Fisk, Cornelia Meyer 1857-1914

FISK, MEYER, HARRAH

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/23/2010 at 14:53:27

Tragedy From Broken Heart

Mrs. Cornelia Meyer Fisk

Her Mother-Heart Despondent Over Trouble to Her Worse than Death
She Takes Her Own Life

One of the saddest tragedies that has ever occurred in this community was that of last Friday morning, July 10, when Mrs. Cornelia M. Fisk threw herself from the fourth story window of the Victoria Hotel in Colfax to the cement walk below meeting death almost instantly. When the terrible news reached Newton by telephone, a few minutes later, it was immediately carried into every home, and a shadow of sorrow settled over the entire community such as it had never know before. Everybody knew Mrs. Fisk, and although she may have had her faults, as all of us have no woman in the city had more, warmer or more devoted friends than she, and her death under such horrible circumstances seems to them beyond human understanding.

The sad story can be briefly told: She had become very despondent over the failure of securing a pardon or parole for her only son Roy who is serving a 5-year term at Anamosa for a crime committed while serving as deputy in the office of Newton’s city clerk. Mother-like, she clung to her boy whom she almost worshipped, and never ceased in her efforts to secure his release that he might begin life over again and make amends for the wrong he had done her, his faithful young wife and the community that had trusted him. Though her efforts, aided by a host of friends, and the fact that the son had been a model prisoner, entrusted to the position of bookkeeper and “trusty” in the institution, a few weeks ago the parole or pardon seemed practically an accomplished fact, and the mother was correspondingly happy-only to be soon thrown into deeper sorrow. Reports from the prison show that on the 6th of last May, Roy had been reduced from “trusty” to a “second grade prisoner on account of an infraction of the rules of the institution, several other prisoners begin reduced for the same offense at the same time.”

While the offense was a trifling one, in the mother’s mind it was a “wrong,” which her own great honest heart abhored, and which she greatly magnified-although we understand that he has since been restored to his former grade. Despondency preyed so upon her nerves that she could not sleep, and she was persuaded by her physicians to go to the sanitarium in Colfax where she could have proper rest and attention.

She went to Colfax on Tuesday and was given a room on the 4th floor, where a nurse was in attendance almost constantly. She had talked to Dr. Sherborn of her nervous condition, her inability to sleep on account of worries which she could not shake off. About 6 o’clock Friday morning, the nurse had called in her room and talked with Mrs. Fisk. On leaving she had only gone a short distance, when she heard a scream-Mrs. Fisk had thrown herself from the open window, and only breathed a couple of times after her broken and bruised body was found. She had struck an awning and fell to the foot of the stairs in the basement. The body was later brought to Newton and taken to the undertaking rooms of C. F. Morgan & Son to await the funeral. The only daughter, Mrs. John Harrah, will arrive from California today, and the services will be held in the Congregational church at 10 o’clock tomorrow, Thursday morning. The son Roy arrived from Anamosa Friday night and will remain until after the funeral.

Mrs. Fisk was born in this city, September 8, 1857, in the old Meyer home on Farmer Street now occupied by Mrs. Saunders. Her parents were John and Cornelia Meyer, were among the early settlers of Newton always prominent in social, church, political and business circles-and among the founders of the local Congregational church. He was Colonel of the 28th Iowa and afterward represented this county in the Iowa Senate. He died May 13, 1902. Mrs. Meyer passed away July 24, 1895. Mrs. Fisk was the last of a family of 8 children, 2 sons and 6 daughters, all now sleeping in Newton cemetery.

Mrs. Fisk was the widow of the late Frank Fisk, who served 2 years as County Auditor of this county, and who died several years ago. They had 3 children. Roy Fisk of Newton and Mrs. Amanda Harrah of Venice, California, survive the mother. The first born, welcome Fisk died in childhood.

Mrs. Fisk had been a member of the Congregational Church of Newton from her childhood, loving her church next to her children. For years she served as its organist, and was seldom absent from any of its services. It can be truly said that she gave the best years of her life for her children and her church.

She was one of the best musicians in Newton, having received her first musical education in Oberlin College, from which her mother was also a graduate. She was always generous with her talent and to her every church and almost every family in Newton is indebted for kindly services. In the W. C. T. U., Women’s Relief Corp, and all charitable organizations she was always found among the foremost workers. She was proud spirited and noble minded, and hated the very appearance of wrong and deceit. A friend to the poor, and her charity was always without ostentation. Her untimely death has left a void in this community that can never be filled as she filled it.

She spent last winter in California, in the home of her daughter, where she was especially happy with the two grandchildren. Soon after her return the trouble began anew, which finally ended in her tragic death. She seemed to realize that her cup was almost full, and that her poor heart and brain had reached their limit of suffering and sorrow. Her business affairs were all arranged in view of some approaching trouble. Only last week she sold her business block and sent the proceeds to her son-in-law in California for investment.

On the 2d of July she made her will, which gave to the son the old Meyer homestead which she inherited from her father, and the Texas land; and to the daughter $6,000cash, the cottage west of the old home and the lot east of it. Moneys and credits to be divided equally between them after all debts are paid. A. M. Carl was named as executor. A note was left to each of them-couched in the tenderest words of the poor of the poor mother-saying that she had tried to be fair and just in the disposition of her property. ~ Newspaper unknown.

Transcriber note: Death date taken from Newton Union Cemetery records.