Person

Albert Fisher

Quick Facts
Significance:
Kansas Homesteader
Place of Birth:
Virginia
Date of Birth:
About 1830
Place of Death:
Leavenworth, Kansas
Date of Death:
May 12, 1908
Place of Burial:
Leavenworth, Kansas
Cemetery Name:
Leavenworth National Cemetery

Albert Fisher was an early homestead settler near Nicodemus, Kansas and was incredibly involved within his community.

Fisher was born in Virginia around 1830. He joined the army in September 1863 and was discharged May 13, 1866, as a Private in the 6th United States Colored Heavy Artillery Regiment, Company C.

Fisher filed a claim for entry #14129 at the Kirwin,Kansas Land Office in 1879. His claim fell into Wildhorse Township, a part of Graham County, Kansas, and just south of Nicodemus. He arrived to his claimed land on September 3, 1879.

He was married to a woman named Eliza, originally from Kentucky. For the next six years, Fisher and Eliza worked diligently to prove up his claim by farming crops on 25 acres, constructing a stone house, a dugout stable, a well, an orchard, and a corral.

The Webster Cyclone published a notice on August 12, 1886 of Fisher’s intention to make final proof of his homestead claim. The publication listed his claim for the southwest quarter of Section 12 in Township eight south of Range 21 West of the 6th Principal Meridian in Graham County, Kansas.

On October 1, 1886, Fisher and his neighbors, C. Crow and John Clark, testified as witnesses to Fisher’s proof at the Kirwin, Kansas Land Office. His patent, #9918, was later issued on August 6, 1889.

Fisher was very involved within Wildhorse and nearby townships. In 1885, he was chosen to be a part of Graham County’s Republican county convention. A year later, the farmers of Graham County banded together to form Graham County’s Agricultural and Horticultural Society. Fisher was chosen as a board member for Wildhorse Township. He was also listed as the treasurer of school district 76 in The Graham County Recorder in 1898.

Learn more about Black Homesteading in America.

Sources

  • Patent Details - BLM GLO Records
  • Land Entry Case File (see below)
  • 1880 & 1900 United States Federal Census.
  • 1885 & 1895 Kansas State Census.
  • Grand Army of the Republic, Muster Roll, Hill City, KS.
  • The Millbrook Times, September 18, 1885, p. 3. Kansas Historical Open Content (1800-2001) on Newspapers.com.
  • "The Hill City Agricultural Association." The Millbrook Herald, August 11, 1886, p. 4. Kansas Historical Open Content (1800-2001) on Newspapers.com.
  • "Graham County Fair Association." The People's Reveille, August 13, 1886, p. 4. Kansas Historical Open Content (1800-2001) on Newspapers.com.
  • "Roster of Soldiers and Sailors of Graham County." Graham County Times, February 20, 1890, p. 4. Kansas Historical Open Content (1800-2001) on Newspapers.com.
  • "School Districts." Graham County Recorder, January 14, 1898, p. 7. Kansas Historical Open Content (1800-2001) on Newspapers.com.
  • "Wild Horse." Graham County Recorder, January 14, 1898, p. 11. Kansas Historical Open Content (1800-2001) on Newspapers.com.
  • The Leavenworth Times, May 14, 1908, p. 8. Kansas Historical Open Content (1800-2001) on Newspapers.com.
  • Burial Registers, Military Posts and National Cemeteries.
  • "Albert Fisher." Find A Grave, last updated May 21, 2006. Albert Fisher - Find A Grave Memorial

Homestead National Historical Park, Nicodemus National Historic Site

Tags

Last updated: October 21, 2024