Nancy Virginia "Virginia" (Jones) Ferner (1847-1937)

JONES, FERNER, COVALL, COVELL, PRESTON, MCCALL, MILLS

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 7/6/2017 at 13:40:12

From unknown newspaper August 1937

MRS. VIRGINIA FERNER

Mrs. Virginia Ferner, 90, for over 70 years a resident of Nevada, died at her home at Nevada Sunday morning about 8:00, after being confined to her home with illness for a few weeks. The passing came calmly and peaceably in the presence of members of her family.

Mrs. Nancy Virginia Ferner was born in Highland county, Virginia, a daughter of Samuel and Mary A. Jones. She was the last of four children.

They moved to Point Pleasant, West Virginia in 1861 but as her father, Rev. Jones, was an ardent abolitionist and slavery was then dividing families, it was decided to move to New Virginia, Iowa, where other Virginians had located.

They came by boat on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Keokuk, then took a train to Chariton. From there stage-coach took them to Pella, where they waited until friends came to take them to New Virginia. Their next pastorate was at Norwalk, this followed by moving to Nevada.

Two daughters were born to them, Edith and Elva. The older daughter survives her, Elva preceded her mother about two years.

Mr. Ferner had one daughter, Catherine, by a previous marriage, who became Mrs. Charles Covall. Her four children are all living.

Mrs. Ferner has a nephew, E. O. Preston, he being the only other Jones relative.

There are two grandchildren, Thomas Clifton McCall and Hazel McCall Mills. Three great grandchildren, Tom, Jim and Fred McCall, sons of Thomas Clifton and Catherine McCall, are now in California. Two great-granddaughters, Virginia and Barbara Mills, daughters of Frederic T. and Hazel McCall Mills of Chicago complete the list of immediate relatives.