Jessie L. Ferris1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 10360, (1863 - 1943)
FatherJacob Ferris4,5 (abt 6 Mar 1822 - 23 Jun 1889)
MotherLouisa Tripp6,7 (abt 1822 - bef 1865)

Key Events:

Birth: 9 Aug 1863, Michigan8,9,10
Marriage: 24 Oct 1883, Mt. Pleasant, Isabella Co., Michigan, George W. James (about 1853 - 2 Feb 1921)11,12
Divorce: about 1900, George W. James (about 1853 - 2 Feb 1921)13,14
Marriage: 31 Jul 1904, Washington Co., Arkansas, Franklin Cotton Cowles (18 Nov 1858 - 10 Sep 1935)15,16
Death: 5 Dec 194317
Burial: Grove Hill Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas18

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Jessie L. Ferris was born on 9 Aug 1863 in Michigan.8,9,10
     Her mother apparently died before 1865, when Jessie was an infant, as her father re-married in Jan 1865. She may have died in childbirth when Jessie and her twin, who died in infancy, were born.19,20
     After the death of her mother Jessie was sent to New York, where both her parents were from, to her mother's relatives. Jessie appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Waterloo, Seneca Co., New York, enumerated 21 Jul 1870, at the farm of William C. Dutton and his wife Elizabeth and their two childen. According to online trees Elizabeth was a first cousin of Jessie's mother.21,22,23
     Jessie returned to Michigan between 1870 and 1880. She appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Sidney Twp., Montcalm Co., Michigan, in the household of her brother Robert, his wife Agnes [surname unknown], and their two young children.24
     Jessie married first George W. James, son of Jeremiah James and Jane [surname unknown], on 24 Oct 1883 in Mt. Pleasant, Isabella Co., Michigan, with Rev. E. G. Cheeseman officiating.11,12
     Jessie and George were divorced, but exactly when is unknown. They were at least separated by 1900, but she reported she was married in the 1900 census.13,14
     Jessie appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Mt. Pleasant, Isabella Co., Michigan, enumerated 14 Jun 1900, reporting that she owned her home, which was mortgaged. Her children Alice, Ralph, Elsie, Inez and Hattie were listed as living with her.25
     Jessie married second Franklin Cotton Cowles, son of Shepard B. Cowles and Louisa J. Fetcher, widowed husband of her late niece, Liddia E. Ferris, on 31 Jul 1904 in Washington Co., Arkansas, with S. W. Davies officiating.15,16
     Jessie and Franklin appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Prairie Twp., Washington Co., Arkansas, enumerated 20 Apr 1910, reporting that they owned their farm, which was mortgaged. Her children Elsie, Inez and Hattie were listed as living with them.26
     Jessie and Franklin apparently separated between 1910 and 1920. In both the 1920 and 1930 censuses, she was listed as a widow while he was recorded as living in Florida with his son Stewart, shown as widowed as well. Whether they divorced is unknown.27,28
     Jessie moved to Washington, where her son Ralph was living, by 1920. She appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Sedro-Woolley, Skagit Co., Washington, at 720 Sterling Ave., enumerated 6 Jan 1920, lodging, along with four men, in the household of Walker D. Ainsworth and his wife. She is listed as a music teacher.29
     Jessie moved to Texas, where two of her daughters were living, by 1930. She appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas, in the household of her daughter Elsie and her husband, Marion M. Hoyle.30
     Jessie appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Abilene, Taylor Co., Texas, in the household of her daughter Inez and her second husband, Dr. Charles Wesley Dunn.31
     Jessie died on 5 Dec 1943 at age 80.17 She was buried in Grove Hill Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas Co., Texas.18

Children:
     Children with George W. James:

  • Alice Bertha James25,32 (May 1885 - 13 Jul 1956)
  • Ralph H. James25 (Feb 1887 - 26 Nov 1965)
  • Elsie A. James25,33,30 (Jun 1889 - 19 Nov 1967)
  • Inez Elizabeth James25,33 (6 May 1891 - 13 Nov 1960)
  • Hattie H. James25,33 (Nov 1894 - 5 Apr 1967)

Children:
     There were no children with Franklin Cotton Cowles

Citations

  1. [S8583] William C. Dutton household, 1870 U.S. Census, Seneca Co., New York, shows name as Jessie L. Ferris.
  2. [S8579] Robert Ferris household, 1880 U.S. Census, Montcalm Co., Michigan, shows name as Jessie Ferris.
  3. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1883, Isabella Co., no. 981, George W. James and Jessie L. Ferris.
  4. [S8579] Robert Ferris household, 1880 U.S. Census, Montcalm Co., Michigan, shows her as Robert's sister.
  5. [S8580] Robert B. Ferris, Certificate of Death, shows Robert's father as Jacob Ferris.
  6. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1891, Ionia Co., no. 1185, Robert B. Ferris and Mary E. Winchell, shows Robert's mother was Lousia Tripp.
  7. [S8581] Jacob Ferris household, 1860 U.S. Census, Montcalm Co., Michigan, shows Lousia and Jacob apparently living as husband and wife.
  8. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 83385128, Jessie L Cowles, shows date, with month as Apr, and includes tombstone photo showing date with month as Aug.
  9. [S8583] William C. Dutton household, 1870 U.S. Census, Seneca Co., New York, shows age 5 and state.
  10. [S2784] Jessie J. James household, 1900 U.S. Census, Isabella Co., Michigan, shows month, year, age 36, and state.
  11. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1883, Isabella Co., no. 981, George W. James and Jessie L. Ferris, shows date, town, county. and officiant.
  12. [S2784] Jessie J. James household, 1900 U.S. Census, Isabella Co., Michigan, shows her as married 16 years.
  13. [S2784] Jessie J. James household, 1900 U.S. Census, Isabella Co., Michigan, shows her as married.
  14. [S2290] Eishen, "Descendants of William Bradford", shows that Inez's parents divorced when she was young.
  15. [S5339] Franklin C. Cowles and Jessie L. James, Marriage License, shows date and officiant.
  16. [S2783] Thomas C. Cowles household, 1910 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Arkansas, shows married 5 years.
  17. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 83385128, Jessie L Cowles, shows date and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  18. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 83385128, Jessie L Cowles, includes tombstone photo.
  19. [S8582] Michigan State Library and Sophie de Marsac Campau Chapter D. A. R., "Kent County Michigan Marriage Records", pg 108, Jacob Ferris and Ann R. Biglow, shows married 20 Jan 1865.
  20. [S8585] Maryfferris, "Ferris and more Family Tree" family tree, Ancestry.com, citing the work of Phyllis Virginia (Barclay) Kitson, and extensive researcher of the Ferris family, shows Jessie had a twin who died in infancy.
  21. [S8583] William C. Dutton household, 1870 U.S. Census, Seneca Co., New York.
  22. [S8584] Drosesommer, "Sommer/Blender++Rose/Matthews Family Tree" family tree, Ancestry.com, shows Elizabeth Dutton (1829-1905) as the daughter of Charles P Bonnell (1801-1879), and shows him as the brother of Mary Bonnell (1796-1849).
  23. [S8585] Maryfferris, "Ferris and more Family Tree" family tree, Ancestry.com, shows Louisa Lovica Tripp (1822-bef 1865), as first wife of Jacob Ferris (1822-1889) and apparent mother of Jessie, as the daughter of Mary Bonnell (1796-1849).
  24. [S8579] Robert Ferris household, 1880 U.S. Census, Montcalm Co., Michigan.
  25. [S2784] Jessie J. James household, 1900 U.S. Census, Isabella Co., Michigan.
  26. [S2783] Thomas C. Cowles household, 1910 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Arkansas.
  27. [S5341] Frank C. Cowles household, 1920 U.S. Census, Hillsborough Co., Florida.
  28. [S5342] Frank C. Cowles household, 1930 U.S. Census, Polk Co., Florida.
  29. [S5340] Walker D. Ainsworth household, 1920 U.S. Census, Thurston Co., Washington.
  30. [S5338] Elsie A. Hoyle household, 1930 U.S. Census, Dallas Co., Texas.
  31. [S5336] Charles W. Dunn household, 1940 U.S. Census, Taylor Co., Texas.
  32. [S6081] "Washington, Deaths, 1883-1960," Ancestry.com, record for Alice Bertha Attwell.
  33. [S2783] Thomas C. Cowles household, 1910 U.S. Census, Washington Co., Arkansas, shows the girl, with surname James, as step-daughter to Jessie's husband.