Obituary from The
Washburn Leader, Illinois:
Sarah Stanley was born in Grayson county,
Virginia, Sept. 13, 1821. Her ancestors were Virginians for several generations. In 1830 her parents removed to
Clinton county,
Ohio, where they resided until 1835, when they started in company with six other families for
Illinois. The family then consisted of the father,
Zachariah Stanley, his wife and six children, the oldest son remaining in
Virginia, where he recently died at the age of 95 years. They came through the new country by wagons and teams, and arrived in the Antioch neighborhood, in
Tazewell County, in September. Mr. Stanley was taken sick on the journey and died three weeks after their arrival. The family rented a farm the next spring, and Sarah with others of this family took up the labors of frontier life.
On Nov. 5th 1840, the subject of this sketch was married to Elias
Fisher. They purchased a farm three miles south of
Tremont, where they lived until 1859, when they came to Cazenovia township, where they purchased and improved 320 acres of prairie land. Here they lived and prospered, until the death of Mr. Fisher, July 6th, 1866. There were eight children born to them, five of whom are still living, namely:- Jabez and
Oliver, of this place, Mrs. Mary
Waggoner and Ira A. both of Peoria and Mrs. Louisa White, of
Washburn. One son and two daughters preceded her. There are 18 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren now living.
Before her marriage Mrs. Fisher became a member of the Christian church at Antioch, and remained a faithful and consistent member until her death which occurred at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Louisa White, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon of Friday, May 1st, 1903. At the time of their marriage her husband was connected with the Quakers, but largely through the example and influence of his wife, became identified with the disciples of
Christ.
Sister
Fisher was a woman of strong personal character and of great faith. She was an earnest and faithful student of God's word, able at all times to "give a reason for her hope." She was in heartiest sympathy with all the works of the church, supporting them with her prayers, her voice and her means. The appeal of the needy was to her the call of the Master to Christian duty. The church will miss her presence and fellowship, our community her saving influence, the family her council and companionship. Cheerful, always companionable and full of sweetest sympathy, her acquaintance was a benediction to all. Her hope was anchored to that which "entereth into the veil," and her departure was quiet and peaceful, for "God's finger touched her and she slept." "He giveth his beloved sleep." "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them."
Those in attendance from other places were- Mr. and Mrs S. Waggoner, Mr. and Mrs. Ira A
Fisher, Mr and Mrs. Ross
Waggoner, Mr. and Mrs. Bye, Mrs. Nancy McDonald and Mrs. Ida Oswold, of Peoria, Mr and Mrs. Robert
Waggoner, of Manitou, Mrs. Susie Young, of Lake Village,
Indiana Nathan
Fisher,
Tremont, S.E. Fisher
Gibson City, Mr and Mrs
Otis Travis,
Fairburn, Glenn
Harper,
La Rose, Mr and Mrs Mark
Fisher,
Arrowsmith, Mark
Harper, Ora and Myrtle
Fisher Eureka.
Sermon by Prof B. J. Radford, delivered at the funeral of Mrs. Sarah
Fisher, Sr. May 4, 1903