SPENCER COUNTY INDIANA GENEALOGY
This is a Sketch of My Life
Autobiography of Sarah A. ANDRECHT FERGUSON
by Sarah Arnistina Andrecht (Sarah A. Ferguson) I was born in Germany, June 10, 1886. In a two story stone house on Main Street. This was the first street next to the river Tulda, in the villiage of Wilhelmshausen, in the province Hesse, about six miles from Hesse Cassel. There was only one street in to this town, and it ran in the center. My grandfather, on my mother's side had a flour mill in the center of town. It was a two story building. When my mother was small my grandfather died, and the mill was sold for $3,000. The gaurdeen spent the money, so we were cheated of our money. My father's name was George and my mother's name was Mary. My father died when I was eight years of age. He had packing of the bowels. He was sick only 48 hours and I was left an orphan, and no money. This was my life in Germany but I must say it was a beautiful country. There was a mountain tall and round across the river. The train ran around it, and about half way up the mountain it went some where. I do not know , as I was small. Around this mountain was a growth of cedar and pine trees, and on the ground was strawberries and red raspberries and hiedleberries. The hiedleberries are a little round blackberry. They grow on a bush about 2 feet tall, Oh my are they good. I believe those berries are called Huckleberries in this country. I do not remember much about Germany, only I remember it was a beautiful place where I was born. The rivers and the mountains and rich valleys, were worth fighting for. We left my childhood home when I was eight years of age, and came to America. Now I love my country. We started from Breman in an old sail ship, crossed the Atlantic to New york, Went thru Castle Garden, and was admitted to the United States of America. We came to Cincinatti on the train, then to Louisville, then to Evansville. This was in 1864. We lived in Evansville for a while, and moved to Cadiz, KY. We lived there about one year, and then moved back to Evansville. We were living there when Lincoln was killed. I remember was for Lincoln, had black crepe tied on their doors. Evansville was just a small town at that time, the street cars were drawn by mules. We lived in Evansville for quite a while. We left there after the war was over, moved to Warrick County. My sister Sophia married Frank Strunk, mother and I made our home with them for a long time. Then my sister Lecetta married Fred Trying and moved to old Pike County. Mother and I lived with them. They moved south of Plesantville, Old pike County is a good place to live. Fred was a soldier in the Civil War, and was almost blind. I thought much of him as a father to me, for I had no brother or father, I was left an orphan and he took me in. I was poor and he clothed me. Mother was a doctor for women and made some money. I had to work for fifty cents a week, that was my first wages. I had a hard time of it left an orphan at eight years of age, many a heartache. In August 7, 1869 at 4 P.M. I saw a total eclipse of the sun, it was a sight I will never forget it, it got dark like after sundown, and the chickens went to roost, the pigs squeeled for their supper, cows bawled and everything seemed queer.. But the chickens had to come down off their roost as the sun begin to shine again. They looked like nite was not long enough for them. I was staying with my sister Sophia when this happened. I got homesick to be with mother, for my mother was all I had in this world that I cared for. She was everything to me. My dear mother, she taught me to pray. She taught me to be virgeous, she seen after my wants, and I loved her. I had no earthly father, for he was gone, so my mother taught me to look to my Heavenly Father for help and protection. I had to go out again to make some money. I got $1.25 a week had to work in the field, hoe corn, plant tobacco, drop corn, anything that was to do. I worked in the summer and went to school in the winter. When I was 14 years of age, mother sent me to Boonville for a Bible School for six months. I learned some things about the bible that I wish every child could know. I worked for my board, stayed with a family by the name of Louie Bann. They were fine people. They lived in a house next to the first jail that was in Boonville I worked in the morning, went to school in the afternoon. It was the First Evangelical Church of that kind in Boonville. The teacher was the preacher. His name was Zimmerman. He was a fine man and a fine preacher. I was confirmed in that little church at the age of fourteen. Then I went home to Fred Tyrings, stayed a while and went to Evansville to do housework and make my own living. My schooldays were over, short but sweet. The troubles of life came to me then, I had to learn to cook and wash dishes, and do all kinds of work. When I was sixteen years of age, I went to stay with a Methodist preacher by the name of John Ferguson. I got$1.50 a week that was good wages then. I stayed until I was married. I took the preachers boy away from him, and we built a little nest of our own. We bilded a house on the east side of Spurgeon. We not missed Sunday School and Church. We took our children along, and if we did not go we had our children to go. We were Methodists and tried to raise our children just as near right as we knew how. We had no way of going except in a wagon or on foot. Spurgeon was a small town at that time, had only three stores at that time, and no sidewalks, had to walk in mud ankle deep. In 1908 most of Spurgeon burned, they built it back better than before. We made brick at that time and sold them the brick to build with. We sent our children to school till the older ones began to teach. Mary was the first one, she taught one school and then got married. Amelia did not live only 22 years, she was the oldest. Walter learned to lay brick, Emma was married. Lillie was our nurse for a long time then got married. Heber stayed at home and took care of us until he died Now comes Orval he graduated from High School, and then went to the war. He went to France for two years and saw some hard times. That almost killed me. Many times I walked the floor at night when others were asleep, and prayed for my boy to be spared to me, and the lord heard my prayer and he came home to me alright. He went thru eight major battles and did not get a scratch, thank the Lord. So my baby boy got married and is doing fine. Now we have no children at home, we are left by ourselves. 1925 is one time some one got fooled, they said the world as coming to an end, but it is still here and will be for some good time yet. April 1, 1925 I fooled Edith (Farris) this morning.. I do not get much out of life, had to have some fun. I am so crippled up with rheumatism can hardly get around but thank the lord there is no pain in Heaven. P. M. and I were married 50 years ago Nov 1- 1924 I am 69 years old , and P.M. 72 1925 now. I have seen many people live and die in Plesantville, and yet we are here. I am the last of my family and P. M. is the last of his family. The lord has blessed us and we thank the lord for his kindness. Sarah A. Ferguson
Typed and Submitted by David W. Miedema Jr. Oct 1998