Bernard H. Fern

M, #154, b. 22 October 1900, d. 24 September 1945
Bernard H. Fern|b. 22 Oct 1900\nd. 24 Sep 1945|p65.htm|James E Fern|b. 21 Sep 1865\nd. 15 Apr 1958|p63.htm|Mary Ellen McCormick|b. 24 Apr 1874\nd. 13 Jan 1958|p50.htm|John Fern Sr|b. May 1829\nd. 25 Jun 1908|p115.htm|Mary Rice|b. Apr 1834\nd. 6 Dec 1906|p141.htm|Bernard McCormick|b. c 1830\nd. c 1879|p5.htm|Ellen O'Hara|b. 17 Mar 1831\nd. 3 Nov 1917|p6.htm|
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Descendants of Bernard McCormick
Desendants of Terence O'Hara
Bernard H. Fern 1
     Bernard H. Fern was born on 22 October 1900 at Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas.2 He was the son of James E Fern and Mary Ellen McCormick.

Bernard was enumerated with James E Fern on the census of 22 March 1920 at Ross Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, as Bernard Fern. He is a 19 year single white male born in Kansas. His father was born at sea and his mother was born in Pennsylvania. He is a laborer in a coal mine.3 As a driver, Bernard H. Fern cut the index finger of his right hand on 2 June 1923 at Mine No 21, Western Coal Mining Co, Cherokee County, Kansas.4 As a miner, Bernard H. Fern injured his right eye on 5 June 1923 at Mine No 21, Western Coal Mining Co, Cherokee County, Kansas.5
The following appeared in the Scammon paper: Dear Santa Claus. I want some candy and some nuts and a climbing monkey and a cowboy suit and a rubber ball so I can play with my little friend Joe Harrigan. Bernard Fern (Bernard is 23 yrs old at the time of this letter).6 As a driver, Bernard H. Fern cut the little finger of his right hand by colliding with another driver at the fifth south off the southwest angle. on 7 July 1924 at Mine No 21, Western Coal Mining Co, Cherokee County, Kansas.5 He married Grace Poore on 20 September 1924 at Oswego, Labette County, Kansas. From the Echo Boomer: Bernard Ferns and Miss Grace Poore, both of Scammon, surprised their relatives and friends, and pleased themselves, by getting married on Saturday night at Oswego. Justice R. H. Kemper officiated. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ferns are Scammon born. Cupid is a sly fellow, and when a fine looking boy and a pretty girl nods at his signals, matrimony results. Thus terminated the charming courtship of Bernard and Grace. A host of their friends heartily joins the Boomer in extending congratulations and best wishes.7,8 Bernard H. Fern began his military service on 25 March 1925 by joining the Marine Corps.9
The following appeared in the Scammon paper dated 24 Mar 1927: Among the U.S. with the Fifth Regiment, recently assigned to expeditionary duty in the Republic of Nicaragua, is Bernard H. Fern, of Scammon, who was selected for service in the Central American republic, according to an official roster of the regiment. The regiment left for abroad on the U. S.S. Henderson, late in February, when unsettled conditions in the republic made it advisable to send Marines to protect American interests. The Fifth Regiment, which served with distinction in the World War, will probably remain in Nicaragua until peaceful conditions have been reestablished in the country. Bernard is 28 years old and was born in Scammon. He lived with his mother, Mrs. Mary Fern, and joined the Marine Corps in Nov. 1925. He embarked on the Henderson with the 23rd Company, at Quantico, VA. Prior to going abroad he was wth the marines detailed to guard the mails.9
The following appeared in the Scammon paper dated 2 Jan 1942: Mr and Mrs. James Fern received word from their son, Bernard, last Tuesday that he had escaped injury in the Japanese attack on the Hawaii islands. He is a member of the Marines stationed at Pearl Harbor. The card was mailed on Dec. 8, the next day after the battle on the islands. He has been a member of the navy for many years.10 He died on 24 September 1945 at Knoxville, Knox County, TN, at age 44. Another son, Bernard was a Sargent Major in the Marines and served at Pearl Harbor and in the Pacific Islands during World War 11. He died Sep 24, 1945 at a military hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee of injuries sustained on the islands. He received many medals including the Purple Heart.11,12
Bernard H. Fern was buried on 28 September 1945 at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Shawnee, Johnson County, Kansas. Bernard died in a militaty hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee and was buried in Wichita, Kansas but was later re-interred in the family ground at St. Joseph's in Shawnee, Kansas.13,14

Citations

  1. [S293] Photograph courtesy of: Donald Coonrod.
  2. [S10] Donald Coonrod, "Coonrod Papers", These notes are contained in FGS's and interliner notes to the "Rice report", FGS #3 (James E. Fern).
  3. [S323] Ancestry website, online www.ancestry.com, Year: 1920;Census Place: Ross, Cherokee, Kansas; Roll: T625_526; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 33; Image: 475.
  4. [S128] Coal Mining Accidents , p. 222.
  5. [S128] Coal Mining Accidents , p. 223.
  6. [S7] Echo Boomer, Vol 10, Num 20, 20 Dec 1923.
  7. [S7] Echo Boomer, 25 Sep 1924.
  8. [S10] Donald Coonrod, "Coonrod Papers", These notes are contained in FGS's and interliner notes to the "Rice report", p.11 "Mother said her own mother insisted the marriage be annulled and it was. It was never spoken of again.".
  9. [S7] Echo Boomer, 24 Mar 1927.
  10. [S4] Scammon News Herald, 2 Jan 1942.
  11. [S10] Donald Coonrod, "Coonrod Papers", These notes are contained in FGS's and interliner notes to the "Rice report", p.11 "I think Bernard had 'shock lung syndrome' . He recovered somewhat--enough to return to the states but later died of heart failure and lung searing. Even today, little can be sone for this complication. I got a copy of his autopsy, he had had a hard life. I never showed it to my mother, for his body was covered with scars and he had some brain atrophy and cirrhosis probably due to the bottle.".
  12. [S136] Donald Coonrod, "The McCormack, O'Hara, Fern, Rice, and Ryan Families", Two papers prepared in 1990-91 based on Donald Coonrod's research and conversations with his mother, Mary Elizabeth Fern Coonrod., p. 5.
  13. [S77] Interview, Connie Ryan Fern, 7 Sep 1996.
  14. [S326] Edward J. Fern, "Mary Ellen McCormick," e-mail to Maurice J. O'Grady, 20 Jul 2003.