Francis Fern

     Francis Fern was born on 2 March 1910 at Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas.¹ He was the son of James E Fern and Mary Ellen McCormick.

Francis was enumerated with James E Fern on the census of 22 March 1920 at Ross Township, Cherokee County, Kansas, as Francis Fern. He is 9 years and 1 month old and was born in Kansas. He is a single white male. His father was born at sea and his mother was born in Pennsylvania.²

Francis was enumerated with James E Fern on the census of 12 April 1930 at Scammon, Cherokee County, Kansas, as Francis Fern. He is a single white male 19 years old and born in Kansas. His father was born at sea and his mother was born in Pennsylvania.³

Francis Fern married Gertrude Powers on 15 November 1941 at St. Joseph Cathedral, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.⁴
The following appeared in the Scammon paper: Miss Gertrude Powers and Frank Ferns were united in marriage last Saturday morning, November 15, at the St. Joseph Cathedral in Oklahoma City. The young people aere attended by Miss Elizabeth Kolb Edmond and Robert Sine. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Powers of Enid and is a graduate of the St. Joseph School at Enid, but she has been employed in Oklahoma City for the past year. Mr. Ferns is one of our own boys, being the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Ferns. He received his training at a technichal school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia, and is employed as an engineer in the U.S. war department with headquarters at Oklahoma City. After the wedding, a breakfast was served by Mr. and Mrs Powers at the Biltmore Hotel. The young people left at once for a trip to southern Texas. They will make their home in Oklahoma City.⁴

Francis Fern died on 1 June 1961 at Lawton, Comanche County, Oklahoma, at age 51.¹ He was buried on 5 June 1961 at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Shawnee, Johnson County, Kansas.¹