J. M. Ferrell, station agent at Marseilles, Illinois, was born in Bronson, Michigan. May 29, 1862, the son of Abel and Mary (Free) Ferrell. His youthful days were spent in obtaining a common-school education, and when a boy he removed with his parents from Michigan to Indiana. When he started out in life for himself, which was at an early age, it was in railroad business, - first with the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad in 1879. In the fall of the same year he entered the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, going to Mansfield, Ohio, and later he was located at Walkerton, Indiana. From the latter place he was transferred to the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad in 1882, at Cameron, Missouri, and in 1892 to Marseilles, his present location, where he has spent the past eight years, and where he is well known as the popular and efficient station agent of his road.
Mr. Ferrell was married at Unionville, Iowa, to Miss Belle Peterson, of that place.
Politically he is a Democrat; fraternally a Mason. He identified himself with the Masonic order in 1887, served three years as worshipful master of his lodge, and is deeply interested in Masonry. He is a member of Marseilles Lodge, No. 417, F. & A. M.; Shabbona Chapter, No. 61, R. A. M.; and Ottawa Commandery, No. 10, K. T.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 110-111.
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