Annie Fisher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Annie "Knowles" Fisher
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| Born |
Anna Knowles
December 3, 1867 |
| Died | June 11, 1938 (aged 70) |
| Resting place | Memorial Park Cemetery |
| Occupation | Cook, Caterer, Entrepreneur |
Annie "Knowles" Fisher (born December 3, 1867 – died June 11, 1938) was an amazing cook and businesswoman. She lived in Columbia, Missouri. Annie started by cooking for important families. Later, she opened her own catering business.
Annie became very famous in Missouri for her delicious beaten biscuits. People loved them so much they would order them from far away! Through her cooking, Annie earned a lot of money. She used it to buy rental homes and farms near Boone County.
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Early Life and Cooking
Annie "Knowles" Fisher was born on December 3, 1867. This was in Boone County. She was one of eleven children. Her parents, Robert and Charlotte Knowles, were formerly enslaved people.
From a young age, Annie was in charge of cooking for her family. She went to school for a short time. But she soon left to help support her family. Annie discovered her love for cooking while working in wealthy homes. She worked in the Columbia area. She didn't earn much money. Sometimes she got used clothes as a "perk." Annie later said she wanted to earn enough to buy new clothes.
Annie worked for the Lenoir-Nifong family at Maplewood. In 1890, she started cooking for George Bingham Rollins. She also cooked for the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of Missouri.
Becoming a Business Star
Annie saved most of her money from cooking. She used it to start her own catering business. She ran it from her restaurant, the Wayside Inn. This was located where her childhood home used to be.
Annie reportedly had over 1,000 sets of china dishes. She handled many big events. She catered for the University of Missouri. For one large alumni dinner, she was paid $1,200. That was two dollars for each plate!
Annie's beaten biscuits became super popular. People who moved out of Missouri would order them. They had her biscuits mailed to states like New York and California. Annie cooked in what she called "old Missouri style." This meant she used local ingredients. This gave her food a special flavor.
Her cooking was so popular that she endorsed local businesses. She promoted Boone County Mill's H-P flour. This was the flour she used in her famous biscuits. In 1911, a hostess for the Missouri State Fair made sure Annie's biscuits were served. They were on the table for President William Howard Taft's visit!
Annie was also very clever. She invented a special cutter for her biscuits. This kept them from sticking. When her mail-order business grew, she used a "biscuit brake." This machine helped her make many more biscuits. She once told a newspaper she made about one million biscuits a year. With her daughter's help, she made about 50 dozen biscuits every hour. By 1919, Annie was earning $500 a month just from biscuits. They sold for 15 cents a dozen.
Using her profits, Annie bought her first house in 1901. She paid it off in just two years! After that, she bought 18 rental properties. Most were in the downtown Columbia area. Later, she bought a 58-acre farm outside Columbia. She raised animals and grew crops there. She used these fresh ingredients in her cooking.
Annie's Beaten Biscuit Recipe
Annie Fisher's recipe was simple but special.
- 1 quart of sifted flour
- 1/3 cup of pure lard
- 1/3 cup of butter
- 1 cup of sweetened water
- Salt to taste
She mixed the ingredients very well. Then, she beat the dough for 15 minutes. This made the biscuits light and fluffy. Annie said beating the biscuits was meant to "put life into them."
Annie's Personality
People who met Annie thought she was a strong and witty businesswoman. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind. In 1919, Annie gave a speech. It was at a meeting of the National Negro Business League. She shared how to make money from catering. She also talked about her life growing up. She proudly said she was a 57-year-old woman.
Annie was a celebrated person in Columbia. Many articles were written about her. They appeared in the University Missourian. One interesting article shared her ideas for Thanksgiving dinner.
Annie rented her properties to Black families. In 1913, it was hard for them to find housing. Annie freely shared her recipes. But she noted that she couldn't teach the "common sense" needed to cook her food. In 1927, an article estimated Annie's net worth. It was about $100,000.
Annie's Personal Life
Annie was very independent. In 1907, she divorced her husband, William. She said her marriage wasn't a success. She believed that to be successful, she had to believe in herself.
Annie used her catering profits to send her daughter, Lucille, to college. Lucille also attended a music conservatory. Annie's first home was a large 16-room house. It stood until 1960. In the 1920s, she had a new house built. It was along Old Highway 63. During construction, she bought all the materials. She hired her own workers. She even stayed in a tent on the property to watch over the building. Annie Fisher passed away in 1938. She was buried in a modest grave. This was at Memorial Park Cemetery in Columbia.
Annie Fisher's Legacy
Annie Fisher's story continues to inspire people. During Black History Month, a woman in Columbia dresses as Annie. She visits schools to share Annie's story. She teaches children how local African Americans helped shape Boone County's history.
The Annie Fisher food pantry is also named after her. It is run by the Columbia Housing authority. This pantry helps provide healthy food options for families. It gets its supplies from the Food bank of Central and Northeastern Missouri.
