Individual 271: Ferrell, Thomas Jefferson

Individual Record 271

Name} Ferrell, Thomas Jefferson

Family History} Olson

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Male

Birth: Date} Exa 19 Mar 1885

Place} Harrisburg, Saline, Illinois

Marr.1: Date} Exa 18 Feb 1909

Place} Alhambra, Los Angeles, California (Link)

Marr.2: Date} Exa 26 Jun 1937 M

Place} Covina, Los Angeles, California (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 8 Dec 1940

Place} At home, Alhambra, Los Angeles, California

Cremation: Date} Exa 10 Dec 1940

Place} Mountain View Cemetery, Altadena, Los Angeles, California

Grave Marker} None

Source 1}	73 = Interview
Source 2}	162 = Letter
Source 3}	888 = Letter
Source 4}	213 = Photographs
Source 5}	843 = 1900 USA cen
Source 6}	1430=Marriage rec
Source 7}	215 = Marriage rec
Source 8}	203 = 1910 USA cen
Source 9}	322 = Business dir
Source 10}	845 = Military rec
Source 11}	732 = 1920 USA cen
Source 12}	323 = Phone book
Source 13}	324 = Phone book
Source 14}	752 = 1930 USA cen
Source 15}	988 = City dircty
Source 16}	872 = Voter record
Source 17}	1430=Marriage rec
Source 18}	325 = Business dir
Source 19}	1438=1940 USA cen
Source 20}	536 = Death record
Source 21}	2257=Death certif
Source 22}	2256=Obituary
Source 23}	1983=Cemetery rec

Parents: } William Ferrell and Mary Bell Epperson
Relationship No.} None

1st Household No.} 67 = Riverside, Riverside, California

Occupation 1} Shoe salesman
Occupation 2} Insurance agent
Occupation 3} Real estate salesman

Religion/Church} Christian Scientist/Presbyterian

Spouses: Prime} Olson, Mabel W.
Fischer, Bertha L.
Total Number of} 2

Notes: Thomas Jefferson Ferrell was born 19 Mar 1885 in Harrisburg, Saline, Illinois. His father, William H. Ferrell, had been born in Illinois and was a druggist. His mother, Mary Belle Epperson, was born in Kentucky. Thomas was the oldest of six children.

In the 1900 U.S. census, Thomas Ferrell, Jr., 15, was living with his parents, William Ferrell, 39, and Bell, 37, at 927 Chestnut Street, Stockton Twp., Greene County, Indiana. His father was a druggist, and they owned their home free of mortgage. His younger siblings were William Ferrell, Jr., 13, Ruth, 10, Raymond, 8, and Loyd, 1. Also in the household was his grandfather, Thomas Ferrell, Sr., 79, and a son-in-law, Hettie Murphy, 20.

Sometime after 1900, the family moved to Alhambra, Los Angeles, California.

Thomas J. Ferrell married Mabel Olson on 18 Feb 1909 in Alhambra, the Rev. S. T. Montgomery officiating. In the 1910 U.S. census, Thomas J. Ferrell, 25, and Mabel, 20, were living in Riverside Ward 2, Riverside, California. Thomas was a shoe store salesman. Their first son Frederick was born in 1910 in Riverside.

Thomas and Mabel returned to Alhambra, and in the 1915-16 Resident and Business Directory of Alhambra, the family was living at 126 McLean. Their family now included a second son, Clifford, born in Alhambra in 1914. Thomas was the proprietor of Ferrell's Shoe Shop (shoe repairing). His father, Wm. H. Ferrell, was doing business as the Alhambra Shoe Hospital at 204 West Main Street.

On 12 Sep 1918, Thomas registered for the World War draft. He was 33 years of age, and was described as being of medium height and slender build, with hazel eyes. The family was living at 316 North 4th Street, Alhambra. He was listed as a shoemaker.

In the 1920 U.S. census, Thomas J. Ferrell, 34, Mabel, 30, and sons Frederick B., 9, and Clifford E., 5, were living with Mabel's parents, Hans Olson, 87, and Mary, 64, at 336 North Wilson Avenue, Alhambra. Thomas was a shoemaker with his own shop.

Hans and Mary then bought them their own house at 121 South Granada, Alhambra. In 1922 Thomas and Mabel were registered to vote as Democrat Socialist at this address. Thomas was listed as a shoemaker. In the 1923 Alhambra City Directory, he is listed as being an insurance agent.

In the 1930 U.S. census, Thomas J. Ferrell, 45, and his wife Mabel, 40, were living in their Granada Avenue home. They owned their home, valued at $6,000., and Thomas was listed as a real estate salesman. Their children were Frederick B., 19, a truck driver for the Olson Lumber Company, Clifford W., 15, and Charles S., 3. One son, Eugene, had died in infancy in 1923. Mabel died of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1934.

On 26 June 1937 in Covina, California, Thomas Jefferson Ferrell, 52, married Bertha F. Hunt (nee Fischer), 46, a beautician and owner of the Hidalgo Beauty Shop. Thomas was working for the the R.G. Field Company, a real estate businees, located at the corner of Valley and Garfield, Alhambra.

In the 1940 U.S. census, Thomas Ferrell, 55, and Bertha, 49, were living in the Granada Avenue home, Alhambra. Thomas was a real estate salesman, with income of $1,300. and had had 2 years of high school. Bertha was a beauty shop operator, with income of $700. and had 1 year of college. Their home was valued at $3750. Living with them were two sons from their prior marriages, Charles Ferrell, 15, and William Hunt, 15.

The marriage was a short one, as Thomas Jefferson Ferrell died at home on Sunday, 8 Dec 1940, of a heart attack. Services were held Tuesday at the Chaqpel of Turner, Stevens & Turner, Alhambra, the Dr, John R. Atwell officiating. The Mountain View Cemetery, Altadena, Los Angeles, California, was the place of cremation. A family source reported that his remains were in the San Gabriel Cemetery, alongside his father.

According to Donald Olson, there were a lot of hard feelings after Thomas died, because Bertha kept the house that Mabel's family had purchased. According to one of Thomas' sons, Bertha kept the house because she had used her own savings to pay back taxes to save the house from foreclosure, and had also used her own funds to restore and remodel the house.

Time of Birth}

Time of Death}

Fraternal/Social} Elks/B.P.O.E.

Baptism Date}

Place}

Confirm. Date}

Photos} Thomas in 1916

Immigr'n Date} N/A

Port} N/A

Education: Grade} High school, 2 yr or Top 2 Degrees}

Military: Service} for the State of}

Health Condition}
Cause of Death} Heart attack

Last Updated
by} Karen Hancock

Date Updated} 17 Jul 2026
Date Created} 29 Aug 1993

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