Nelson A. Ferguson

Nelson A. Ferguson, farmer, section 6, Orient Township, was born Sept. 9, 1828, in chatauqua Co., N.Y. His father, Michael Fetguson, was born in Schoharie Co., N.Y., and was chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits during his life. His wife Eunice (Packard) Ferguson, was a native of the State of New York, and of Scotch and Welsh lineage. In 1830 they removed with their three children to Marion Co., OHio; there they bought a farm, which was their abiding place for a time. Later they went to Lucas County in that State, coming thence about 1848 to Ionia Co., Mich., where the father and son settled on a farm in Ronald Township. The mother died in that township in March, 1861, aged 76 years. The death of the father occurred in Fairfield, MOntcalm Co., Mich., in 1870. He was 88 years of age.

Mr. Ferguson, the subject of this sketch, was reared to the vocation of his father. He was married May 25, 1847, in Ohio, to Anna E. Jones. She was born near Lebanon, Ohio, in 1831, and is the third child of Samuel B. and Eliza (Peterson) Jones. The latter was born in Pennsylvania, and died in 1848, in Henry Co., Ohio. the former is a resident of Bushnell, MOntcalm Co., Mich. He was born in 1797, in New Jersey. His family included four sons and three daughters. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson were named Waterman, Walter, Perry A., Franklin P., Emma J., Flora J., Eva E., Georgianna, Henry A., Nelson E. and Fred E. Nine children yet survive.

Mr. Ferguson became a soldier during the Civil War, enlisting in Co. A, 21st Mich. Vol. Inf. He was in action only at the battle of Perryville, in which he encountered a degree of hardship which completely exhausted his endurance. On the second night after the engagement he was seated in a chair near the fire, and becoming unconscious from over-fatigue he fell, and was so badly burned as to cause his discharge from the service. He is a Democrat in political connections. He officiated three years as Superintendent of the Poor, nearly five years as Supervisor, several terms as Justice of the Peace, two terms as School Inspector and one term as Township Treasurer.

He removed to his present location in Orient Township Dec. 12, 1868, and made a homestead claim of 40 acres of land, on which he has since resided.

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