"Auntie" Ferguson's Final Resting Place

"Auntie" is a few feet to the right of the white stone in the foreground  

At the end of one of my blog entries about "Auntie" Ferguson, Jack posted a comment wondering where she was buried – which was a great question. Even though I had two obituaries for "Auntie," neither mentioned a cemetery, so I assumed that it would be impossible to find out where her final resting place was.

I was wrong. It was as easy as picking up the phone and calling Elmwood Cemetery – because that's where she is!

The pen points to "Auntie's" spot in Elmwood Cemetery

The man in charge out there – Don Fronek – was extremely helpful. First he confirmed that he did indeed have a record of Catherine Ferguson – "Auntie's" real name – being buried there, with the date of her death matching that of "Auntie." It turns out she is in a row with several other Fergusons.

In the photo at the top of this post, she is in the same row (from left to right) as the white stone at the bottom of the photo. Her burial spot lines up with the small, square window in the mausoleum in the background.

Besides showing me where "Auntie" was buried, Mr. Fronek also spent time with me going through the files for all of the Fergusons buried in the cemetery. I have a lot of names, and the research into "Auntie's" family is only beginning.

Special thanks to Mr. Fronek for his help. He and his crew do an excellent job maintaining Elmwood Cemetery, and anyone that has loved ones buried there (like I do) should be grateful.

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By the way, the latest issue of The Black Swamp Trader & Firelands Gazette features my article on "Auntie" Ferguson and is now on the newsstands. I basically took all my research to date and turned it into one narrative that tells her story with a little more detail and historical perspective than what I was able to provide on this blog.

As always, The Black Swamp Trader & Firelands Gazette is FREE and available locally at the Vermilion Farm Market. You can also usually pick it up at the Oberlin Public Library.

When "Auntie" Ferguson's Cabin Came Down

I'm always on the lookout for more information about "Auntie" Ferguson. Here's an article that ran in the May 13, 1904 Lorain Times-Herald – about a month after she passed away.

It's the poignant story about the demolition of her cabin.

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LANDMARK GONE.
Old Cabin of Auntie Ferguson, Which Was Last Relic of Old Days Near Steel Plant, Has Been Torn Down.

An old landmark that for the last eight or nine years was all that was left of the old times has at last been destroyed to give way to railroads and the steel making industry. The old log cabin that for so many years sheltered the gray head of Auntie Ferguson, was torn down this morning and all that remains is several piles of weather beaten lumber. Its disappearance is like the departure of a good friend.

True to the promise of the officials who first had the work of building of the Johnson Steel Works the shanty was not torn down until after the death of the late "Auntie." She asked that she be allowed to occupy the house until her death and no other than Tom Johnson himself assured her that she would not be disturbed. Little by little the great white fence has been moved to within a stone's throw of the cabin and railroad switches and tracks had been built around the house. Two of the tracks passed within a dozen feet of it, but it was never disturbed while the old lady was alive. Now that she has passed the promise no longer holds good.

The cabin stood just east of the gas works on Dexter street and was a landmark that was known for miles around. The old colored lady brought up part of her family in the cabin. With it goes all things that call to memory the old Globeville road and the picturesque scenery on the banks of the river which it paralleled. These last have been covered with slag from the blast furnaces and anything that is romantic the vicinity has had to give way to unbeautiful ore piles, railroad tracks, and ore loading machinery.

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The article helps to pinpoint exactly where "Auntie" Ferguson's cabin was located. Since the cabin was east of the gas works, and "railroad switches and tracks had been built around the house," it's probably safe to say that it is roughly in the location below on this 1909 map.

I ran this by local historian and archivist Dennis Lamont just to make sure. He agreed with the location, noting that it's on "the last level ground before the ravine."

Tomorrow: Another "Auntie" sighting – from 1939. Plus: the Birth of the Steel Mill!

Where was "Auntie" Ferguson's Cabin? - Part 2

Yesterday I concluded that "Auntie" Ferguson lived somewhere along that stretch of Globeville Road that extended out from the end of Dexter Street.

Backing up that conclusion is this listing (above) from the 1903 Lorain City Directory. (Click on it for a larger view.) It lists both "Mrs. Kitty Ferguson" as well as "David Ferguson" as living on Globeville Road. (You might remember from "Auntie" Ferguson's obituary that her son David lived with her.)

I was unable to find any other listing of "Auntie" Ferguson in the two available pre-1900 city directories. I did find a David Ferguson listed as a teamster in the 1912 directory, then living at 217 Florida Avenue. But after that, I could find no other possible listings of any of "Auntie's" children. So I'm afraid I hit a dead end in that regard.

"Auntie" Ferguson lived "beyond the gas works" according to one of her obituaries. The brick building for the former gas works is still there on E. 21st Street, next to the Access Road for the Henderson Bridge. (However, I'm not sure if the building dates back to "Auntie's" time or not – it might be a newer one.)

Here is what the building looks like today.

Looking east on E. 21st Street

And here is the "now" map showing the general area where Auntie's cabin was located, east of where the Access Road meets E. 21st Street.

2012 Map

And here is the full view looking east down E. 21st Street where it trails onto the grounds of Republic Steel. It's hard to believe that more than a hundred years ago, this was Globeville Road, leading to "Auntie" Ferguson's cabin.

And here's an aerial view, showing how this area relates to the whole steel mill complex. (Click on this and all of the graphics for a larger view.)

As time goes on, I'll keep my eyes open for any other information on "Auntie" Ferguson. (Thanks again to Dennis and Drew for their help!)

Where was "Auntie" Ferguson's Cabin? - Part 1

After posting the story of "Auntie" Ferguson last week, I thought it 'd be fun to try and figure out where her cabin was located.

The two obituaries provided some clues as to the cabin's location. The first one referred to her cabin "on Dexter Street," and said that it was "beyond the gas works." The second one stated that when the Lorain Street Railway ran its first car over the line, Mrs. Ferguson had them stop at her place, where she gave them lunch. So her cabin must have been near the tracks of the Lorain Street Railway.

As it turns out, this time I wasn't going to have to spend much time in the library researching this matter. My two great local history connections – archivist and historian Dennis Lamont and Drew Penfield – must have been reading my mind because they both emailed me parts of the same 1909 map with their thoughts about where the cabin might have been located.

As they both explained, Dexter Street was 21st Street. On the map you can see the Lorain Gas Works, which was located at the end of Dexter Street where it met Fulton Road. Where Dexter Street becomes dotted lines trailing off into the woods, the street is a remnant of the old Globeville Road. As Dennis explained, "Globeville Road meandered along the river bank down to Day's Dam. Globeville (named after the schooner Globe) was a shipbuilding site." And Drew added, "The Globeville Road was mostly obliterated by the steel mill."

So "Auntie" Ferguson's cabin was somewhere along that dotted line path, In Drew's map (below), the yellow highlighting marks the route of the electric railway that Dennis observed would have run "right by her front door."

Tomorrow: "Auntie" in the City Directory and what the area looks like today

Meet "Auntie" Ferguson

"Auntie" Ferguson and her home on Dexter Street

Well, Black History Month is almost half over, so I'd better post this before I forget. It's the obituary of "Auntie" Ferguson from the front page of the Monday, April 11, 1904 Lorain Daily News.

What's that – you've never heard of her?

Well, it's time you met her. A former slave, she is remembered for her memorable encounter and friendship with Tom L. Johnson, the man who moved his steel mill to Lorain and changed the city forever.

I first saw her picture in the combination reprint of the Lorain, Ohio 1903 Souvenir and 1924 Tornado book at the Lorain Public Library. Under her photo (the same as shown above) the caption identified her as "our oldest resident." Unfortunately she wasn't mentioned anywhere else in the book. So, when I accidentally found her obituary late last year (while scrolling through microfilm at the library), I thought I would present it here.

It's a nice story about a real Lorain character that deserves to be told.

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"AUNTIE" FERGUSON, FULL OF YEARS, DIES ALONE IN HER OLD CABIN

Mrs. Catherine Ferguson died Saturday evening at her home on Dexter Street. Mrs. Ferguson was well known as "Aunty" and was one of the most picturesque figures in Lorain. She was said to be the oldest citizen and her age has been put anywhere from 80 to 100 years. At the time of her death she was alone and unattended.

Her son, David, who lived with her in the little old cabin beyond the gas works, took dinner with her and went out and promised to return early. When he reached home about 6:30 o'clock he found his mother sitting in a chair dead.

Mrs. Ferguson came to this city shortly after the civil war. She had been a slave and brought her emancipation papers with her. These contained the records of her birth. The family has been burned out several times and these records were lost.

There is hardly any question but the old lady was over ninety years of age, and it is estimated by her friends that she had lived about 98 years. She herself said that she was only 81 years old. She leaves two sons, Robert, aged 59 years, and David, aged 42 years, both of whom live in this city.

Long before the great steel works were built, Auntie Ferguson moved into the little cabin near the site of the blast furnaces which she occupied until her death. Ten years ago when Tom L. Johnson and A. J. Moxham were riding horse back through the woods, they were met by Auntie Ferguson, who came out of her cabin and said: "You won't drive me off the old place, will you? I have lived here many years and have learned to love it."

The great millionaire's heart was touched by the appeal and taking her hand, he said:

"As long as you live, you shall have your home here, if you want it and no one shall harm your little home." He kept his word.

Up until a few months ago Auntie Ferguson made it a practice to walk down town every day and was apparently in excellent health for one so aged. About eight months ago she complained of having the rheumatism and this troubled her all winter. Recently she has had trouble with her lungs and it was partially through weakness caused by hemorrhages of the lungs that her death was caused.

The remains of the old woman were taken to Wickens' morgue, where they were prepared for burial. The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock in the chapel. Rev. Love, of Batavia, New York, will have charge of the services. He was Mrs. Ferguson's former pastor in this city.

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While at the Lorain Public Library this past Sunday, I looked up Auntie Ferguson's obituary in the other local paper from that time period, The Lorain Times-Herald. It includes some additional information and is a nice supplement to the other account.

AUNTIE FERGUSON
Notable Character Who Had Seen Lorain Grow From Early Days and Had Entertained Great Man, Dead at Advanced Age.

"Auntie" Ferguson is dead. She died on Saturday afternoon while alone. Every old resident will regret to hear of her demise. She was a character of this city and one of its oldest residents. Having seen trouble in her younger days, she has had her reward here and was particularly happy at the growth of the city. She had an unusual interest in the steel plant and its prosperity meant much to her. She was one of the first to entertain Tom L. Johnson when he visited this city with A. J. Moxham for the starting of a steel mill here. They acquired her land for the steel plant and street railway, and when the papers were signed there was an understanding that she should keep her home as long as she lived and that she should never want. The two men who promoted the industry which is making Lorain, frequently visited her at her home.

When the Lorain Street Railway ran its first car over the line with the officials and their families in the car, Mrs. Ferguson had them stop at her place and they were given a substantial lunch. In her declining years she received visits from the officials of the various interests at the south part of the city.

Mrs. Catherine Ferguson was born in 1823 on the 25th of March, near Appomattox Court House, Va. She moved to Ohio in 1856, settled at Gallipolis and lived there until Grant was elected President. She then went to Oberlin, and came to this city a short time before the building of the C. L. & W. She had lived here ever since, her residence being near the present gas plant. There were born to her 12 children. Of these only three live. They are David and C. R. of this city, and Mrs. Louise Anderson of West Virginia.

Death was due to a hemorrhage. She suffered all winter from rheumatism, but of late had been feeling well. On Saturday her son David was with her. He went to the launch as did the other members of the family. Mr. Ferguson went to the house at 6:15 and found his mother dead in her old arm chair. She had been bleeding at the nose and mouth and she had been dead some time. She was well when left alone and had eaten a hearty dinner. The funeral will be held on Tuesday at 2 o'clock sun time. Rev. J. H. Love, an old friend of Mrs. Ferguson, will come from the southern part of the state to take charge of the services. The funeral will be held at Parkside chapel, where the remains now are.

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The launch referred to in the second obituary was the launch on Saturday, April 9, 1904 of the steel steamer Augustus B. Wolvin, which the Times-Herald said was "the largest vessel in the world devoted entirely to the carrying of freight." It was launched at the Lorain yards of the American Shipbuilding Company at 12:57 o'clock. Its length was more than 560 feet and was "longer by sixty feet than any boat now plying the lakes."

Anyway, "Auntie" Ferguson's story is now online for future generations. Who knows? Maybe one of her descendants will find this someday and leave a comment.