J. S. Ferris 1846-1937

FERRIS, GORDON, GOODMAN, HOFFMAN, COOPER, PECK

Posted By: Janet Koozer (email)
Date: 10/16/2008 at 12:58:45

Ferris Passes To His Eternal Rest

Death came not unexpectedly to J. S. Ferris last Thursday, June 24, at the home of his granddaughter, Mrs. Ray Peck, in Waukon, the result of the infirmities of old age, after several months illness.

Deceased was born Feb. 26, 1846, in Chianengo Forks, Broome county, New York, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Abbie Ferris, and lived four months beyond his 91st year. He came west to Iowa during the Civil war in May, 1863, and directly to Allamakee county where he spent most of his time save 17 years when he lived at Spencer, Iowa, and 9 years in Cherokee. He received all of his education in the rural schools of those days and was married on March 7, 1868, to Jennie Gordon at Lansing, who preceded him in death April 18, 1910. To this union ten children were born, the following sons and daughters surviving: Walter, Los Angeles, Cal.; Jesse Ferris, Davenport, Iowa, Albert, of Cherokee; Fred Ferris, Fort Dodge; Mrs. D. J. Goodman, Columbus, Ohio, and Mrs. Harriet Hoffman, Spencer, Iowa. A daughter died in infancy and three in later years, the most recent being Mrs. Douglas Cooper of Lansing in February of this year, with whom he had made his home for many years, and here he gained a wide acquaintance-ship as well as throughout the county.

Mr. Ferris had for many years followed the occupation of farming in western Iowa and saw this great state grow from its wild and primitive stage to the highly agricultural region it now is. He was among the pioneers who saw the wagon trains transformed to railroad right of ways, the beaten trails turned into cement highways and the covered wagon of those epoch making years change into lavish automobiles. The hard work of the early settlers made him leave the farm and spend many of his years at the homes of his children, each of whom were more devoted than the next one to make his declinig years happier and his evening in life more contented. He was a truly a grand old man, and his granddaughter, Mrs. Ray Peck, was one of his favorites and his last few months of life were spent with her, though all of his 21 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren were most devoted to him. Mr. Ferris was a member of the Methodist Church.

The funeral sevices were held Sunday, June 27, at New Albin, where burial was made, Rev. Crouch of Waukon officiating. The following out of town relatives were in attendance; Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Ferris, Cherokee; Fred C. Ferris, Fort Dodge; Mrs. Harriette Hoffman, Spencer; Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Goodman, Columbus, Ohio; Jesse Ferris and daughter Mary, Dubuque; Archie Lechner, Spencer, Vern Ferris, Winona, Minn.; F. H. Cooper , Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Cooper and son of Dubuque; and Ferris Cooper of Chicago.

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