The Fetherling surname originates in the 1700’s in Germany as Fitterling. Viet Fitterling arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania November 2, 1752 along with his family.

Over the decades and years since, the surname took on variations such as Fetherling and Featherling. The branch of the Fetherling line which inspired this book began with the marriage of John Matthew Campion to Elizabeth Julia from Ireland. They had eight children one of which was Julia Campion. Julia married Home H. Fetherling in 1900 in Cass County, Indiana.