James Patrick Fern Sr.

      James Patrick Fern Sr. was also known as Teddy. He was born on 8 June 1906 at Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas. He was the son of James E Fern and Mary Ellen McCormick.

James was enumerated with James E Fern on the census of 22 March 1920 at Ross Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, as James Fern. He is a 13 year old single white male born in Kansas. His father was born at sea and his mother was born in Pennsylvana.³
The following appeared in the Scammon paper dated 10 Feb 1927: James Fern is a member of the Men's Glee Club at the Emporia Teacher's College which won the Kansas State Intercollegiate Glee Club contest this year and placed 4th in a field of nine clubs in the Missouri Valley contest at St. Louis last week.⁴
The following appeared in the Scammon paper dated 2 Jun 1927 James Fern of the Emporia Teachers College is one of the glee club of the college who have been awarded gold medals for service rendered the past year.⁵
James Fern has accepted the position as music supervisor in the city schools of Ellsworth.⁶
At a recent meeting of the school board James Fern was elected music supervisor of the Scammon schools. Mr. Fern was reared in Scammon, was graduated from Columbus High School and the Emporia Conservatory of Music. He has made an oustanding record as music supervisor at Ellsworth and Robinson, Kansas and comes to the faculty of the schools in his home town most highly recommended.⁷

James Patrick Fern Sr. married Thelma Faye Mall on 19 May 1934 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Ellsworth, Ellsworth County, Kansas.⁸
The following appeared in the Scammon paper: The marriage of Miss Thelma Frances Mall and Mr. James Fern was solemized at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Ellsworth, on Saturday morning, May 19, at seven o'clock, in the presence of relatives and a few close friends. The service was read by Father Eugene Teahan using low mass, with the beautiful church music rendered by Mr. and Mrs. N. V. Napier, friends of the bride and groom. The bridal party entered the church to the strains of Lohengria's wedding march played by Mrs. Napier. They were attended by Mr. and Mrs. Ned Huycke, cousins of the groom. The wedding gown of pink mousseline de soie fashioned in full length. She wore a large pink picture hat and gloves to match, and carried an arm bougquet of pink bride's roses. Her only ornament was a necklace of pink pears the gift of the groom. The matron of honor, Mrs. Huycke, wore an ensemble of rose and navy blue silk, with large blue hat and accessories to match. During the ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. Napier sang "God is Love", and Mrs. Napier sang as solo "Ave Maria". The service was quiet and impressive in its solemnity. Following the ceremony, awedding breakfast was served at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Huycke. The bride's table was dainty with it appointments in pink candlesticks at either end of the table. A large wedding cake centered the table, surmounted by a tiny bride and groom in wedding attire. At the close of the breakfast the bride cut the cake in the usual fashion. Places were laid for Mr. and Mrs. Fern, Mr. and Mrs. Huycke and son, Edward, Mr. and Mrs N. V. Napier, Miss Lola Gebhardt, Miss Ruth Huycke, and Father Teahan. The bride, who has endeared herself to the people of Ellsworth in her short stay here, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mall of Manhatten. She is a graduate of the Kansas State College at Manhatten. For the past five years she has been the head of the Home Economics department of the Ellsworth high school. Mr. Fern, or Jimmie, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Fern of Scammon, Kansas. He is a graduate of the Kansas State Teacher's College of Emporia. He was associated with the public school music of Ellsworth for three years, where he made many friends in his school and community contacts. He later taught at Robinson and Scammon., Kansas. At present he is employed as instructor in a Kansas City, Kansas, music school. Mr. and Mrs. Fern left for Kansas City, where they will make their home.⁸
Marlene Lenski remembers:There was a son named Jimmy that had a good tenor voice. He sang over WDAF (I think)-a radio station in Kansas City, MO for years. I think it was during the 40's. I remember hearing him.⁹

James Patrick Fern Sr. died in August 1993 at Leawood, Kansas, at age 87.¹ He was buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Shawnee, Johnson County, Kansas.¹