Cynthia Ann McEwen

  General Notes:

Parents: James McEwen (1785-1854) and Catherine Chambers (1788-1876), both born in NC. James died in Mahaska Co, Iowa, Catherine died in Oakland, WA.

"Wife of Rev. Solomon Ferguson
Aged 61 years 11 months 9 days

Died, near Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, December 31, 1883, at 12 p.m., Mrs. Cynthia A., wife of the Rev. Solomon Ferguson, aged 61 years, 11 months, and 5 days. Mrs. Ferguson was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana. She moved with her parent, the Rev. James McEwen when quite young to Decatur County where in October 1838 she was married to Solomon Ferguson, by whom she had ten children, two sons and eight daughters. Two daughters died in infancy; the others are left with the bereaved husband to mourn her loss, all member of the church.

She was converted in 1843, and united with the Milford Salem Baptist Church where she remained a member until September 1847, when she moved to Fremont, Iowa, where she became a consistent member of Salem, now Fremont, Baptist Church. While in this church her husband was ordained a minister of the gospel, where in his arduous self-denying labors, he found in her an uncomplaining, self-denying helpmate. They moved to Cowley in the spring of 1871, and united with the faithful, earnest, consistent member, beloved by all who knew her.

A great light has gone out in that neighborhood. With the last moment of the passing year, she breathed her last on earth, only to wake in the brightness of heaven. She died as does the ocean wave along the shore, without a ripple, quite and triumphant, as only the Christian can die. For a year her health has been failing, the immediate cause of death being paralysis. In addition to her husband and children, she leaves twenty-one grandchildren. It was a most affecting sight when they gathered around her to take their last farewell.

Her funeral was attended by Prof. E. P. Hickok, her former pastor, and Rev. J. Cairns, of this city. The latter preached the funeral sermon from first Thessalonians, 4th Chapter, 14th verse, when Prof. Hickok made some very appropriate remarks to a large and deeply affected audience . Seldom have we seen so much genuine sorrow; but our loss is her eternal gain."

Cynthia married Solomon Ferguson, son of Benjamin Ferguson and Nancy Green, on 4 Oct 1838 in Jasper County, Illinois. (Solomon Ferguson was born on 22 Feb 1822 in Wayne, Indiana, USA, died on 3 Aug 1899 in Turlock, California and was buried in Union Cemetery, Winfield, Cowley, Kansas.)