Fannie Fisher and family

Written by Hazel D. Gendron

 While visiting the Burcell Private Indian cemetery near Etna a few months ago, I noticed the newer headstones located in a group which included the graves of Fannie Fisher and her husband, Harry, and those of the Billie Family. I was told by Dave Burcell, who was living on family property near the cemetery, that Fannie had ordered those stones to be placed a few years prior to her own passing in 2004. Her obituary, published in the Siskiyou Daily News, stated that she had lived all but the last few years of her life in Etna and had passed away at a hospital in Burney, Shasta County.

In follow-up, I was fortunate to locate photos of Fannie as a young lady known, as Fannie Juanita Webb, daughter of James and Sarah Webb, born November 13, 1906. Her parents were full blood natives of the Karuk Tribe and was one of the few full bloods left of the tribe of today.

In the census of 1910, Fannie was living with her parents, Jim and Susie Webb in Orleans, Humboldt Co. She was three years old.  But by 1920, she was living with Maggie and Sam Billie, in Etna. Maggie,"Tamchih" widowed was her guardian. Sam, her uncle, was a Wood Chopper and Maggie was a Wash Woman in Etna. In the 1930 census, Fannie was a servant in Yreka at the home of cattle rancher Walter Duke and Deta Duke with their son Bradley.

The BIA 1928 Enrollment file of California Indians for Maggie Billie states that Fannie Webb was cousin and ward. It also names Sam Billie as being a step son and age 48. In her application, Maggie stated that she was a widow and that her maiden name was Jones and that she was born July 13, 1884.She was 4/4 Karuk. The affidavit of knowledge of Maggie's birth was signed by Al and Sallie Burcell, and the witness to Maggie's fingerprint was Al Burcell. Tamchih was born Jan.1, 1872 and died April 27, 1947. Many early birth dates are not recorded and like those of Maggie, do not match.

Fannie married Harry Fisher in San Bernardino November 13, 1950. They were married 16 years when Harry passed away in 1966. He was laid to rest in the Burcell Indian cemetery next to the graves of Fannie's family. During this time is when she ordered stones for all her family graves, according to Burcell.  Fannie's great-grandfather was Oak Bottom Billy, father of Louie and Sam Billy. His Karuk name was "Ishrikeeyav", meaning 'strong bowstring puller'. Fannie's grandfather was Squirrel Jim, "Xikihich", well-known Karuk hunter who tanned quality buckskin and other hides.

Fannie spent most of her life around Etna and among her interests in her last years was that of preserving the Karuk language for future generations. She was one of those working with William Bright in the Karuk Tribal Language program. According to Susan Gehr, Karuk Language Program Director, Fannie listened to discussions with those speaking the language and especially when it came to names of people and places. She wrote notes and listed names as she heard them, later these handwritten pages were transcribed into a well used addendum to the Karuk Dictionary. Most of the names mentioned above came from that list recorded by Fannie for future generations to have access.