Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-01-17
Death of Dr.. Z. c. Fisher,


DR.. Edward Darlington Fisher. the ven
cradle Assistant Superintendent of the W.
L. Asylum, died there at 1880 P. M. on
Sunday last. He had reached his S1st year.
and had for some time been in feeble health
| from the infirmitiss of age and from physl-
cal affection. He was a native of Rich
mond, and about forty years ago was a
practicing physician ia Staunton. He be-
came an assistant physician at the w. l..
Asylum with the view of qualifying him.
self under DR.. Stribing for the position of
Superintendent Of the North Carolina Asy-
lum at Raleigh, which was about to be
opened. When it was opened in 1854, he
was elected Superintendent of it and OF
gained and conducted it with great abili-
ty until the days of Reconstruction came
when he was turned down with all the other
Democratic officials of that State.
He returned to Virginia and after the
death of DR.. Berkeley Of the Asylum staff
about twenty years ago, was elected to the
vacancy. He has been there ever since with
the exception of the DEMONSTRATION
times which visited Virginia in 1881. In
1884 he was restored to his place and re-
manned there. He leaves a brother, Mr..
Geo. D. Fisher, in Richmond, and two sons,
George and Charles, who were with him at
his death. His remains were taken to
Richmond on Monday night, accompanied
by DR.. Benz. Blackford, Supt. of the Asy-
lum, and Capt. Lewis Hartman, Steward.
The funeral took place on Tuesday at noon
from st. James Episcopal church, of which
denomination he had been almost life
long member.
DR.. Fisher was man of striking person
al appearance, over six feet in height, finely
proportional and with remarkably hand
some face. Even to an advanced age he
preserved these attractions to a remarka-
BILE degree. But his mental attractions
were far superior to even his physical. A
fine mind, sound judgment, heart kind
and considerate for all, the bearing of a
thorough gentleman, and all governed by
the deepest religious convictions which per-
meated every act of his daily life, made up
rare and ]oveable character. The Rich
mond Dispatch In a notice of his death
fttingly describes his professional stand
ing when it says:
eve were about to say that DR.: Fisher was
a celebrated alienist, but we would have done
injustice to his memory in applying to him
that term as the world understands it. DR.
Fisher was native of Richmond. and no man
ever lived in Virginia who did more for the in
sane both of this State and North Carolina. He
was too modest, too loving, too devoted to the
unfortunate to be celebrated" save among
those who saw how he worked with heart and
soul in the effort to restore reason, and minis
ter to the mind diseased"
The Richmond State in speaking of him
pays the following deserved tribute to his
devotion to his duty:
Tall and commanding in appearance, with
clear cut features and a winning smile, DR..
Fisher was in manner, word and bearing one
of the most attractive of men. The ward in
the Western Asylum, which was under his di-
rection for many years. was always to him an
object of pride and tender solicitude. The
writer has heard him speak fondly of it as if
all the personalities of its unhappy. inmates
were merged in single creature, which was
entrusted to his watchful care and was ever
present in his mind and partaking of his &C
tive sympathies. There was no more humane
and skilful physician of the insane in the
whole country; He has closed useful,
blameleSS life
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS BY THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS.
At meeting of the Board of Directors of
the Western Lunatic Asylum on January Is,
1890, the Superintendent read the following
paper announcing the death of DR.. Edward
g. Fisher, Assistant Superintendent of the
ASYLUM
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT,
WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM. I
STANTON, VA, Jan'y. Is, 1890.
To the Board of Directors:
Gentlemen:-It is with great sorrow that have
to announce, in my official capacity, 70 your
Board the death of the venerable DR.. E. G. Fisher,
the Assistant Superintendent of this institution.
For over a quarter of a century DR.. Fisher has
been connected with the medical department of
this asylum, identifying himself with all its in
terests with comprehensive skill and sagacity
and conscientious fidelity in the discharge of
every duty involved, which secured for him, for
those committed to his care, and for this insttu-
ton the happiest results The accuracy and va
riety of his knowledge, the soundness of his judg
ment, his long experience, and his exact compre-
hensiOn and appreciation of the needs of the I'M
insane under his charge, were fully
recognized by his associates who were familiar
with his wonderful tact in the management of
them.
His inbred sense of honor, his courteous and
dignifed bearing, and his gentle manner gave
him delightful charm as companion.
Strong, though not demonstrative, in his feel
ings, warm in his attachments, he loved this
institution, his friends and his daily association
and devoted himself to their welfare.
Towards his professional brethren, he ever
maintained courteous and modest bea1 ing and
never assumed superiority over the humblest
member; ever ready to assist anyone who loved
the special science to which he had devoted his
life. and temperng all his actions with the gentle
graces of the Christian.
During his last sickness he manifested the
same traits of character that had distinguished
him through life; although he suffered greatly
from the disease which was gradually but surely
destroying his physical frame his mental fcu
He did not fear DEATH but like Christian
philosopher. contemplated his departure with
calmness and resignation. Past the boundary of
four score. he has gone to his grave noble speci-
men of the courtly "old Virginia gentleman"
1Well done, good and faithful servant
He died in the communion of the Episcopal
Church, to which he was greatly attached, and
in the confident hope of blessed immortality
beyond the grave. BENZ. BLACKFORD
Superintendent.
After the reading of the paper, the follow
ing resolutions, offered by committee ap-
pointed for the purpose, were adopted by the
Board :
Resoloed, /. That we have heard with deep
pain Of the death of DR.. Fisher, who was so
long and SO honorably connected with this
Asylum.
2. That we adopt the foregoing communi-
cation from the Superintendent as an express
sion of our feelings upon the occasion of his
DEATH
8. That we tender our sincere sympathy to
his bereaved family.
T. That the foregoing resolutions be spread
upon the records of the Board, also be sent to
the Staunton papers and to the Richmond
Dispatch and Southern Churchman for pub
licatiOn. S. H. MOFFETT,
S. F. COLEMAN,
L. l.. ROssER,
W. NJ. MCALLIsTER,
E. II. BOYD,
Committee.
South River Items.