Joseph P. Fern

M, #383, b. 25 March 1867, d. 5 June 1943
Joseph P. Fern|b. 25 Mar 1867\nd. 5 Jun 1943|p149.htm|John Fern Sr|b. May 1829\nd. 25 Jun 1908|p115.htm|Mary Rice|b. Apr 1834\nd. 6 Dec 1906|p141.htm|Francis Fern|d. 29 Apr 1875|p203.htm|Mary Duffy|d. b 17 Nov 1856|p204.htm|John Rice|b. 1800|p205.htm|Rose M. McCann|b. c 1806\nd. 12 Jan 1885|p206.htm|
     Joseph P. Fern was born on 25 March 1867 at Hickory Twp, Mercer County, Pennsylvania.1 He was the son of John Fern Sr and Mary Rice.

Joseph was enumerated with John Fern Sr on the census of 1 June 1870 at Hickory Twp, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, as Joseph Fearns. Joseph is listed as 2 years old and was born in Pennsylvania.2

Joseph was enumerated with John Fern Sr on the census of 1 June 1880 at Mineral Twp, Cherokee County, Kansas, as Joseph Ferns. Joseph is listed as a single white male 11 years of age. He attends school and was born in Pennsylvania. Both of his parents were born in Ireland.3 Joseph P. Fern was educated in 1885 at St Francis College, St. Paul, Neosho County, Kansas.4

Joseph was enumerated with John Fern Sr on the census of 15 March 1885 at Mineral Twp, Cherokee County, Kansas, as Joseph Ferin. Joseph is listed as a 16 year old white male. He works as a coal miner and was born in Pennsylvania. Joseph came from Ohio to Kansas.5
Joseph P. Fern married Ella Cummiskey on 19 April 1893 at St. Mary's, Pittsburg, Crawford County, Kansas. The following article appeared in the Scammon paper: Married-at the Catholic church in Pittsburg, the 19th inst., Mr. Joseph Fern, of this city, and Miss Ella Cummiskey, of Pittsburg. _The Globe Miner_ joins friends in wishing them a fullshare of happiness.6 Joseph P. Fern was the godparent at the baptism of Margaret Fern on 15 March 1896 at St. Bridget's Catholic Church, Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas.7 Joseph P. Fern was head of household in the 1900 US Census of Mineral Twp, Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas.8 The following report appeared in a Scammon paper: Joe Fern of Cle Elum, Wash., was hurt in a mine by a fall of coal striking him on the head. His cheekbone was broken in three places and 18 stitches had to be put in his head.9 The Scammon Miner reported on 12 June 1903: Joe Fern and his wife, who left this place about a year ago for the mining districts of WA returned to Scammon Wednesday morning. We welcome them home again and hope they are convinced this is not such an out of the way place afterall.10 The following appeared in the Scammon paper dated 25 Dec 1903: Joe Fern, of Scammon, is making a vigorous campaign for state mine inspector. Yesterday, in company with John Collins, the Scammon hotel man, he visited the miners of Pittsburg, Frontenac, Ashley, and Chicopee, and received on every hand assurances of support. Mr. Fern is not a new figure in mining circles: For years he has been prominent in district 14 and had a record of which any union man could be proud.He is now president of local union 597 at Scammon, of which he has been a member for years. He has been in this districk for many years, and has carried a union card for twenty years.
Mr Fern has been endorsed by both of the local unions at Scammon, and expects to have the strong support of the miners of Cherokee county as well as many of the miners of this county for the place.
'Fern is going to have a big vote in the convention,' declared Mr. Collins, who was with him here yesterday. 'He is getting the support of nearly all of the locals in the southern part of the district, where he lives and he will have many locals in this county. The Scammon locals with a vote of fifteen delegates have already instructed for him.'
Mr. Fern represented the miners' side of the conference in the Frontenac arbitration case a couple years ago, and has been prominent in conference and conventiions of the miners for years.11 On 24 Feb 1904, the follwing appeared in a Scammon paper: Joe P. Fern went to Kansas City Sunday night to undergo a surgical operation for the relief of his eyes and nose. It will be remembered that Mr. Fern was severely hurt in the mines in Washington about a year ago.12 The following appeared in the Scammon paper dated 26 Jan 1906: Joe P. Fern, of Scammon, is the writer of a new song lately published entitled 'The Story You Told me in the Dell.' It is a beautiful song and is a credit to Mr. Fern and to Scammon.13 The following appeared in the Scammon paper dated 23 Feb 1906: Joe Fern of Scammon, is getting quite a reputation as a songwriter. His latest is 'The Story You Told me in the Dell' which has been published by the Talbert R: Ingram Music Co. of Denver and of London, England. His success and wide recognition is pleasing to his friends.14 The Scammon Miner reported the following 27 Dec 1907: Joe P. Fern and wife returned from Patagonia, Ariz. where they have been for the past year. Mr. Fern will remain in Scammon for sometime.15 The following appeared in the Scammon paper: Joe Fern took seriously ill Saturday and was taken to Mount Carmel hospital in Pittsburg Sunday. He was not able to attend the funeral of his father.16 Joseph P. Fern was Coalminer in 1910 at Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas.17 He was the godparent at the baptism of Francis Peter Fern on 27 March 1910 at St. Bridget's Catholic Church, Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas.18 Joseph P. Fern was Postmaster Of Scammon on 10 March 1914 at Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas.19 The following appeared in the lScammon paper: Mr. Joe P. Fern, Police Judge of the City of Scammon, has received a commission as Justice of the Peace of Mineral Twp. last week. Mr. Fern's commission continues the unexpired term of John O'Donnell, deceased. The appointment was made by Gov. Clyde Reed.20

Joseph P. Fern died on 5 June 1943 at Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas, at age 76.21,22 He was buried on 8 June 1943 at St. Bridget's Cemetery, Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas.1,22

Citations

  1. [S8] Tombstone, St. Bridget's Cemetery, Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas.
  2. [S24] 1 Jun 1870, U.S. Census, Mercer County, PA, Population Schedule, South Hickory Twp Page # 112, Ln 34.
  3. [S11] 1 Jun 1880, U.S. Census, Cherokee County, Kansas, Population Schedule, Mineral Twp .
  4. [S10] Donald Coonrod, "Coonrod Papers", These notes are contained in FGS's and interliner notes to the "Rice report", FGS # 3 James E. Fern.
  5. [S130] 1885 State of Kansas Census, Cherokee County, Kansas, Population Schedule, Mineral Twp, p. 10.
  6. [S79] The Globe-Miner, 21 Apr 1893, Vol. 111, No. 2.
  7. [S120] Baptism Regist'm Scammon 1894-1911, Vol. 3 p. 62.
  8. [S1] 1900, U.S. Census, Cherokee County, Kansas, Population Schedule, Mineral Twp 1 June 1900, ED 29, Sheet 1.
  9. [S6] Scammon Miner, 6 Mar 1903.
  10. [S6] Scammon Miner, 12 June 1903.
  11. [S6] Scammon Miner, 25 Dec 1903
    This appears that it may be Joe P. Fern. He has been back from Washington State since Jun of 1903 where he was severly injured.).
  12. [S6] Scammon Miner, 24 Feb 1904.
  13. [S6] Scammon Miner, 26 Jan 1906.
  14. [S6] Scammon Miner, 23 Feb 1906.
  15. [S6] Scammon Miner, 27 Dec 1907.
  16. [S6] Scammon Miner, 3 July 1908.
  17. [S28] "Thirteenth Census of the United States" .
  18. [S120] Baptism Regist'm Scammon 1894-1911, Vol. 3 p. 212.
  19. [S21] Leona Spice, History of Scammon, p. 74 (Mrs. Ella Fern was acting postmaster upon the illness of her husband, Joseph Fern, and later postmast until 1927.).
  20. [S4] Scammon News Herald, 12 Sep 1930.
  21. [S8] Tombstone, St. Bridget's Cemetery, Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas, The transcriptions of headstones has a reading of "Mar. 25, 1867 - June 5, 1942..
  22. [S124] "Registra Paroeciae 1923-1950": St. Bridget's Rectory, 402 N. Keith, Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas, p. 13.