| JOHN C. FERDIG | |||
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| OUR FATHER JOHN FERDIG DIED JAN 20 1898 Aged 52Y 11M 1D | OUR MOTHER MARY A. Wife of JOHN FERDIG Died Apr. 25 1932 Aged 87y, 9m 10d | ||
Old Ferdig
Homestead
106 Stetler
Avenue
Double
house overlooking Shreiner's Church to the east
Old Ferdig
Homestead
The
northern (right) half is the original house
constructed
of hewn logs, which are still visible from the inside.
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| John C. Ferdig was born on July 21, 1845 in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, the eldest son of Francis Matthew and Matilda Fertig/Ferdig1,2,3. John was raised in Rush Township, Northumberland County and Monroe Township, Snyder County and began farming as a young man2,3. John married Mary A. Long, the daughter of Daniel Long and Sophia Doebler4. Mary was born on July 15, 18441. John's brother, Francis Ferdig, married Sophia M. Long, a sister of Mary. John and Mary settled in Monroe Township and were blessed with the birth of two sons: Samuel and John William4. At the age of 52, John died of tuberculosis at 5:00 a.m. on January 20, 1898 in Monroe Township1,5,6. When John was very sick with the disease, his wife Mary was advised to board up her windows to avoid letting fresh air into the house6. She did as she was advised and later her two sons also died of the same disease6. Mary had lost her husband and her only two children in a time frame of less than 14 months. As a widow, Mary took up farming to provide for herself7,8. She lived in a double house along with her sister Sophia Ferdig and mother Sophia Long6,7,8. The house was located at 106 Stetler Avenue, at the southwest corner of the intersection just west of Shreiner's Cemetery6. The northern portion of the house, closest to the intersection, was the original house, which was constructed of hewn logs6. The house may have originally belonged to Daniel Long, Philip Shreiner and/or Francis Matthew Fertig/Ferdig6. Mary passed away at the age of 87 on April 25, 19321. The entire family was buried in the Shreiner's Cemetery, west of Shamokin Dam1. In her will, Mary left her estate to the Shreiner's church, her sister Lucy (Long) Kline and her nephew Calvin Oscar Ferdig9. CHILDREN OF JOHN C. AND MARY A.: Samuel, born August 20, 1877 and died May 5, 1898 John William, born March 31, 1879 and died March 2, 1899 REFERENCES: 1. Tombstone of John C. Ferdig and Mary A. (Long) Ferdig. The tombstone is located at the Shreiner's Cemetery, west of Shamokin Dam, Snyder County, Pennsylvania. For directions, see the Reference section for the discussion of John Anthony Fertig. The tombstone is located in the eleventh row from the church, the first tombstone south of the grass cemetery path, which is located after the fifteenth cemetery plot south of the cemetery road. The tombstone was photographed and transcribed on May 23, 2002. OUR FATHER, JOHN FERDIG, DIED JAN 20 1898, Aged 52Y 11M 1D OUR MOTHER, MARY A., Wife of JOHN FERDIG, Died Apr. 25 1932, Aged 87y, 9m 10d 2. 1860 Census of Rush Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, Francis Matthew Fertig/Ferdig family. For more information, see the reference section for Francis Matthew Fertig/Ferdig. 3. 1870 Census of Monroe Township, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, Francis Matthew Fertig/Ferdig family. For more information, see the reference section for Francis Matthew Fertig/Ferdig. 4. 1880 Census of Monroe Township, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, John C. Ferdig family. John C. Ferdig, age 36, head, married, laborer; Mary A. Ferdig, age 36, wife, married, keeping home; Samuel Ferdig, age 2, son; John W. Ferdig, male, age 5/12, born Jan, son 5. 1898 Letter of Administration for John C. Ferdig. Notes taken from document: #92 LOA Est. of J. Ferdig dec'd to Mary Ferdig 7 Feb 1898 LOA to Mary Ferdig J.F. died 20 Jan 1898 5 AM Peter Long Surety 1600.00 Reg Feb 7 1898 - John H. Willis Reg. 6. Correspondence with Lee Calvin Hummel, grandson of Calvin Oscar Ferdig. A telephone conversation occurred on May 5, 2004 and the following is an email dated May 10, 2004: .....As to who lived in the old log house on the corner, I only remember Aunt Mary and Aunt Lucy living there. Aunt Mary lived on that side alone for a time--(don't know how long). My grandparents lived on the newer side during that period. I think Aunt Lucy lived in Selinsgrove and just when or for how long she was with Aunt Mary, I do not know. I think Aunt Lucy's husband, (Dan Kline I believe) built the newer side of the house and they lived there before my time but of course I cannot say for sure. There was a butcher shop on the property, (later used as our garage) and I think it was Dan that ran that. I believe I heard that when he retired he and Aunt Lucy moved to Selinsgrove but that too I do not know for sure. As I told you, after the two aunts had passed away, my grandparents Ferdig's redecorated and moved over to the old log side and my parents and I moved into the newer section. That is about all I can say for certain.....Lee 7. 1900 Census of Monroe Township, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, John C. Ferdig family. Mary Fertig, head, born July 1844, age 55, widow, farmer, own farm 8. 1910 Census of Monroe Township, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, John C. Ferdig family. Mary Fertig, head, age 65, widow, farmer, own farm; Sophia Fertig, head, age 59, widow 9. 1928 Will of Mary A. (Long) Ferdig. Notes taken from document: Will Mary A. Fertig b. July 15 1844 body buried beside husb. in Shriners C. 75$ to Shriner Evan Church 100.00 sister Mrs. Lucy Kline bal. to Lucy Kline + C.O. Fertig nephew J.E. Boust Ext Written 15 May 1928 wit. Annie Smith, Daniel F. Musser | |||
