Waverly Democrat, Waverly, Ohio
21 Feb. 1912, front page
The greatest and noblest earthly gift ever bestowed by God upon man is a woman. In the beginning, when God said in anticipation of her creation, “It is not good for man to be alone, I will make a help-mate for him.” This beautiful gift was presented and completed from the hand of God to Adam in the person of Eve the first mother of mankind that has ever lived upon the face of the earth.
In the line of succession of this noblest creation, there was born at Akron, Ohio, on the 29th day of June in 1838 a welcomed daughter to John and Miranda Clemens to whom they gave the name of Josephine Ware.
This child had the good fortune of having inherited from hones and sturdy New England parents a splendid body, which, as the years went by unfolded into chaste womanhood under the direction of careful Christian discipline.
When 18 years of age, she was wooed and won by a young man of sterling worth in the person of S. S. Ferguson of Lawrence County, Ohio.
The lives of these young people were blended into one, just as two drops of water, by that subtle and mysterious influence of love, born in heaven. So fully did these lives become cemented into oneness as the years went by that they came to resemble one another after 55? years of wedded life supported each by the other in the trials and triumphs incident to pioneer life.
There were born to them six children, four girls and two boys of whom two boys and two girls are still living, viz. Mrs. Laura Mougey, wife of Rev. J. W. Mougey, of Waverly, Ohio; William Ferguson of the Jones and Ferguson Wholesale Grocery Company, Portsmouth, Ohio; Frank Ferguson, bookkeeper of Kimberly, WV, and Etta Ferguson, milliner of Charleston, WV. To know these children is to love and appreciate them for the many qualities of mind and heart they possess.
From these grandparents, there has sprung numerous progeny of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who rise up and call them blessed.
Then, there have been formed marital ties attracted to these offsprings who have been received into the parental home as tenderly and affectionately as their own blood kindred…
Mother Ferguson, who was invalid for some months was tenderly cared for as she gradually neared the parting of the ways. All that loving, patient duty due to a fond parent by her children was bestowed upon her.
Her venerable husband, 78 years of age, from whom the last earthly chord has been severed by her departure still lingers waiting for God’s own good time when they shall be reunited in heaven. Her illness though sometimes attended by excruciating suffering was borne by Christian patience and heroism…
About two weeks before her departure as the writer of this sketch, with others, lingered at her bedside to bid her a last farewell upon earth her emaciated countenance was lit up by a more than earthly glory, as she said, “Weep not, when I get home there will be a light in the window for you all.”
Thus this saint of God lovely in life and triumphant in death passed on to her eternal home on Saturday morning, 10 Feb. 1912, aged 73 years.
There are left to mourn their great loss of a beloved companion, four children, ten great-grandchild, and three great-great-grandchildren, besides a host of other relatives and friends. (Has a long poem at the end).
The funeral services were conducted at the church by Rev. J. W. Dillon, assisted by Rev. McCormick and Rev. J. W. Mougey in the presence of a large concourse of relatives and friends. All that was mortal of her, sleep in the village cemetery near South Webster, Ohio, there to await the resurrection of the just.
J.W.M.
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