Iowa: Its History and Its Foremost Citizens
Original Edition. 3 Vols. Des Moines, IA: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1915-1916.
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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.
Henry Fachman was numbered with that quota of substantial and worthy citizens that Germany furnished to Sioux City . He was born in Naumburg, Saxony , Germany , February 28, 1843 , and had passed the sixty-fourth milestone on life's journey when called to his final rest June 18, 1907 . His father, Herman Fachman, was a school teacher and soldier, who fought in the allied army against Napoleon and was given honorable mention for his service by reason of his valor and loyalty.
Henry Fachman attended school in his native country and in 1861, when a youth of eighteen years, came to the United States with his younger brother Charles. They settled in Ohio , where both in 1862 enlisted for service in the Union army as members of the Second Ohio Cavalry, under General O.O. Howard. This regiment was sent to Johnson's Island to guard Confederate prisoners. About this time the brother Charles disappeared and was never heard from again. Henry Fachman continued in the army until 1864, when he was honorably discharged, after which he came to the west. He re-enlisted at Fort Union , Kansas , and served under Generals Howard and Custer in preventing Indian uprisings and was again honorably discharged in 1866. He then went to Missouri Valley , Iowa , where he opened a bakery and continued in business until 1869, when he disposed of his interests at that place and removed to Sioux City . He had great faith in the future of the city, saw much of its possibilities and invested all of his means in property here. Believing that the city would grow rapidly, he opened a bakery, which he conducted with success until 1893, when, with a handsome competence, he retired from active business. All days in his career had not been equally bright. In 1874 he lost everything by fire, but immediately set himself to the task of upbuilding his business and his fortune. As his savings accumulated he invested in real estate and eventually became a large property owner, having at various times several very valuable pieces of real estate, including the lot on which the Hotel Garretson stood, together with the present site of the Schulein block and much of the property at the corner of Fifth and Jackson streets. He was also the owner of real estate in other parts of the city and had several tracts of farm land.
Mr. Fachman ever took an active interest in the upbuilding of Sioux City and the promotion of its welfare, cooperating in many plans and projects for general growth and development. He was one of the first volunteer firemen of the city, and he could be counted upon at all times to work for matters of civic betterment.
Although Mr. Fachman was not a member of any church, he leaned toward the Catholic faith, his wife and children all being members of that church. To its charities and work he was a liberal contributor He did not belong to any fraternities or lodges but was essentially a home man, finding his greatest pleasure when in the companionship of the members of his own household. After he had opened his bakery in Missouri Valley in 1866 he there met and married Miss Julia Pegar, whom he first saw when she came into the shop to make a purchase. It was a case of love at first sight and not many minutes had passed before he proposed, was accepted and they were married on the afternoon of the same day. Never was there a more devoted couple. They became the parents of fifteen children, the largest family in Sioux City , and thirteen of the number survive the father, namely: Fred; Julius; William; Robert; Charles; Julia, who married C. Borscheim; Virginia, who became the wife of Henry Metz; Ruth; Eva Marie; Edward; Frank; Mark; and George. The two children who passed away were: Henriette, who was the first wife of Henry Metz; and Eliza, the wife of Joseph F. Chichoine. It was the current opinion in Sioux City that there was never a happier marriage than that of Mr. and Mrs. Fachman, their lives standing in contradistinction to the old adage: "Marry in haste; repent at leisure." Their interests were ever one and their love and confidence increased as the years passed on and they traveled life's journey together. In the early years they shared in each other's ambition to win prosperity and establish a home; together they planned and worked for their children and in the evening of their days they went hand in hand down the hill of life until the husband passed away, being called to his final rest June 18, 1907. Mrs. Fachman was left to mourn his loss, but she has a splendid possession in the beautiful memories left to her of the many happy days which they spent together.
WARD FERGUSON
Ward Ferguson is secretary of the Rolfe Telephone Company and a well known business man of Pocahontas county. He was born in Delaware county, New York , on the 5th of February, 1867 , a son of Duncan and Margaret ( Richmond ) Ferguson . The father was of Scotch descent and devoted his life to merchandising. He brought his family to Iowa in 1868, making settlement at Clarence, Cedar county, where he conducted mercantile interests for six years or until 1874, when he removed to Oxford Junction, Jones county, becoming a merchant of that place. He afterward was identified with mercantile interests at Rolfe from 1891 until his death, which occurred in 1903. His widow survived him for about five years, passing away in 1910.
Ward Ferguson was educated in the public schools of Iowa , attending school in the various towns in which the family lived prior to entering upon a three years' course in Cornell College . When his textbooks were put aside he became his father's associate and assistant in business and was thus identified with mercantile interests until two years after the death of his father, when in 1907 he closed out the business at Rolfe. He owns farm lands in Iowa and his agricultural interests bring to him good returns. He spends much of his time, however, in the supervision of the telephone and electric light plant and the business connected therewith. There are now about six hundred telephones installed, while electric light is furnished to two hundred customers. The business is growing along both lines all of the time and Mr. Ferguson is thus active in the control of one of the important public utilities of Pocahontas county, in the management of which he displays good business ability, enterprise and unfaltering determination.
On the 23d of October, 1893 , Mr. Ferguson was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Bell, a daughter of John Bell, of Hampton , Iowa , and they have one child, Margaret Bell, who was graduated from the high school of Rolfe in the class of 1915.
Mr. Ferguson holds membership with the Knights of Pythias, of which order he is a prominent member. He served as grand chancellor in 1908-9 and is one of the supreme representatives from Iowa . He is also a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Modern Woodmen camp. His political support is given the republican party and he has served as a member of the city council of Rolfe. He is president of the local Chautauqua Association and is interested in many public-spirited movements for the development and upbuilding of the town and the betterment of its citizens. Longfellow said: "The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well, without a thought of fame." Mr. Ferguson has always made it his rule to do well whatever he has undertaken and thus it is that he has won a substantial measure of success and gained a place among the representative citizens of his county. |
