Lapeer County MI Archives Biographies.....Ferguson, Charles 1822 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 14, 2007, 3:47 pm

Author: Chapman Bros. (1892)

CHARLES FERGUSON is the head of the banking establishment of Ferguson & Son of
Almont, Lapeer County. He was born in Perthshire, Scotland, in the parish of
Errol, February 22, 1822, and is the son of James and Catherine (Moore)
Ferguson. He was reared on a farm in his native land and was half orphaned, his
father being taken away when he was but sixteen years of age. He, however,
continued upon the home place until he came America in 1842, which was when he
was about twenty years of age.

  Our subject came hither in company with two brothers—David and Robert. They
all stopped in New York and purchased a farm in that State, remaining there
until 1848. Our subject and his elder brother there contracted matrimonial ties,
and having sold their farm, in 1848 they came to Michigan and located in Almont,
our subject having made a prospecting tour previously, when he had purchased
land in partnership with his younger brother. The place comprised about four
hundred acres, one hundred and fifty of which were improved. In October, 1848
became to Michigan from New York by the usual way of traveling at that time,
coming by boat from Buffalo to Detroit, thence to Almont by carriage drawn by a
heavy Clydesdale horse. The roads were very bad but he was enough for the
emergency and pulled them through with case and proved to be a valuable
improvement on the ordinary draft horses, being the first of the kind brought
into this part of the county. Mr. Ferguson was a thorough farmer believing it
more profitable to raise the best of stock of all kinds; he imported the best
Durham cattle from Canada and New York. He and his son, J. F., have a valuable
herd of Durham cattle on the farm at this time.

  The original of our sketch was wholly engaged in farming until about 1860,
when he moved into the village and purchased the flouring mills of which he was
proprietor for about two years. He then sold out and engaged in the mercantile
business, in which he continued until 1873. He then bought out the bank of
Currier & Townsend and since that time he and his son, C. R., have conducted the
banking business in the name of C. Ferguson & Son. Mr. Ferguson had some small
means on coming from his native land, but since settling in this country most of
his enterprises have been profitable. He still owns a large amount of farm land,
having one place of four hundred acres one mile north of the village, which is
his original purchase. He has a fine home in which is dispensed a most gracious
hospitality.

  Our subject first cast his vote with the Democratic party, although on
Lincoln's nomination he favored him, but after that time again voted with the
Democrats. He has held the offices of Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of the
township and has been a member of the Village Board and also of the School
Board, and although he himself received only common-school educational
advantages, he is an ardent advocate of advanced school measures.

  Mr. Ferguson was married when twenty-four years old, January 13, 1846, to Miss
Charlotte McHardy, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, who was born in 1822. She and
her husband are the parents of eight children, four having died in childhood,
three boys and one daughter living. They are Charles R., James F., Alexander W.
and Lizzie A. The eldest son is in partnership with his father in the bank;
James F. is a farmer near Almont and was formerly engaged in the lumbering
business; Alexander W. lives in Yale, this State, and is engaged in the hardware
business, and Lizzie is the wife of H. D. Bowman, a druggist of Almont. Mr. and
Mrs. Ferguson are members of the Congregational Church, of which he is a
Trustee. On the building of the church in this place he contributed about $2,000
and has paid liberal contributions for all improvements in this place.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties,
Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of
the Presidents of the United States

Chicago:
Chapman Bros.
1892


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