Lloyd Tasso Fisher, born February 28, 1885 in Braymer, Caldwell, Missouri, died August 28, 1974 in Cedar Falls, Iowa; Married (1) August 28, 1974 Florence Benson; married (2) March 26, 1944 Pearl Thomas.