Joseph Walter Ferguson (1871 - 1963)

Ancestors

Biography

Rev. Joseph Walter Ferguson was the son of James L Ferguson (1841-1907) and Margaret Ann Walter (1845-1926), born on 1 Sep 1871 in Auburn, De Kalb County, Indiana, and raised in Jackson, De Kalb County.^[1]

Joseph married Cora I Kosht in 1891 in De Kalb County, Indiana. Joseph and Cora raised their sons in towns throughout the Midwest, as Joseph was assigned to different churches, according to their needs. He frequently returned to De Kalb County to conduct funerals for his distant cousins. Eventually, Cora’s deteriorating health led Joseph to resign from his ministry so he could tend to her on a farm in Union township. Cora died on 17 Feb 1927 at age 55 and was buried Woodlawn Cemetery in Auburn, De Kalb County, Indiana.^[2][3][4][5]

Joseph Walter Ferguson and Cora I Kosht had the following children:

• Justus A Ferguson was born in Sep 1891 in Indiana. He died on 24 Apr 1910 at age 18 in North Baltimore, Wood County, Ohio, and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Auburn, De Kalb County, Indiana. His obituary appeared in The Bucyrus Evening Telegraph on 25 Apr 1910.^[6][7][8]

  “Death of Justus Ferguson at North Baltimore
  “Tiro, April 25--The many Tiro friends of Justus Ferguson, eldest son of Rev. J.W. Ferguson and wife were deeply grieved to learn of his death, which occurred on Sunday afternoon at 12:30 o'clok [sic] at the family home in North Baltimore. The cause of death was tuberculosis. The young man is survived by his parents and by one younger brother, Ford. The funeral occurs Tuesday at North Baltimore with burial at Auburn, Ind. Quite a number of Tiro people, including former school mates of the young man, will attend. Justus Ferguson was aged neneteen [sic] years and for four years, during the time his father was pastor of the United Brethren church here, lived in this village, the family moving to North Baltimore last fall. He was a member of the junior class of the Tiro high school and was a very highly esteemed young gentleman. The sympathy of the many friends here is extended to the parents and surviving brother.”

• Ford M Ferguson (1904-1978)

Joseph married Delia Hassig on 16 Nov 1927 in Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan. After they married, Joseph and Delia remained in Union Township, De Kalb County, Indiana.^{[9][10][11][12][13]}

Joseph died on 26 Nov 1963 at age 92 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Auburn, next to Cora. His obituary appeared in The Garrett Clipper on 28 Nov 1963. Delia died in 1977 at age 84 and was buried in Roselawn Cemetery in Auburn.^{[14][15][16][17]}

“Rev. Joseph Ferguson Dies At Age of 92
“Rev. Joseph W. Ferguson, 92 minister for 71 years, died at his home northeast of Auburn at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Rev. Ferguson passed away from complications of advanced age after having been in failing health for the past year. He was born in Jackson township, DeKalb county, on Sept. 1, 1871, the son of the late James and Margaret Ferguson. His first wife died and he married Delia Hassig at Coldwater, Mich., on Nov. 16, 1927. In his earlier years, Rev. Ferguson served as a deputy sheriff for DeKalb county. He retired about a year ago from his pastoral duties after serving 17 years as pastor of the Christian church at Ashley. Rev. Ferguson estimated that during his ministry he had officiated at approximately 3,400 funerals. Surviving are a son, Ford Ferguson of 714 East Fifth street, Auburn, and a grand-daughter, Mrs. Hugh Western of East Third street, Auburn. One son, a sister and two brothers preceded Rev. Ferguson in death. The body is at the Gerig funeral home in Auburn where friends may call after 3 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home in Auburn with the Rev. E. Lyle Harvey, pastor of the First Christian church in Auburn, officiating. He will be assisted by the Rev. Casto Ball, pastor of the First Baptist church in Auburn. Burial will be in Woodlawn cemetery, near Auburn.”

Sources

1. ↑ 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Place: Jackson, De Kalb, Indiana; Roll: 273; Pg: 173B; Enum Dist: 088.
2. ↑ 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Place: Carryall, Paulding, Ohio; Pg: 4; Enum Dist: 0045; FHL Film: 1241312.
3. ↑ 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Place: Henry, Wood, Ohio; Roll: T624_1240; Pg: 17B; Enum Dist: 0188; FHL Film: 1375253.
4. ↑ 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Place: Union, De Kalb, IN; Roll: T625_430; Pg: 15A; Enum Dist: 113.
5. ↑ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Memorial #117285968.
6. ↑ Ohio, Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2018, Ohio Dept. of Health; Columbus, Ohio; Ohio Deaths, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007.
7. ↑ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Memorial #117285959.
8. ↑ Newspapers.com, The Bucyrus Evening Telegraph, Bucyrus, Ohio, 25 Apr 1910, Page 5, “Minister’s Son Dies”.
9. ↑ Michigan, Marriage Records, 1867-1952, Michigan Dept of Community Health, Div of Vital Records & Health Statistics; Lansing, MI; Film: 22; Film Title: 11 Berrien 14335-12 Branch 1609; Film Description: Berrien (1951)-Branch (1935).
10. ↑ 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Place: Magnolia, Wetzel, West Virginia; Pg: 11; Enum Dist: 0100; FHL Film: 1241775.
11. ↑ 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Place: Magnolia, Wetzel, WV; Roll: T624_1699; Pg: 14A; Enum Dist: 0156; FHL Film: 1375712.
12. ↑ 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Place: Union, De Kalb, Indiana; Pg: 8B; Enum Dist: 0026; FHL microfilm: 2340320.
13. ↑ 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Place: Union, DeKalb, Indiana; Roll: M-T0627-01036; Pg: 2B; Enum Dist: 17-27.
14. ↑ U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, Social Security Admin; Washington D.C.
15. ↑ Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Indiana Archives and Records Admin; Indianapolis, IN; Death Certs; Year: 1963; Roll: 16.
16. ↑ U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Memorial #117285947.
17. ↑ Newspapers.com, The Garrett Clipper, Garrett, Indiana, Thu, Nov 28, 1963, “Rev. Joseph Ferguson obituary”.