Umatilla County OR Archives Biographies.....Ferguson, W. A. June 6, 1862 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carlene Still crstill@oregontrail.net July 28, 2006, 6:41 am

Author: Colonel William Parsons

Page 341, 342

W. A. FERGUSON
	We now have before us one of the most influential and substantial 
citizens of our county, whose marked talents and unsullied integrity make him 
eminently worthy to receive the respect and esteem of his fellows, while his 
excellent financial and executive ability have placed him among the largest 
property owners in Umatilla county.
	He is the son of William F. and Sarah J. (Tower) Ferguson, being born 
in Douglas county, this state, on June 6, 1862. William F. Ferguson was a 
native of Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and was born May 26, 1822, and his 
grandfather came from England to this country during the Revolution, and the 
grandmother witnessed the massacre of Wyoming, but escaped on account of her 
extreme youth. The father of William F. Ferguson served in the war of 1812, 
and his mother was a direct descendant of the Pilgrim band that landed at 
Plymouth Rock, and her maiden name was Mary Atwood. About 1836 William F. 
Ferguson came to Coles county, Illinois, with his parents, and was there 
married to Mrs. Sarah J. Shorer on November 3, 1849. Mrs. Shorer was born in 
Kentucky, November 28, 1822, whence she came with her parents to Coles county, 
Illinois, and there became the wife of Elmer Shorer on February 18, 1842, who 
died September 25, 1847, while on a visit to his mother in Pennsylvania. Two 
children were the fruit of this union, the first dying in infancy, the second, 
Sarah E., being born June 29, 1845. To Mr. William F. Ferguson and his wife 
were born the following children: Lydia E., born April 1, 1851, now the wife 
of J. W. Brown, of Red Bluff, California; Myron A., born August 14, 1853, 
married to Miss S. O. Ostrander, March 11, 1876, and now living on Union Flat, 
Whitman county, Washington; Mary A., born August 9, 1855; Stephen H., born 
October 31, 1857; Daniel G., born December 15, 1859; William A., born June 6, 
1862; Arville J., born September 25, 1863; Walter S., born June 15, 1866. In 
1853, William F. Ferguson came with his family across the plains and settled 
in the Willamette valley, near Albany, later removed to the Umpqua valley, and 
in 1871 came to Walla Walla, Washington. On May 1, 1868, Miss Sarah E. Shorer, 
daughter of Mrs. William F. Ferguson by her first husband, became the wife of 
Y. H. Brown. In 1869 Mr. Brown was drowned in the Umpqua river, and on May 25, 
1873, the widow married C. H. Barnett, of Walla Walla county, Washington.
	Returning now to the immediate subject of this sketch,–he came with 
his parents to this valley in 1871, settling in Walla Walla county, 
Washington, where he was educated in the public schools and where he started 
for himself when he had attained his majority. He has prospered from the start 
because of the wisdom and energy manifested by him. In 1897 he came to this 
county and purchased an estate of seven hundred acres bordering on the town of 
Milton. To the management of this he has devoted his attention since. He also 
owns some property in Milton, and also one of the finest residences within its 
borders.
	The marriage of Mr. Ferguson and Miss Florence, daughter of D. L. and 
Mary Kemp, occurred on April 4, 1896, and to them have been born the following 
children: Floyd E., born December 27, 1896; Ruth A., born June 23, 1898; Clyde 
L., born April 15, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are members of the First 
Methodist church of Milton and are active in its affairs and interests. Mr. 
Ferguson is just coming to the prime of his life, and judging the future by 
the past, we may surely look for even greater achievements than his already 
splendid success. Miss Florence Kemp was born in North Carolina on April 4, 
1878, and came with her parents to Walla Walla valley in 1892.

Additional Comments:
An Illustrated History of Umatilla County by Colonel William Parsons and of 
Morrow County by W. S. Shiach with a brief outline of the early history of the 
State of Oregon.  W. H. Lever, Publisher  1902.


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