CFH First Draft: Nicholas P Ferguson

 This post is part of an ongoing series, sharing the first draft of my Revised Callin Family History. 

Nicholas Ferguson is the 48th person in a descendant report beginning with the earliest known ancestor of our Callin family, (1.) James Callin. This descendant report uses the Register Style of the New England Historic and Genealogical Society. 

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Fourth Generation

48. Nicholas P Ferguson (Eliza Callin-3, John-2, James "1st"-1) was born in Oct 1843 in Ohio and grew up in Jackson, De Kalb, Indiana. Nicholas married Latita “Lettie” Kiester on 26 Apr 1868 in De Kalb, Indiana. Lettie was the daughter of Peter Kiester (1817–1859) and Lydia Sherron (1821–1879), born on 22 Sep 1850 in Jackson, De Kalb, Indiana.

Nicholas and Lettie lived in Jackson, De Kalb County, Indiana, through at least 1900. Nicholas was a farmer, and in 1880, the census reported that he had suffered “lung fever,” an old term for pneumonia. After retiring from farming, the couple lived in Union City, De Kalb County, in 1910.

Nicholas died on 26 Jan 1912 at the age of 68 in Fort Wayne, and was buried in Auburn, De Kalb County, Indiana.

His brief obituary ran in The Fort Wayne Sentinel, 27 Jan 1912, Sat, Page 2:

“Nicholas Ferguson, 67 years of age, a farmer near Auburn, died Friday night at the Lutheran hospital in this city. Mr. Ferguson was brought to Fort Wayne but a few days ago to undergo a surgical operation.

“He is survived by the widow, five children, a brother and two sisters. The remains were taken to Auburn for funeral services and interment.”

Lettie remarried on 1 Feb 1920 to George E Weidman (1850-1923), son of Levi Weidman and Elizabeth Ottinger. George and his first wife, Cerena A Miller, had raised five children in Whitley County, Indiana. In 1920, George and Lettie were living in Union, De Kalb County, and Lettie’s young granddaughter, Mildred Irene Ferguson, was living with them. George died in 1923 and was buried in the Old Huntertown Cemetery in Huntertown, Allen County; Lettie died on 21 Oct 1930 at the age of 80 and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Auburn, De Kalb County, Indiana.

Her obituary appeared in the Garrett Clipper, 23 Oct 1930, Thu, Page 1:

“Mrs. Lettie Letechia Ferguson, an aged Auburn resident, died Tuesday morning at 10:25 o'clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lloyd Mitchner of 1624 South Wayn[e] street, at the age of 80 years. Death was due to hardening of the arteries after a serious illness of five weeks.

“Mrs. Ferguson was born in Jackson township September 22, 1850, and was formerly Lettie L. Keester. Fifty-three years ago she was married to Nicholas P. Ferguson, who died nineteen years ago. They lived on a farm until thirty years ago when they moved to Auburn.

“To Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson were born six children, two of whom, John Ferguson and Mrs. John Bailey, are dead. The surviving children are Mrs. Mildred Squires, Mrs. Mildred [sic - they meant Margaret] Stebing and Mrs. Lloyd Mitchner of Auburn and James Ferguson, residing south of Auburn. Other surviving relatives are a sister, Mrs. Rebecca Thorn of Huntington, fourteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

“Mrs. Ferguson was a member of the Church of God for many years.

“The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Dilgard funeral home, the Rev. Joseph Ferguson officiating, and burial will take place in Woodlawn cemetery.”

Nicholas P. Ferguson and Latita Kiester had eight children:

i. Ida May Ferguson was born about 1871 and died about 1872 at the age of 1.

168 ii. Mildred Ferguson, born 6 Feb 1871, Indiana; married William Newton Penland, 30 Apr 1896, De Kalb County, Indiana; married Fillmore A Squires, 7 Jan 1905, De Kalb County; died 24 Jan 1952, Muskegon, Muskegon, Michigan.

169 iii. Anise Lydia Ferguson, born Jun 1872, Indiana; married John Lambert Bailey, 1891; died 1906.

170 iv. James F Ferguson, born Mar 1877, Indiana; married Florence Grube, 26 Nov 1899, De Kalb County, Indiana; died 3 Mar 1964, Auburn, De Kalb County.

171 v. John Henry Ferguson, born Dec 1880, Indiana; married Harriett Calista "Hattie" Milliman, 20 Jul 1907, De Kalb County, Indiana; died 7 Jun 1919, Auburn, De Kalb County.

vi. George Ferguson was born and died about 1883 in Indiana.

172 vii. Margaret J Ferguson, born Jul 1884, De Kalb County, Indiana; married Jacob Stebing, 1 Sep 1904, De Kalb County; died 1947.

173 viii. Dorothy Mail Ferguson, born 28 Apr 1889, Auburn, De Kalb County, Indiana; married Lloyd Alton Mitchener, 20 Nov 1915, Auburn; died 15 May 1967, Auburn.