The Montgomery tribune., 1906-05-25
REV. THOMAS ). FERRlL.

Fred ROether Post, Il. A. X. OF Mont :
gomery City, Paid the Following
Respect to Their Conrad
FerrilI.
Thomas j. Ferril was born in
Jackson county in about 1882 and
there reared, while that country
was bordered by the Wild West.
While boy he professed religion,
joined the Methodist Episcopal
church. Before passing his teens,
he was licensed to preach and sent
to work on a circuit on mission
south of the Missouri river. In
1851, the conference at Indepen-
dence assigned him to Troy mis-
sion, charge of which he had
never heard. In regret, partially
suppressed, he asked "Where is
Troy Mission?" But, with a
knowledge of God in the pardon
of sin and Jesus his guide, he put
his Bible and Hymn book with a
few clothes in pair of leather
saddle bags, then mounted "Jim"
an open gated sorrel horse, and
rode to the new field, finding
home with James Owings one
mile north of Truxton. There his
circuitwas re-mapped, to in
clude parts of Lincoln, Montgom-
cry, Warren and st. Charles count
les. Preaching service was held at
log churches, school houses, forest
groves and on Cuivre camp
grounds near James Starks' deer
park, about two miles northeast Of
Truxton. The number of such
places and times of service at them
were guaged by "Jim's" capacity
to make connections. Saddle
sores appearing on "Jim" he was
allowed rest for a time, a Metho- =
dist furnishing suitable animal
for round. Camp meetings at
Cuione and the quarterly meet
ings were attended by Rev. Chris
topher j. Houts, .presiding elder
of the district, who was mem Der
of the publishing committee of the
Central Christian Advocate, is
sued at St. Louis. Rev. Houts was
one of the ablest men of
the peroid in his line. The con-
ference of 1852 at St. Louis, sent
Comrade Ferrel to a circuit near
his home on the border, and next
he mounted "Jim" faced
homeward making 81 miles on the
Boonslick road, spending the night
at one Of his preaching places in
Troy Mission. r
AS Brother Ferril advanced in
the conference he held important
stations and was Presiding Elder
in various districts. To work in
;he Masters Vineyard was his pur-
pose; telling about Jesus was to
nim pleasure and joy; he never
;ired singing "The Old Ship of
lion." Truly he went about do
ing good. Meantime, in 1854 he
united in marriage with Miss Min
srva Hornsby of Jackson county, a
lady whose rare endowments and
christian graces edited her hus-
band and adorned their home un-
til in obedience to deaths mandate
she bade him good bye, but not
without the imprint of her white
soul upon his life. Years later he
was returned by the conference to
this part of our state, and served
many changes in and about Troy
Mission of the long ago. In this
peroid, 1887. he married Mrs. Sallie
Tucker Cleaver, NEE Woodson of
Spencer sburg Pike county who was
connected with many of the best
people in that vicinity, and in her
he found q worthy companion.
But May 25th, 1905, she too, pre-
ceeded him to their "Blissfnl
Abode" leaving the gate wide
ajar for him. A few month later,
having kept the faith and finished
his course, his eyes were closed to
be opened upon the Eternal City.
When war to dismember our
country was pending, no one had
to inquire where to find Comrade
Thomas j. Ferril. Joining the
forces that responded to President
Lincoln's call, he was commits
stoned Chaplin of the 10Th Kansas
cavalry. In line of duty his christ