Joseph Barton Ferguson, 1889-1903

FERGUSON

Posted By: Volunteer: Betty Hootman
Date: 4/7/2012 at 21:31:01

IN MEMORIAM
(Photo here)
Joseph Barton Ferguson

Joseph Barton Ferguson, second son of John A. and Aurelia was born near Mt. Sterling, Dec. 19, 1889, and died May 27, 1903, aged 13 years, 5 months and 8 days, being stricken down by a bolt of lightning from a passing cloud, as related in these columns at the time of the sad occurrence.

His life went out on the spot where he had spent the merriest hours of his young life, where his merry-go-round, spring board and horizontal bars had long furnished him amusement, -- a peculiarly place to end a bright and happy a youth.

Here he, his father and brother Dan were occupied when the rain began. Their father urged their returning at once to the house, but was persuaded by the boys to take shelter under the large elms in front of the house; Joe especially insisting upon remaining. The boys ran from one tree to another until each had a separate tree for shelter. Joe’s being the middle one of the three --- the one the fatal bolt selected.

Almost out of a clear sky the lightning came with no warning, no previous flashes, a single bolt, which, striking the tree, killed little Joe and shocked both his father and the other son.

Joe was baptized at the age of five years, in Columbia Falls, by Rev. M. Brewer, bishop of Montana. At the age of nine years, eight months and 26 days, Joe had finished reading the new testament aloud to his mother.

During a revival held at Birmingham last winter was converted and became an earnest Christian, doing much effectual personal work. One evening Joe failed to return home with the others and upon being questioned as to the reason, replied that he had persuaded a little friend to return to the afternoon meeting for a special talk with the minister. I was beautiful to see a boy of thirteen years throw his arms around a young comrade and urge him to go forward to seek the truth.

Thursday, May 20, the funeral service was held at the Christian church at Mt. Sterling. Rev. E. J. Smith of Birmingham officiating. There was a very large attendance, the friends and acquaintances of the family, which is one of the most prominent and highly esteemed in the county, thus evincing their sympathy for the deeply bereaved parents and brother. The funeral cortege arrived here at about 5 p.m., where it was joined by numbers of Keosauqua friends of the family and little Joe’s school friends and all 13 school mates from Birmingham besides Hon. W. S. Allen and wife, Prof. Barton, Edward McMillen, Miss Skinner and others of that place.

The body was interred in the Purdom cemetery at Keosauqua being lowered into its final resting place just as the sun went down.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Scrapbook A, page 351, Keosauqua Public Library; Keosauqua, IA