1954 - Special Collections

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YEAR B OOK AMERICA N
O UTWARD BO U ND
CLA N G REGOR S OCIETY
I know not whence I sailed
Or where the ship wiII land ;
I only know the Pil ot
Wh o is in Command.
Somewhere I shaII awa ken,
Out of a troubled sleep
Sa fe in the sheltered haven
Of my Father' s keep.
81
J OH N
B OWIE F ERNEYlIOUGH
1868-1954
B y a Friend, FLoRENn:
DOIlGE WOOD
John Bowie Fe rney hough, affectionately calIed "Bowie", was born at "Sligo",
the ancestra l home at F redericksburg, Va ., J uly 28, 1868, a son of George ' T hrift
Ferneyhough and Lavini a Harrison W ood Fern eyhough. H e was educated in
private schools in Fredericksburg and attend ed the University of Virginia.
H e was a charter member of the Vir ginia Ornithological Society and was
considered an authority on bird s. He taught a class in Ornithology at the University
of Virginia one summer. \Vith frie nds, he often went on camping trips
through the Blue Ridge Mountains to observe the birdlife.
On J une 5, 1901, he was married to Martha Elizabeth Waller of Spotsylvania
County at her home, "Edgewood". Fo llowing their marriage they went to Richmond
to make their home. In 1925 he built his home, "The Haven", in Fore st
Hill, where he lived until his death .
Mr. Fern eyhough was connected with the B. F. Johnson Pub lishing Company
as Production Manager. He remained with the company for many years and
traveled th roughout th e eastern and southern part s of the United St ates.
He loved books, especialIy those perta ining to the Southern leaders and to
Virgi nians and old historic homes and gardens. Hi s librar y was ext ensive and
contained many rare first editions and books autographed by his friends, the
authors. Books he priz ed highl y were copies of "R. E. Lee" autographed by the
late Doctor Douglas Southa II Freeman and "Richmond, Virginia, in Old Prints"
autographed by the author, the late Alexander W. WeddelI, Ambassador to Spai n
and to Argentina.
W hen th e Johnson P ublishing Company closed its Richmond office, Mr.
Ferneyhough became associated with the Virginia Supreme Court of App eals
where he remained until he retired.
Mr . Ferneyhough had been a member of Jappa Lodge #40, A. F. and A. M.,
since Jun e 1910. For over fifty years, he had been a member of the Second Baptist
Church where he served as Deacon and as T reasurer.
H e was a cha rter member of the American Clan Gregor Societ y and served
his Clan as folIows:
Member of the Council, 1909-1915 ; Deputy Scribe, 1916-1919 ; Scri be, 1920­
1927, and Ed itor, 1927-1946.
Mr. Ferneyhough was a gentleman of the Old Sou th, proud of his noble