Biographical Sketch of Jasper N. Ferguson, Johnson County, Missouri Jackson Township >From "The History of Johnson County, Missouri," Kansas City Historical Co. 1881 JASPER N. FERGUSON, county surveyor; section 3, Jackson township; postoffice, Kingsville. Mr. Ferguson is a self-made man, having battled on to success, an honored and highly respectable citizen, through his own unaided abilities, and what he is he owes to his unerring perseverance. He was born April 15, 1823, in Ray county, East Tennessee. When but six years of age he moved with his parents to Lafayette county, Missouri. In I830, some four years prior to the organization of Johnson county, his father moved into the territory now known by that name, and settled in the region then termed the Blackwater county. His father, John C. Ferguson, in 1830, erected what he said was the twelfth house in the county. In 1854 he moved eight or nine miles farther westward to a farm known as the old James farm, of 180 acres, which he bought, and lived there until his death, which occurred August 10, 1857. His wife died September, 1861. He was born, June 21, 1797; his wife January, 1798. They were both natives of North Carolina, Lincoln county. Her maiden name was Sarah Falls, and they were married in 1820. They had ten children, of which our subject was the second, and their births respectively occurred in regular alternate order, commencing with the year 1821 and continuing to 1839. Our hero commenced life for himself about the year 1844, when he was twenty years of age. He commenced by learning carpentry and wagon making. In 1846 he took a trip on horseback with his father to East Tennessee, and extended the trip to Lincoln county, North Carolina, his father's birth place. When he came back he attended the common schools for a time, and after attending a grammar school taught by Rev. David Hogan, of the C.P. church, at Blackwatertown, he commenced the career of teacher. He taught both in Johnson and Lafayette counties. In 1848 he attended Goshen's male and female academy, at Pleasant Hill, Cass county, Missouri. In 1850 he attended a high school, at Chapel Hill, taught by A.W. Ridings. Thus he continued going to school and teaching until 1852, when he married Miss Mary E. Cheatham, a native of Adair county, Kentucky. She was born January 15, 1829. By this union seven children were born, as follows: Emma A., Sarah J., Thomas E., Alice M., Mary E., John B. and Nanna. In 1852 Mr. Ferguson was appointed surveyor of Johnson county by the governor, to fill a vacancy in that office, caused by the resignation of John Givens, surveyor elect. Served as deputy surveyor under A.M. Perry from 1856 to 1860; also served as deputy under John J. Craig, who died in 1861, and George T. Gallaher was his successor, under whom Mr. Ferguson served as deputy surveyor. In 1872 Mr. Ferguson was elected by the democratic party surveyor of Johnson county, and re-elected by the same party in 1876 and 1880, which office he now holds in connection with that of ex-officio road and bridge commissioner. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Bill Pennington ====================================================================