David Ferguson, who is living at ease at Staunton, in the enjoyment
of a comfortable home, can look back upon a long and active life during
which he contributed his share toward the development of the
agricultural resources of Macoupin county. As a member of a pioneer
family he passed through experiences in his early life of which the farm
boy of today has little conception, and he has lived to witness the
great improvements by which the entire appearance of the country has
been changed and the wild prairie has been reduced to the uses of man.
He is a native of Ireland and was born in County Derry, October
31, 1837, a son of Henry J. and Sarah (Swan) Ferguson, both of whom were
born in County Derry. The father emigrated to America with his family in
1839 and located a half-mile east of Staunton, Macoupin county,
Illinois, where he purchased a tract of partially improved land and also
preempted land from the government. He applied himself during the
remainder of his life to farming and died in 1883, at the age of eighty
years. He was a stanch Presbyterian in religious belief and assisted in
building the first church at Staunton. He had two brothers: Robert, who
engaged in farming in Ireland; and David, who was educated as a
physician at Glasgow, Scotland, and devoted his life with marked success
to the healing art. The mother of our subject had three brothers, Henry,
Thomas and Hugh, the latter of whom went to Australia and became a
member of the parliament of that country. There were seven children in
the family of Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson: Hugh and Isaac, both of whom are
deceased; Henry, a resident of Staunton; David; Sarah Jane, deceased;
Susan, the widow of Captain Archibald Burns; and Martha, deceased.
After receiving his preliminary education in the common schools
David Ferguson devoted his attention to the home farm and continued with
his parents until twenty-eight years of age. He then purchased an
adjoining farm and made his home there until 1884 when he moved to
Staunton, being still actively identified with farming and live-stock
interests. About 1895 he went to Benton, Illinois, where he purchased a
farm but returned to Staunton in 1902 and has since made his home among
old friends and amidst familiar scenes.
In 1875 Mr. Ferguson was
married to Miss Mary J. Dey, a native of Jersey county, Illinois, who
has been to him a true and helpful companion. He cast his first vote for
Stephen A. Douglas but soon afterwards transferred his allegiance to the
republican party which he supported until a few years ago when he became
a prohibitionist. He was at one time a member of the Good Templars and
is actively identified with the Presbyterian church of which he is a
liberal supporter and an elder in the same for forty years. His entire
life has been devoted to farming, and through energy, application and
sound judgment he has acquired a competency. Always thoroughly upright
in his dealings, he commands the esteem and confidence of his associates
and acquaintances and is in every respect a worthy representative of the
best citizenship.
Extracted 14 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 315-316.
Macoupin County ILGenWeb Copyright
Design by
Templates in Time
This page was last updated
07/01/2022