The Times of Long Ago, Barren County, Kentucky. By Franklin Gorin. John P.
Morton & Company Incorporated, 1929. Published originally in the Glasgow
Weekly Times, 1870's. pp. 124-127.

IN MEMORIAM OF JOHN McFERRAN.  John McFerran, one of our earliest pioneers,
was a gentleman of Scotch Irish extraction.  His father emigrated from the
North of Ireland to America in the eighteenth century, and settled in
western Pennsylvania, where he was born November 23, 1767.  While he was an
infant his father's family, on account of the Indian depredations, were
compelled to remove to Bottetourt County, Virginia, for safety.  The family
was large and settled in the county on a farm, where Mr. McFerran received
a pretty good English education - as good as could be had at that day in an
almost wilderness county.  It was such as enabled him to become a useful
citizen.  The most important part of his education was received at home. 
His family were strict Presbyterians, and he was taught morality in its
highest sense; to be strictly honest in regard to all things, never to tell
a lie, to keep holy the Sabbath day, and to observe all the tenets or
dogmas of the Presbyterian church.
	When he was twenty-four years of age he married, March 2, 1791, Miss Amy
Rowland, who was born in Bottetourt County, Va., November 10, 1770.  They
lived until after their first child (Samuel) was born, March 4, 1792.  In
the fall of 1793, he, his wife and child, with some of their neighbors,
Smiley, Ritchey, Steele, etc., emigrated to Kentucky.
	Mr. McFerran settled about half way between Logan's Station and Stanford,
Lincoln County.  There Judge Wm. R. McFerran was born, April 6, 1794;
Martin, on the 17th of April, 1796, and Ann, October 9, 1798.
	Mr. McFerran sold his land in Lincoln County and moved to Barren in 1799. 
Soon after he came to this county his daughter, Ann, died, and buried on
his farm on the Lexington Road two miles from Glasgow.  She was the first
white person who died in this county.  Soon after his settlement here he
and wife united themselves to the Presbyterian Church in Glasgow, the Rev.
John Howe being the pastor.  He was the confidential friend and adviser of
Mr. Howe, and greatly aided in building up that ancient church we have
heretofore named.  After his removal to this county there were born John
McFerran, September 7, 1800; Sallie, November 17, 1802; Naoma Howell,
December 29, 1805; Ann Eliza, March 9, 1808; Caroline, July 23, 1810 and
James Calvin, September 14, 1812.
	He was one of the first Justices of the Peace of Barren; one of the first
trustees of Glasgow; Sheriff of the county before its division, and in his
latter days a Constable.  He discharged his duties of all the offices with
fidelity, ability and credibility.  He was assisted by his son, Wm. R.,
then quite a youth, in discharging the duties of sheriff.  In the latter
years of his life, and while Constable, he was greatly afflicted with
rheumatism, to such an extent as to draw up his hands and feet, and indeed,
his limbs.  He spent much time at the Chameleon Springs in Edmonson County,
and was confiend to his bed, most of the time, for years.  He was truly a
child of affliction.  His energy and indomitable spirit were such, when
able to move about, he was engaged in winding up his business.  He would
come to town on public and other days, bringing his son, James C., with
him, and he would take a seat, while his son ran over town to bring men
with whom he had busines to him, or else James would transact the business
himself.  Although quite a youth James was faithful and true, and did all
that was required of him satisfactorily.
	Mr. McFerran was always quiet, amiable, bland and polite in his manners,
and an honest gentleman.  He was hospitable - he has been known, after he
had bountifully supplied his immediate neighbors with wild meat, to send a
message to a neighbor miles off, to come and share with him his wild meat. 
There was not as many neighbors in those days as now.  He was a moral,
pious, and temperate man, and his benevolence was great.  He was kind in
all relations of life; the poor man received his consideration as much or
more than the rich man, if any distinction was made it was in favor of the
poor one.  He always wore a smile on his face; it was the smile of the
Christian gentleman.
	His sons, Samuel and John, two promising youths, intended for the bar,
died in their early manhood.  Samuel before he commenced the study of the
law; John attended a course of law lectures in Transylvania University in
1821, was admitted to practice, settled in Greensburg and died soon after.
	In the latter part of his life Mr. McFerran was greatly reduced in
circumstances by securityship, and then it was the lessons which had been
taught him in his infancy, and he had taught his children manifested
themselves in the conduct of his children, then he saw and felt how true it
is "Honor thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long."  He only
had to say go, James, and he went; come, and he came; never were children
more obedient, more loving and more kind; were riches half so valued or
valuable?  Often have we seen the good old man sitting and directing his
son James to aid him in transacting his necessary business, while the
latter would quietly listen to his instructions, then dart off to carry out
his directions and obey his commands.
	Oh! it was good to see how dutiful and kind his child was to him, and how
pleasant to know that son is now possessed of all the goodness and kindness
of his father, is wealthy and administering to the wants and necessities of
the poor.  Oh, ye children of wealth, view the picture!  True and honest John
McFerran look down, if permitted, and see thy son walking in the way you
approve with the smiles of Heven [sic] upon him.  Mrs. Amy McFerran died in
the summer of 1826, and her husband died October 4, 1837.  Their daughter,
Naomi Howell, died unmarried.  Wm. R. married Ann M. Courts, daughter of
John Courts, November 6, 1817.  She is dead.  They had eight children, six
daughters and two sons, seven of whom are living, twenty-one grandchildren
and five great grandchildren.  He married the second time, Mrs. Mary Bacon,
November 18, 1846.  Sally McFerran married Sam'l Johnson, Sept. 5, 1821 -
both dead.  They had four sons living; Martin married Margaret R. Low,
March 12, 1822, both dead; one child living, Ann Eliza, married Alex
Johnson, May 2, 1827 - he is dead; she has five children living.  Caroline
married Isaac Low, October 17, 1833 - both dead.  They had two children, a
son and daughter.  James C. first married Margaret Ann Rogers, daughter of
Bird Rogers, October 3, 1834.  They had three children - two living.
Married second time, Elizabeth Vance, daughter of Jas. Vance - two children
living.

McFerran Rowland Smiley Ritchey Steele Logan Howe Courts Bacon Johnson
Johnson Low Rogers Vance
=
Ireland PA Botetourt-VA Lincoln-KY Edmonson-KY Greensburg-Green-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/barren/mcferran.j.txt