Ferrell, John Paxton – 1852-1937

CASPER, DUNAWAY, FERRELL, PORTINGA, RUCKER, SCHUTT, SHELTON, THORNE, WILSON

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:37

TOOL’S CHAPEL – John Paxton Ferrell, 84, died May 26 of pneumonia.
Mr. Ferrell walked to Newton a week before his death and upon feeling ill, returned to Monroe. He took the bus to the home of a daughter, Mrs. Silva Rucker, in Des Moines and was quite ill by the time he reached there. Pneumonia developed and he died at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday morning, May 26.
John Paxton Ferrell was born Aug. 3, 1852 in Ohio. He came to Iowa with his parents while a young man and settled near Monroe.
He was married to Susan Thorne of Tool’s Chapel neighborhood, Dec. 25, 1876 and lived in Jasper county ever since.
To this union four girls were born, Mrs. Silva Rucker of Des Moines, Mrs. Zeply Dunaway, (deceased), Mrs. Huldah Portinga of near Bondurant and Mrs. Jessie Casper of near Monroe.
Funeral services were held Friday, May 28, at the Methodist church in Monroe, conducted by Rev. F. N. Wallace, 909 E. 6th St., Des Moines, assisted by Rev. R. R. Moser of Monroe. Burial was in the Gifford cemetery, east of Monroe.
Pallbearers were three grandsons, John Portinga and Paul and Earl L. Rucker, Ben Schutt, C. J. Shelton and Clyde Wilson, all of Des Moines.
Those who assisted with the music were Mildred Carlson, Alice Stincon and Grace Beese all of Des Moines. Songs were “Good Night and Good Morning,” “Rock of Ages,” and “In the Sweet Bye and Bye.”
Those that preceded him in death were his wife, his daughter Zeply, and four grandchildren, Murl Dunaway, Laurel Dunaway, Freddie Rucker, and another Rucker child.
Grandchildren living are Sara, Ina, Robert, Mabel, Evelyn, Doris, Johnnlee and Norman Portinga; Earl, Carl, Paul, Lillian, Ruth, Thelma and Dorothy Rucker and Wayne Casper. Thirteen great grandchildren also survive.
Mr. and Mrs. Ferrell’s married life was spent in Tool’s Chapel neighborhood and since the death of his wife nearly 18 years ago, Mr. Ferrell had lived alone on his acreage near Franklin station.
Source: Newton Daily News; Wednesday, June 2, 1937