Allegheny County PA Archives-  Obituaries: Ferguson, Edith, 31 Jan 1889

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:
Martha Little, <harriettsgrand@gmail.com>, Nov 2011

Copyright 2011.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/allegheny/
________________________________________________ 

from The Pittsburgh Press dated Friday, February 1 1889  (page 7):

Miss Edith FERGUSON, one of the most popular young artists of the
city, died last night at her home on Mt Washington, after a brief but
severe illness.  Miss FERGUSON was a teacher in the school of design,
and was probably the finest designer among the ladies of Pittsburgh,
having made that branch of art her specialty study while abroad.  She
was bright and entertaining in society, kind and gentle at home and
among her friends, and one of the most popular young ladies in the
city.  Her untimely death brings sorrow to the hearts of a multitude
of friends and cuts short a career in art that bid fair to be
unusually brilliant.  The funeral arrangements have not yet been
announced.

from The Pittsburgh Press dated Saturday, February 2 1889  (page 6):

The funeral services of the late Miss Edith N FERGUSON will take place
at 1:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at Grace Episcopal church, on Mt
Washington, where she was an active and consistent member of the
congregation.  The services will be largely attended by friends and
associates from the school of design.  The interment will be private
at a later hour.

from The Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette dated Saturday, February 2 1889
 (page 2):

MISS EDITH N FERGUSON

In the death of Miss Edith N FERGUSON, the art circles of the city
have lost one of their most talented members.  Expressions of regret
were heard on every side yesterday and tangible expressions of
sympathy will to-day find their way to the house of mourning.  Miss
FERGUSON was a student at the Pittsburgh School of Design for several
years and had the honor of capturing a number of medals.  After
graduation a three-years' course of study was taken abroad, Miss
FERGUSON studying under some of the best German masters.   After
returning to this country, the lady opened a studio on Wood street,
and in the summer used also a specially-built out-door studio on Mt
Washington, in the fields near her home.  Her indefatiguable efforts
and excellent work secured for her a position as instructor in the
School of Design, which position she held at the time of her death,
although not having been able to fill the duties for over a year.

A year ago she was granted a vacation, and in the hope that a Western
trip would benefit her, Miss FERGUSON departed for California.  The
trip and visit did not prove beneficial, and a couple of months ago
the artist started on her homeward journey.  At Denver, Mrs FERGUSON
met her daughter and brought her home, where she died on Thursday
night.  Miss FERGUSON was a popular favorite not only in the art
circles of the two cities, but also in the social world as well.  Her
funeral will take place at half past 1 tomorrow at the Grace Episcopal
Church, Mt Washington, of which the lady was a member.


from the City of Pittsburgh Death Records:

Edith N FERGUSON, aged 30 years, single, artist, died January 31 1889,
phthisis pulmonalis; daughter of David and Kate FERGUSON; born in
Pittsburgh; lived on Woodville Avenue; burial in Allegheny Cemetery on
February 3 1889.

NOTES:
Allegheny Cemetery site notes burial in Section 31, Lot 297.  Edith
appears to have been an only child.