Bumping this post to include a link to the digitized version of Mrs. Fisher's book published around 1881 with a couple of reprints, the latest being February, 2008. From what I've read she moved from Mobile, AL to San Francisco and began working as a cook and caterer. Her friends urged her to write a book to record her knowledge and culinary skills. There was one problem with this idea. Neither, Mrs. Abby Fisher nor her husband could read or write so she dictated this book and it was published under her name.

Due to the time period and manners of cooking you won't likely use this book for collecting recipes to try. Just a look back at the palates of the 19th century.

http://www.archive.org/details/whatmrsfisherkno00fishrich

Enjoy