Bio of FERRELL, John (b.1847), Wright Co., MN ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. 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John Ferrell was born in Dundas county, Province of Ontario, Canada, May 9, 1847, son of Lemuel and Mary (Watt) Ferrell, natives respectively of the United States and of Canada. As a young man, Lemuel Ferrell went to Canada, and there spent the remainder of his life as a farmer. He came of an old Scotch family, and his wife arrived in Canada from Scotland at the age of six years. Amid the stirring pioneer and Indian times they reared their family. After the death of Lemuel Ferrell, his widow came to the United States, and died at Howard Lake, in this county. In the family there were five sons and four daughters. The sons were John, Lemuel, James, George and Enas J., who died at about four years of age. George died in Canada. John is dead. 382 HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY James lives in Cokato township. Lemuel lives in Middleville., John Ferrell was reared on the home farm in Canada, and attended the district schools. In 1870 he was married, and after that he farmed in Canada for eight years. It was in 1878 that he brought his wife and his two children, Mary and Arthur, to the United States and located on a tract of 160 acres in section 24, Cokato township. They came as far as Howard Lake by rail, Smith's Lake being then the end of the line. With them they brought the first pair of horses used in this neighborhood. Mr. Ferrell built one of the first frame houses in this locality. The old building is still a part of the present modern residence. For a barn he nailed boards onto the trees and piled straw against them. He cleared up the land and by hard work, frugality and shrewdness added to his property until he owned 320 acres of good land, one of the finest places in the vicinity. Coupled with his great personal success, he yet found time to devote to enterprises that had for their object the upbuilding of the community. For nineteen years he was vice-president of the State Bank of Howard Lake. For a number of years he was connected with the Farmers' Co- operative Store at Cokato, and the Cokato Co-operative Creamery. He was active in the Methodist Episcopal services held at the home of Mr. Doble, at Smith Lake, and became one of the charter members and one of the first trustees when the church was established at Smith's Lake. He was also prominent in Sunday school work. He died January 23, 1914, well beloved, highly honored and sincerely mourned. In the family there were three children. Mary Elizabeth was born May 19, 1873. Arthur Wellington was born June 2, 1876. Howard Armstrong was born September 12, 1885. The two oldest were born in Canada, and the youngest in Cokato township. Mary Elizabeth died April 3, 1886. Arthur married Florence May Conger, and lives in Newberg, Ore., on a fruit ranch. Howard married Bertha Dell Ritchie, and they have two children: Lois Margery was born June 17, 1909, and Anna May was born October 8, 1912. Another child, Leland Howard, was born February 2, 1911, and died March 8, 1911. John Ferrell was married December 13, 1870, to Esther Ann Armstrong, born Dundas county, Province of Ontario, Canada, March 26, 1853, daughter of Robert Livingston and Elizabeth (Rown) Armstrong, natives of Ireland. Robert Livingston Armstrong came with his parents to Canada, while his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of James Rown, lost her parents at the age of five years on the trip over. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong were married in Canada and there their children were born. Those who lived to adult years were: William James, Joseph Rown, Charles Wesley, Robert John, Benjamin S., Mary Jane, Esther Ann and Margaret Elizabeth. Four died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong came to Wright county in 1900 and took up their home with Mr. and Mrs. John Ferrell 383 HISTORY OF WRIGHT COUNTY in Howard Lake in 1908. Mr. Armstrong died in 1913 and his wife in 1914.