THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J Rahn: Emil Fischer

THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Ida M. Fischer; Born: 25 Jan 1871 Wisconsin; Died: 22 May 1945.

FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: (Ida Fischer, mother) The only ones of this family I remember are Ida and Mildred --Marie McCready. Irving, Jr. joined the Navy. Arnold, who enjoyed hunting and often went alone, was bitten by a rattlesnake and died before reaching the hospital--William McCready.

U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida/1910; Enumeration date: 23 Apr 1910; Koreshan Unity; Enumerator: Walter S. Turner, Jr.; Microfilm number: Fl 1910-H T624; ED: 80; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 4 Jan 1995: Ida M. Fisher; Sex: Female Race: White; Age 39; Marital Status: Widow: Place of birth: Wisconsin; Place of birth of father: Michigan; Place of birth of mother: Germany; Occupation: Steward; Nature of trade: Unity; Employer or worker: worker; No. of months not employed: 0; Can read and write: yes.

U.S. Federal Census; Estero; Lee County; Florida; 1920; Enumeration date: Jan 2, 1920; Enumerator: Henry D. Silverfriend; ED: 109; SD: 1; Fourth Precinct; Microfilm roll number: 1820221; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, Dec 1994: Ida M. Fisher; Relation to head of family: Head; Place of residence: Poultry yard road; Age 48; widow; Place of birth: Wisconsin; Place of birth of father; Michigan; Place of birth of mother: Germany; Occupation: Laundress/Gen. Laundry.

U.S. Federal 1930 Census; Estero, Lee County, Florida; Precinct 12; Koreshan Unity Home; Enumeration Date: May 5, 1930; ED: 36-17; SD: 6; Page: 199; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, January 2003: Ida M. Fischer; Radio set: none listed; Sex: female; Color: white; Age at last birthday: 59; Marital status: widow; Age at first marriage: 22; Attended school since Sep 1, 1929: no; Whether able to read and write: yes; Place of birth: Wisconsin; Place of birth of father: Michigan; Place of birth of mother: Germany; Whether able to speak English: yes; Occupation: Housekeeper; Industry: House work; Whether actually at work yesterday (or the last regular working day): yes.

Burial: Koreshan Unity Cemetery--lot 39; Inscription: Ida Fischer--1871-May 1945

Court Record--Warranty Deed, April 1924, No. 26759: Deed book 70/Page 209, List of Koreshan members including Ida Fischer.

THE FLAMING SWORD; Community Current Events by Max E. Arendt; June 1936:
"Sister Emily Bessemer, whom we all admired for the excellent work she did as one of our two cooks, left on May 8, to visit with relatives in Washington, D.C. for the summer. Sister Ida Fischer remains as our stand-by as chief cook."

FLAMING SWORD, Vol. 59, No.6, Community Current Events by Marie Fischer, June 1945, p.10 -- "And now once again I sadly report the passing of another faithful and loyal member, Sister Ida Fischer, who passed away Monday evening, May 21. Sister Ida came into the Unity in 1907 with her husband, Emil, and three children. The husband passed away not long after their advent to the Unity, but Sister Ida remained and put in many years of service to the neighbor at the laundry in the earlier years, and more recently in the kitchen, where she remained even after life had become a burden on account of ill health, until about six months ago, when she was obliged to give up and keep off her feet. Like her own independent self, however, she refused to be a burden to others and did for herself until the very end. Sister Ida is survived by a brother and sister in Wisconsin and her two children Erwin of Fort Myers, Florida, and Mrs. Barager of Seattle, Washington."

Evelyn Horn's notes: Ida Fischer
Sister Ida came to the Koreshan Unity in Estero in 1907 with her family. Husband, Emil and three children: Erwin and Arnold Fischer, one daughter, Mildred Barager, who lives in Seattle, Washington. Emil died at the Unity after only a few years here. Arnold, died a young man in his 20 ties, after a rattlesnake bite on a hunting trip in the everglades. Erwin grew up in the Unity and became a commercial fisherman, married a local girl, Bessie Johnson, and they had six children. They lived at Lover's Key Island, in the Estero Bay.

Ida worked in the laundry and was a cook for the Koreshan family for many years. She was well loved by all. She loved to bake cakes, pies, and cookies for Koreshan members and friends. Cooked for Solar and Lunar Festival. She died of heart dropsy May 21, 1945, and was buried in Koreshan Cemetery.

Ida was a very humorous person, always so friendly and smiling. She had dark brown eyes and hair. She was a very large person and very neat in her appearance. Ida always wore dainty, small prints on white background for her dresses which were handmade of soft voiles and batiste materials. She also wore white sweaters or shawls.

THE KORESHAN UNITY MEMBERSHIP LIST by Claude J. Rahn: Arnold Fischer.

FOLKS WE KNEW WHILE IN THE K.U. by Marie McCready: The only ones of this family I remember are Ida and Mildred --Marie McCready. Irving, Jr. joined the Navy. Arnold, who enjoyed hunting and often went alone, was bitten by a rattlesnake and died before reaching the hospital --William McCready."

U.S. Federal Census/Estero/Lee County/Florida/1910; Enumeration date: 23 Apr 1910; Koreshan Unity; Enumerator: Walter S. Turner, Jr.; Microfilm number: Fl 1910-H T624; ED: 80; Transcribed by Joyce Nelle Ratliff, 4 Jan 1995: Arnold E. Fisher; Sex: Male; Race: white; Age 10; Marital status: Single; Place of birth: Wisconsin; Place of birth of father: Switzerland; Place of birth of mother; Wisconsin; Occupation: None; No. of months not employed: 0; Can read and write: yes; Attending school: yes.

BROTHERS' LAUNDRY LIST: Arnold Fischer #161

FLAMING SWORD, Community Current Events, Vol.59, No.6, June 1945, p.10: Mildred (Mrs. Barager) was brought into the Unity by her parents in 1907, when a very young child, and together with her two brothers, Erwin and Arnold, grew up in the Unity. In time the two boys left to make their homes elsewhere. Erwin joined the navy and for a number of years followed the sea. At the expiration of his enlistment he came back to Florida and engaged in commercial fishing, but is now interested in a Shell Factory at Bonita Springs. Arnold remained in the vicinity and also became a fisherman, but while out hunting in the woods he was bitten by a rattlesnake and died from the effects of its deadly poison.