OSEPH M. FERGUSON is one of the prominent farmers and stock-growers of Pleasant
Grove Township, and an honorable representative of one of the pioneer families of
Illinois. He was born July 17, 1825, in Bradford
County, Pa., and is the son of Stephen and Polly
Ann (Atwood) Ferguson. His paternal grandfather, likewise Stephen Ferguson, was a native of
England, and a member of the British army. He
emigrated from the mother country at an early day,
and settled in Pennsylvania, where he married a
Miss Foster, who came from one of the Eastern
States. His maternal grandfather, Myron Atwood,
was a native of Wales, and served as a teamster in
the Revolutionary War. His marriage took place
in this country.
Stephen Ferguson, the father of our subject,
passed his boyhood and youth on his father’s farm
in Pennsylvania. His marriage to Miss Polly Ann
Atwood took place there. She was likewise a native of that State. In 1836 he moved to Illinois,
and settled in Coles County. He was an active,
enterprising man, and carried on a large and successful business here during the remainder of his
life. He was endowed with excellent mental abilities, possessed a vigorous physique, and lived to the
advanced age of eighty years. His death occurred
July 5, 1868. His widow survived him ten years,
and died Feb. 19, 1878, at the age of eighty-three.
They were actively interested in promoting the
cause of religion on the Western frontier, and were
prominent members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Three children have been born to
them, whose names are as follows: William, a resident of Washington Territory; Joseph M., and Myron, deceased.
Joseph Ferguson was eleven years of age when
his family settled in Illinois. He was reared on his
father’s farm, and gained much practical experience
in assisting in the various branches of farm labor.
He also attended school, making good use of the
limited advantages afforded in the pioneer days.
In 1849 he married Miss Phoebe Ann Brown, a native of Kentucky. Their married life was of short
duration. She died within two years, leaving two
children, Mary M. and Stephen, both of whom are
deceased. On the 9th of March, 1852, Mr. Ferguson was married to Miss Sarah Alexander. Mrs.
Ferguson was born May 30, 1832, in Coles County,
and is the daughter of Robert and Jemima (Howard) Alexander. Robert Alexander was a native
of Hardin County, Ky. His wife was likewise a
native of that State, and their marriage took place
there. They came to Illinois in the pioneer days
and settled in Coles County in 1831, making their
home here until 1854, and then moved to Sullivan
County, Mo., where Mr. Ferguson’s death occurred
in the autumn of the same year. His widow died
Nov. 21, 1878. They had a family of ten children
born to them, all of whom grew to maturity. Mrs.
Ferguson is the eldest child.
Mr. Ferguson located on his present farm in
1858, and in the meantime has given his attention
exclusively to farming and stock-growing. He
owns 170 acres of valuable land, and has given 200
acres to his children. Eleven children were born
to him, only six of whom are now living, as follows: William A., Clarence A.; Clarissa, the wife
of Hugh McFadden; Ettie, the wife of Charles
Landers; Alice and Joseph W.
In early life Mr. Ferguson was a Whig, but became a Republican after the organization of that
party. He does not aspire to political preferment,
but is interested in educational affairs and has
served as School Director. He is also active in
promoting the cause of religion, and for twenty-five years has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
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