JAMES D. McFERREN.  Among the retired farmers of Juniata is James D. McFerren, who was born at Mount Alton, Pennsylvania, Mar. 24, 1845, a son of James and Lena (Kuhn) McFerren, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state, where they were reared and married.  The father was a teacher in the public schools and remained a resident of Pennsylvania until his death, which occurred in 1849.  In the family were but two children, James and Clara, the latter now deceased.
     In the schools of Pennsylvania, James D. McFerren pursued his education and when quite young began to earn his own livelihood.  He is a self-made man in the truest and best sense of the term, having depended entirely upon his own resources for material advancement from his early youth.  He was but seventeen years of age when on the 8th of August, 1862, he responded to the country's call for troops and went to the front for nine months' service.  At the end of that time he was honorably discharged July 14, 1863.  Later he again joined the army, becoming a member of Company D, Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cavalry, with which he remained for six months, being discharged July 8, 1865.  He was captured at Farmville but was released three days later on account of the close of the war.  He was on duty with the Army of the Potomac, serving as corporal a part of the time, and he participated in the battles of Fredericksburg and Antietam, together with others of lesser importance.
     When his military service was ended Mr. McFerren returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained for about two years, when he removed to Goshen, Indiana, there spending three years.  In 1870 he became a resident of Marshalltown, Iowa, and in that locality was engaged in farming until 1883.  Later he came to Nebraska, settling on section 11, Juniata township, Adams county, where he continued to engage in farming until he took up his abode in the town about twenty-one years ago.  Here he owns a fine residence and he is also the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Perkins county.  His business affairs have ever been carefully managed and while upon the farm he was regarded as a very progressive agriculturist, wide-awake, alert and enterprising. He brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and carefully and persistently carried on his work, his labors bringing to him a gratifying measure of success.
     In 1867 Mr. McFerren was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Liveringhouse, by whom he has seven children, as follows : William, who is a resident of Kenesaw, Nebraska; Louie, living in Juniata, this state; Frank, who was killed by lightning; Charles, a resident of Grand Island, Nebraska; May, who is the wife of R. L. Workman, of Holdredge, Nebraska; Belle, living in Denver, Colorado; and Winnie, at home.
     The parents are members of the Brethren or Dunkard church and were among the organizers of the congregation.  They are people of the highest respectability and they enjoy the goodwill and confidence of all who know them.  For a third of a century they have been residents of this county and have therefore been witnesses of much of its growth and improvement.
Source:  Past and Present of Adams County, Nebraska, Vol. II, Publ. The S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1916 - Page 128