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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Richland Co., Ohio -
from 1808 to 1908
Vol. I & II
by A. J. Baughman -
Chicago: The J. S. Clarke Publishing Co.
1908
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G.
W. FERGUSON. On the list of Richland County's
honored dead appears the name of George W. Ferguson, who
was long associated with the farming interests of this part of
the state. Throughout the community he was known as a
reliable business man and one who in every relation of life held
to a high standard of conduct. He was born Apr. 20, 1830,
in Ashland county, Ohio, but died upon the home farm in Weller
township, this county, Mar. 6, 1900. He had therefore
almost reached the seventieth milestone on life's journey.
He was a representative of one of the old pioneer families of
this part of the state, and the farm upon which his widow now
resides was entered from the government by his grandfather when
the entire country side was a wilderness. It has always
been in the Ferguson name and constitutes one of the best
improved properties of the county at the present time.
George W. Ferguson attended the early schools
here and supplemented his education by many valuable lessons
learned in the school of experience. He was reared to the
occupation of farming and made it his life's work. He
early learned the best methods of tilling the soil and caring
for the crops, and as the years passed he was able to provide a
good living for his family by the careful methods he followed in
the conducting of the fields. His parents were George
W. and Ellen (Haverfield) Ferguson, and they instructed him
in his youth in lessons of industry and integrity, which he
never forgot, and which constituted a valuable element in his
life's record in later years.
Mr. Ferguson was married in this county to
Miss Rebecca M. Shoemaker, a resident of the county and a
daughter of Adam and Margaret (Mason) Shoemaker.
The Schoemaker family came to Richland county from
Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1814, when this district sheltered
but a few white men. Indians were still seen in this part
of the state and their wigwams furnished a feature on the
landscape. They hunted in the forests, for there was and
abundance of wild game. As the years passed Mr.
Scoemaker brought his farm under a high state of
development, and in the last years of his life was a potter by
trade. His death occurred in February, 1857, when he was
sixty-two years of age, while his wife, surviving him for many
years, passed away in 1880, at the age of seventy-five years.
They were the parents of eleven children, of whom three are now
living, namely: Mrs. Ferguson; Mrs. Jane Tooker, who is
living in Weller township, and Mrs. Delilah Ross, whose
home is in Nebraska.
By a former marriage Mr. Ferguson had two
children: Mrs. Caroline Cole, living in Mansfield,
and Martin, whose home is in Cleveland, Ohio; Otto R.,
the only child born to George W. and Rebecca M. (Shoemaker)
Ferguson, was born May 10, 1867, on the farm where he yet
resides. Here he was reared and in 1887 he married Miss
Margaret Powell, who was born Feb. 16, 1866, in Franklin
township. She is a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Schoemaker)
Powell, who were natives of Richland county and died in
Franklin township. She is a daughter of David and
Elizabeth (Shoemaker) Powell, who were native of Richland
county and died in Franklin township. There were two
children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Otto Ferguson - Harry and
Roy. Otto F. was reared upon the home farm and when
eighteen years of age began cultivating this place on shares.
It comprises seventy-five acres of land which, according to the
terms of his father's will, is to belong to his mother as long
as she lives. The son is an enterprising energetic young
farmer, and in 1901 he erected the dwelling which now stands
upon the place and which is one of the finest country homes of
the district. Mr. Ferguson is a well read young
man, thoroughly up-to-date on agricultural matters and on many
questions of general interest. The home contains a large
library of choice books, with the contents of which he is
largely familiar. In community affairs he is interested
and has once served as township trustee. All of the family
are members of the Church of God and take an active and helpful
interest in its work.
George W. Ferguson left to his family the
priceless heritage of an untarnished name, and the family has
always borne a reputation which makes them prominent and
influential in this part of the county, well deserving of
mention among the representative people of Weller township.
Source: History of Richland Co., Ohio - from 1808 to 1908 by
A. J. Baughman - Chicago: The J. S. Clarke Publishing Co. 1908 -
Vol. II - Pg. 744 |
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ISAAC
FERGUESON. The farm of forty acres situated on
section 34, Monroe township, whereon Isaac Fergueson now
makes his home has been in the possession of the family for more
than eight decades. He was born in a log cabin upon this
farm, May 3, 1842, a son of John and Asenath (Morrel)
Fergueson, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state.
It was in the early '20s that they came to Richland county,
Ohio, and purchased the farm now owned and occupied by our
subject, buying the land from Edmon Rose, who had entered
it from the government. Here they spent their remaining
days, the mother passing to her final rest in 1876, while the
father died in 1891.
Their family numbered nine children but five of the
number are deceased, those living being: Lovina and
Almira, who reside with our subject; Isaac, of
this review; and Irvin, a resident of Cleveland.
Isaac Fergueson is early trained to the duties
of the farm, assisting his father from the time of early spring
planting until the crops were harvested in the late autumn,
while during the winter months he pursued his studies in the
common schools. HE remained with his father until the
latter's death, and he is now the owner of the old homestead
property, comprising forty acres, situated on section 34, Monroe
township. Here he is engaged in general farming, each year
harvesting abundant crops as a reward for the care and labor he
bestows upon the fields.
Mr. Fergueson has firm faith in the principles
and platform of the democracy and for two years served as
assessor, while for eight years he served as a member of the
school board. Having spent his entire life in Richland
county, he is widely and favorably known and no man is more
familiar with its history than is Mr. Fergueson.
Source: History of Richland Co., Ohio - from 1808 to 1908 by
A. J. Baughman - Chicago: The J. S. Clarke Publishing Co. 1908 -
Vol. II - Pg. 787 |
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LUDWICK
FRANK is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has
furnished to Richland county, he having emigrated to the new
world almost four decades ago, at which time he made his way to
this state, where he has since made his home. Mr. Frank
was born in Shilingberg, Germany, May 7, 1837, and was there
reared and educated, receiving such advantages as were afforded
by the common schools. Upon hearing favorable reports
concerning the opportunities to be enjoyed in the new world, he
determined to try his fortune in America, and accordingly, in
1871, crossed the Atlantic to New York, whence he made his way
at once to Richland county, locating near Mansfield.
During the first year of his residence here he was employed at
farm labor, and at the end of that time he made purchase of a
tract of land comprising eighty-one and a third acres, situated
on sections 7 and 18, Monroe township. Here he is engaged
in raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and in
addition to this he also raises and feeds stock, making a
specialty of the latter branch of business, in which he is
meeting with good success.
Mr. Frank chose as a companion for the journey
of life Miss Siegler, and to this union have been born
ten children, three sons and seven daughters, as follows:
Louis, who is assisting his father in the operation of
the home farm; Alvina, the wife of Fred Snitzner,
a resident of Mansfield; Bertha, the wife of Julius
Henry; Freda, the wife of William Peterson, who makes
his home in Ashland county, Ohio; Caroline, the wife of
Allen Thompson, of Monroe township; Herman C., who
is in Cleveland, this state; Clara P., the widow of
Ira Balliet; and Louise, William and Mary, all
of whom have passed away.
Mr. Frank's study of the political questions and
issues has led him to give stalwart support to the democratic
party, while both he and his wife are communicants of the
Catholic Church. The hope that led him to leave his native
land and seek a home in America has been more than realized, for
here he has found the opportunities he sought, and making the
most of these has steadily worked his way upward to success.
He possesses the resolution and perseverance so characteristic
of his nation, and his name is now enrolled among the best
citizens of Richland county.
Source: History of Richland Co., Ohio - from 1808 to 1908 by
A. J. Baughman - Chicago: The J. S. Clarke Publishing Co. 1908 -
Vol. II - Pg. 1068 |
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