Annie Fisher

Boone County's Most Famous Chef

Witness the historic story of Boone County's most famous chef with Verna Laboy's portrayal of Annie Fisher, an accomplished Black businessperson. Fisher, who lived from 1867 to 1938, was an entrepreneur and the first Black woman to own a restaurant and catering business in Columbia. Ages 6-adults.

Witness the historic story of Boone County's most famous chef with Verna Laboy's portrayal of Annie Fisher, an accomplished Black businessperson. Fisher, who lived from 1867 to 1938, was an entrepreneur and the first Black woman to own a restaurant and catering business in Columbia.

Ages 6-adults.

A Short History of Annie Fisher

Annie Fisher was born on December 3, 1867, in Boone County, Missouri, the daughter of former slaves Robert and Charlotte Knowles. From an early age, Fisher worked to help support her family. She attended school, when possible, but did not complete her education.

In 1904, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition was held in St. Louis. Annie Fisher entered her beaten biscuits and reportedly won a gold medal. She worked as a cook for the William Bouchelle Lenoir family in Columbia and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at the University of Missouri before starting her own catering business.

People fell in love with Fisher’s cooking, especially her country ham and beaten biscuits. She catered events of all sizes and owned enough silver, linen and china for 1,000 place settings. Former Columbia residents living in New York, Denver and Los Angeles placed orders for her biscuits and fruit cake.

Fisher claimed she was successful because she cooked “real old Missouri style,” which meant she used butter instead of oleo/margarine and because she prepared all of the food herself. She could make anything from scratch, from ice cream to roasted turkey, and could write a menu for any occasion.

Fisher was a shrewd businesswoman and saved much of her income. She also owned a small farm where she raised hogs that were used to make her famous hams. By 1919, Fisher reportedly made $500 a year from selling hams and an additional $1200 from her rental property.

Annie Fisher died on June 11, 1938, in Columbia, Missouri.

Source: Historic Missourians, State Historical Society of Missouri

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