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J. C. FERGUSON
Vol. 5, p. 1834

One of the early businessmen to add his enterprise to the City of
Pawhuska, has during the last ten years not only developed a
successful local industry, but has also exercised much influence on
local affairs. Mr. Ferguson is an Ohio man who enjoyed a substantial
position as a business man in that state before coming to Oklahoma,
and his record has been a continuation and amplification' of the work
with which he was identified back in his native state.

His birth occurred in Highland County, Ohio, March19, 1862, a son of
Joseph C. and Mary Elizabeth (GWINETT) Ferguson. His father was born
in Ohio while his mother was a native of Germany, and came to America
with two brothers. She died in 1867 at the age of thirty-two; leaving
four children. The father married again, having five children by his
second marriage, and died in 1880 at-the age of sixty-two.
Practically all his life was spent in the vicinity of Cincinnati, and
he developed a large business there as blacksmith, and also had a
carriage shop, employing a force of from eighteen to thirty men.

It was with this industry that J. C. Ferguson, after gaining his
advantages in the public schools, became identified at the age of
sixteen. He learned blacksmithing in all its details under his
father's direction, and was one of his valuable helpers until twenty-
one. At that time he leased from his father the blacksmith department
of the business, and conducted it until the death of his father. He
then bought the entire business, and continued it successfully until
November 1899, when he sold out.

It was fifteen years ago that Mr. Ferguson came to Oklahoma. His
first location was in Garfield County, near Waukomis, where he bought
a farm and set up a blacksmithing shop. Later he moved into the town,
bought a blacksmithing business, but sold out in 1904 and moved to
Pawhuska, which was then a somewhat inconspicuous village. He bought
a shop, and soon began to develop a business which is now the chief
iron working and repair business of the city, and its facilities have
recently been extended to include a general automobile repair and
garage. His two sons, Joe W. and Fred L., are now his active partners
under the firm name of J. C. Ferguson & Sons. This firm handles the
local agency for the Ford and Hudson automobiles, and automobile
repairing is now an important part of their business. While all three
of the partners are engaged in the business, they also require the
services of three blacksmiths and four other men in the garage. They
have recently erected a new garage 50 by 100 on East Sixth Street.
Mr. Ferguson also owns a fruit farm of forty-five acres adjoining the
city, though this is operated through a tenant.

A republican voter, Mr. Ferguson has never been a politician, but at
different times has been honored with positions of responsibility and
in such places has always worked with an eye single to the good of
the community. While living in Ohio he served eight years as township
and school director, and in 1908 was honored with election to the
office of mayor of Pawhuska for a term of two years. The citizens
desired an efficient business administration, and he gave them one
which was marked by a forward movement in the matter of municipal
improvement. His administration witnessed the beginning of effective
street paving, an issue of bonds for electric light and waterworks
system, and the beginning of construction on these important local
utilities, and he also thoroughly cleaned up the city, paying no
attention whatever to local politics while engaged in this work. He
is a member of the Presbyterian Church and one of its trustees, is
affiliated with the various bodies of Masonry, including the thirty-
second degree of Scottish Rite, and also with the Knights of Pythias
and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

In 1885 Mr. Ferguson married Miss Mary L. WADDELL, who was born in
Ohio June 2, 1866, a daughter of Waverly and Naomi Waddell. They have
a fine family of eight children: Jessie, wife of J. L. DARBY of
Pawhuska; Joseph W. and Fred L., both already mentioned as partners
of their father; Nell, who is married; Margine, Clifford, Delos and
Leone, all at home and several of them in school.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Jeanne M. Misleh, 20 July, 1999.

SOURCE: Thoburn, Joseph B., A Standard History of Oklahoma, An
Authentic Narrative of its Development, 5 v. (Chicago, New York: The
American Historical Society, 1916)