The State Journal; Lansing, Michigan; Wed. Nov. 7, 1922.

Death Takes Mayor Ferle
City's Chief Executive Expires Shortly Before Midnight; Was Power In Local Politics; Had Been Warned By Doctors Of Peril In Overwork
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Mayor Jacob W. Ferle succumbed to an attack of the heart disease at his home shortly before midnight Monday evening after having been compelled by illness to leave the city council session over which he presided earlier in the evening.
Mayor Ferle and his son, Allen W. Ferle, 1300 W. Hillsdale St., attended the “Oldsmobile Night” program at the Masonic Temple. Mr. Ferle left early to preside at city council meeting. While in his chair in the council chambers, he suffered an attack which required his being moved to his home, 115 S. Sycamore st.
Several times during the past few months the mayor had been warned about overworking by his physician. Recently he had been troubled with what was believed to be asthmatic complaint and had great difficulty in breathing. It was not believed, Monday evening, that his illness was serious; however, his son was called from the Masonic temple and Dr. M. L. Holm was called. Mr. Ferle was made easy but died peacefully shortly after the physician and son had arrived.
Mayor Ferle was returned to the head of Lansing's city government in April 1922, in the largest city election ever held in Lansing. He was first elected mayor of Lansing, April 2, 1918, after a long period of service in the city council as representative of the second ward, in which he had lived virtually all his life.
It was during his service in the city council as an alderman that he started gaining a powerful political following in Lansing. This strength has been supplemented since he came into office the first time and at the time of his death. Mayor Ferle was one of the best known mayors in Michigan through political camps far removed from the city where he was chief executive.
At the session of the state legislature two years ago. Mr. Ferle was active as leader of a home rule faction. His stand on various issues made different forces of the state look to him for leadership. Firm in his convictions, he felt just. Mayor Ferle was a good fighter for his principles and loyal to the forces which followed his leadership.
A situation which existed over the home rule issue made Mayor Ferle possible timber for candidate for governor. This and his election as a member of the state legislature were discussed considerably.
Mayor Ferle was a pioneer resident of Lansing. With the exception of a short time he spent at St. Thomas, Ont., he had resided in the city virtually all his life.
At the time the Bement Stove works was in operation, Mr. Ferle was a foreman in the shop. He was with the Olds Motor Works in some years. He was a master mechanic and his first political strength came from the shop workers about him.
It was several years before his election as mayor of the city of Lansing the first time that he entered city politics, being elected alderman of the ward in which he lived.
Early in his political career in the council he developed into a leader. His loyalty to his interests of the residents of his ward was a trait which made for the wave of support which followed him through his public life. For years he was known as the “watchdog” of the city treasury and fought to keep hands out of the city's pocket.
It was under Mayor Gottlieb Reutter that Mr. Ferle achieved such a following from his efforts in city council that he was slated by friends to go on the spring election ballot for mayor against John S. Bennett. Mr. Ferle had made a fight against a commission form of government proposal. When ballots were counted on the night of April 1, Ferle had not only won from Bennett by a lead of 1,683 votes, but the issue he had opposed was also defeated.
In the fall of 1918, efforts were made to recall Mayor Ferle but he won a signal victory and was given a clean bill by the electors of the city.
Upon completing his term, he retired to private life, so far as office holding was concerned, though he interested himself in state issues and was active in campaigns in various parts of the state on home rule issues.
On April 3, 1922, he defeated Mayor Benj. A. Keyes, candidate for re-election by 1,585 votes. It was one of hottest political fights in Lansing in years and more than 9,000 votes – a record for a city election – which polled because of the interest in the mayoralty contest.
Where two years before, Kyes, won from Ferle by 787 votes, the tide turned in the 1922 election and Ferle retained his old strength at the polls that day apparently stood solid behind the Ferle banner.
Mayor Ferle has for years been active in Masonic activities of the city. He was past master of Lansing lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., a past high priest of Capitol chapter, No. 9, R.A.M., and was active in the Lansing council, No. 29. R. S. M. Many years ago, an order of Thirty-Second degree Masons was granted a charter in Lansing. Mayor Ferle was a member. For lack of members this Masonic body was later discontinued.
Though not a member of any church, Mayor Ferle attended Central Methodist temple.
Because of his former connections with Olds Motor works, Mayor Ferle was especially interested in the “Oldsmobile Night” at the Masonic temple and attended the annual event at the temple Monday evening despite the fact that he had been feeling ill throughout the day.
He is survived by a widow, Mrs. Emma S. Ferle, and one son, Allan W., 1300 W. Hillsdale St. He was in the real estate business with his son for two years, following his son's discharge from the army and before entering the last mayoralty campaign. He is also survived by his mother, Mrs. F. D. Ferle and one brother, George Ferle, who lives at 626 W. Allegan St., and six sisters, Misses Anna and Carrie, 626 W. Allegan St.; Mrs. A. J. Winson of Plainfield, Ill., Mrs. M. W. Knapp of Cincinnati; Mrs. Elizabeth Rodway, a missionary in South Africa; Mrs. F. E. Yakeley of Quincy, Mich. One sister, Mrs. Knapp is in such a serious condition from the same ailment of which Mayor Ferle died, that the family has not notified her of her brother's death.
Arrangements for funeral services have not been made by the family.

Note: the mayor he defeated in 1922 was Benjamin A. Kyes.


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The State Journal; Lansing, Michigan; Thu. Nov. 8, 1922.

City To Honor Dead Executive
Services For Mayor Ferle To Be Held At Home Friday
City To Cease Work
Hour's Suspension of Business Activities Asked As Mark of Respect
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All Lansing will honor the memory of one who fought to the end for the common interests of all classes in the city, when the body of Mayor Jacob Ferle is removed from his residence, 115 S. Sycamore st., to its final resting place Friday afternoon.
A quiet ceremony has been arranged by the past masters of the Lansing lodge, No. 33, F. & A. M., to be held at the residence at 2:00 o'clock Friday. On an honorary escort through the city, two platoons, consisting of 24 police, will march with the procession.
Members of the city council have been designated to act as honorary pall bearers, while the past masters of the lodge of which the mayor was a prominent member, will direct the ceremony.
The body of the mayor will lie in state at the Masonic temple from 4 until 8 o'clock p.m. on Thursday, where it may be viewed by the many friends of the late city executive. From many of these voluntary contributions began pouring into the city comptroller Wednesday morning for the purchase of floral offerings. The movement was taken up by the various departments of the city with the understanding that a committee of city officials should purchase one big floral tribute with the funds contributed.
Members of the city council expressed a desire to purchase a separate wreath on offering as a tribute from that body.
A proclamation asking that all citizens cease business activity from 1:30 until 2:30 o'clock Friday afternoon as a mark of respect for the memory of Mayor Ferle was issued Wednesday by acting mayor Silas Main. All city departments have been asked to close during the entire afternoon of that day.
Funeral services will be in charge of Rev. C. Jeffares McCombe, pastor of Central M. E. church. Burial will be made in Mt. Hope cemetery.