RICHARD SIMPSON FISK    GRAVESTONE PHOTO                      

Altoona Tribune, Thursday, August 17, 1922, Pg. 6

DEATH OF R. S. FISK.

______

Another Wilson County Pioneer

Passes Away.  Resided Here

Since 1868.  Civil War

Veteran.

  Richard Simpson Fisk was born in Putnam county, Indiana, September 12, 1841, and departed this life at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Maxwell, Neodesha, Kansas, August 11, 1922, at the age of eighty years, ten months and twenty-nine days.

  Funeral services were held at the Methodist church in Altoona Sunday afternoon at three o’clock, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Noah Gilbert, assisted by Rev. Bradner Wells of the Presbyterian church, and under the auspices of the Altoona Masonic lodge, of which deceased was a charter member.  The pallbearers were Merrill Gerkin, Oscar Lloyd, C. E. Hayhurst, Melvin Richardson, Elmer DeBolt and A. V. Butcher.  Howard Beegle, of Neodesha, delivered the oration at the grave.  The music at the church was nicely rendered and was furnished by Mrs. Graydon Dunbar, Miss Dorothy Hayhurst, Miss Ella Becannon, C. H. Beaty and I. J. Kiblinger.

  In the death of Richard Fisk, Wilson county loses a mighty fine citizen, an accommodating neighbor, in all, a true Christian and a good father and husband, and his place in the community will be hard to fill.  At all times and under all circumstances he walked in the well beaten path of righteousness.  To man, woman or child, saint or sinner, he always extended a cordial greeting and lent a ray of light to brighten their pathway in the journey of life.

  His marriage to Mary M. Wood took place December 31, 1866.  To this union nine children were born, all of whom lived to be married.  One son, Wade Fisk, and two daughters, Mrs. Tiny Wolf and Mrs. Eldora Powell, passed away about nine years ago.  The other six children, with their mother, were all with him in his hour of death.

  In 1868 Mr. and Mrs. Fisk immigrated from Indiana to Kansas and settled on the farm four and one-half miles southeast of Altoona, on which they have since lived.  Many were the hardships of the early pioneer days, which they endured.  Six years ago this December, Mr. and Mrs. Fisk celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary.  The past four years Mrs. Fisk has been an invalid, and it was with loving hands that Mr. Fisk cared for her.  Mr. Fisk was a member of the G. A. R. Post of Altoona, the Masonic lodge and Knights & Ladies of Security.  During the Civil War he served with Company K, 16th Infantry in response to the first call of the President for seventy-five thousand men.  His regiment became a part of the Army of the Potomac.

  There remain to mourn his loss:  The widow and six children as follows:  Lawrence Fisk of Earlton; Mrs. Venora Higgins of Altoona; Mrs. Corleda Cranor, of Portland Oregon; Mrs. Alma McGlinn, of Neodesha; Mrs. Crystle Wilson, of Victorville, California; and Mrs. Sephrona Maxwell, of Neodesha.  Two sisters, Mrs. Sephrona Starr, of  Greencastle, Indiana, and Mrs. Miller Falls, of Altoona.  Three brothers, James Fisk of Greencastle, Indiana; Wilbur Fisk, of California; and Marion Fisk, of Alva, Oklahoma.  Twenty-two grandchildren, six great grandchildren and a large circle of friends.  Because of sickness, none of the brothers, and only one sister, Mrs. Miller Falls, were able to attend the funeral.  Mr. Fisk had been ill for some time and went to Neodesha several weeks ago, where he had been under the care of his daughters.