My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in The History of Crawford County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1888.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

* * * *

William H. Ferguson, well known as a farmer of Crawford County, was born in Allen County, Ky., in 1827, and is the eldest in the family of ten children, three now living, of Obadiah and Lucinda (Collins) Ferguson. Obadiah Ferguson was born in Albemarle County, Va., in 1800, and when ten years of age was taken to Allen County, Ky., in which county Mrs. Ferguson was born in 1806. About1830 they moved to Washington County, Mo., and in 1837 located in Crawford County. When a young man Obadiah Ferguson learned the trade of a bricklayer, at which he worked more or less all his life. He manufactured the first brick in Crawford County, and built the first brick courthouse. Both parents were members of the Baptist Church, and the father died in 1868, his widow surviving him until 1871. William H. was educated in the old subscription schools of the county, and after reaching manhood attended the Steelville Academy. In early life he learned his father's trade, and helped him build the Willard Frizzell building, near Frumet, and Eli Wiley's residence, both in Jefferson County, and the Bolduc building, in Old Mines, Washington County, Mo. His father, Obadiah Ferguson, assisted in building the first Catholic Church and parsonage in Old Mines, also the first Catholic and Presbyterian Churches in Potosi, Washington Co., Mo. Mr. Ferguson has been principally engaged in farming and has served in many official positions of his county. He was county surveyor twelve or fourteen years, sheriff and collector for eight years, assessor one year, and notary public a number of years, which latter position he still fills. He also does an extensive probate business, having charge of more estates than any other man in the county. In 1860 Mr. Ferguson married Martha O. Johnson, of Washington County, Mo., who died in 1871, and two years later he married Mrs. Amanda A. Millsaps, a native of Crawford County. The last union has been blessed with four children, three now living. Mrs. Ferguson is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Ferguson is a Democrat, politically, and a member of the I. O. O. F.

* * * *

This family biography is one of 117 biographies included in The History of Crawford County, Missouri published in 1888.  For the complete description, click here: Crawford County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Crawford County, Missouri family biographies, click here

Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.