Ferguson Home Page:Information about John Alexander Ferguson

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Home Page |Surname List |Index of Individuals |InterneTree |Sources

John Alexander Ferguson (b. May 03, 1877, d. January 17, 1949)

John Alexander Ferguson (son of John L. Ferguson or Furgason) was born May 03, 1877 in MO, and died January 17, 1949 in Hawthorne, California. He married Minnie Ann Harvey on June 26, 1897 in Hartsville, Wright Co., MO film #0941334, daughter of John Harvey and Sinthy A. Grogan.

Notes for John Alexander Ferguson:
At time of Marriage it indicates that he was from Harvey, Wright Co., Missouri
Death Certificate: 49-012588 date of death January 17, 1949, widowed b May 30, 1877, 71 years, Male, White, (Retired) Laborer, Steam Railroad, birthplace, MO, father: John L. Ferguson, , was never in armed forces, no SS#, info reported by Elmer Ferguson, Place of death: rural Torrence, length of Stay: 2 da, Address of hospital: LA Cty Harbor Gen Hosp, 1124 E. Carson St, Rural Torrence. STreet Address: 415 W. 142nd St., Hawthorne, LA, CA. Died of coronary embolism after 2 days stay in hosp. An autopsy was done. Buried 1/19/49 at Rosehills Cem., Whittier, embalmer, Charles Heath. Funeral Director: Rawlinson of Otter-McKinley-Beaver's Mortuary.

Jack said he was a furniture mover. Mildrene says he worked with the RR. Liked to drink alot (vodka). But back then everyone drank alot.
Came out with Elmer to California. the family came out to calif. with all the other okies,to get out of the terrible dust bowl. and looked for work. jean thinks elmer , jess's brother is also buried at rosehill. Elmer had 3 kids by his first wife, minnie and john raised them, as his second wife rose didn't want kids. jean said one of them (jack) lives in wichita. maybe he has a computer????? they really don't know much about the old folks.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from Mike Ferguson 6.00: My father seems to believe that John Alexander Ferguson had a brother >named Frank. Also a sister who died young. John Alexander Ferguson 's father was a sherriff in Missouri.
This part seems to be supported by others. A man who owned a store in MO , >with a last name of Abshire took in John Alexander. My father recalls of a grampa Abshire. This man had a son ??? who lived in Santa Monica, >Ca that " Grampa Abshire came to live with and where he died in the 1930's. Will try to find out more ....especially this Abshire connection.
_______________________________________________
from Holly 7.24.00 Minnie's mother was Cynthia Grogan and she had a sister called Rachel. Now Rachel married into the Fletcher family and had a family one of which was a son called William R. Fletcher and this William married a Rosa Abshire. They all lived around about the same area in MO and I am wondering if that family could be related?

from Mile 8.4.00 My father is saying that John Alexander had a brother named "Frank ". That he remembers him driving a old model T up to his grampa's house. Also that they had a sister that died young. Uncle Al, this grampa Abshire connection is interesting ! Dad says that during the Long Beach earthquake (1933 ), this grampa Ashire was living with your grandparents in Hawthorne. Evidently, he stayed awhile with your grandparents and also a son who lived in Santa Monica??? He said that his uncle John was there also ,because he yelled "earthquake" . Does this bring back any memories ?

Last question. Dad insistently is talking about his grandfather's father being a sheriff and was shot and killed. He said that his grandmother told him by Cole Younger. He could have been a lawman and he could have been shot, but I doubt by Cole Younger....he was captured in the Deerfield,Minnisota bank robbery in 1876 and spent the next 25 years in prison and died in 1916. Of course you know how stories change over the years, but it seems clear that John Alexander and his brother may have been fatherless ? Is this where grampa Abshire comes in?
Holly , your letter stating that Rachel Grogan married a Fletcher who had a son (William R.) that married an Abshire is even more intriguing!
Back to grampa Ashire ( and I don't even know if this is the correct spelling). Al , you pronounced it differently but I don't know if that is just pronounciation ,or not???? Uncle Bob, got any ideas ????
Al, I know you said that you met him. Do you remember him staying at your grandparents also? Dad also said he died 1937 or 1938 and your grandfather went to funeral. He can't remember this son of his that lived in Santa Monica either, but he said that he had something to do with stores ????
I know the Ferguson family was crazy and a dysfunctional family. If you were to ask me about my grandfather (Elmer), I only saw him a handful of times and I couldn't tell anyone much of anything except for second-hand stories.The only thing I really remember when I was little ....Rose reminding us that she was not our grandmother and didn't want us to call her anything... but Rose !! Ha Ha Also that we sat as stiff as a board in their house and scared stiff ! Don't know if that was them or my parents !!
Cuz Holly.....my nephew in Nashville is Michele's son Chris

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from Yvonne 8.22.00 hi!just got a phonecall from your uncle sonny,i told him you were doing a family history. he may callyou. he said that
john alexander walker was the first Cherokee sherriff in the Oklahoma, TERRITORY. He mentioned the name of a town,in okla. Visalia. so maybe you could check. he said he saw all this paper work and pictures up in their attic when he was a kid. but he sayshe lost it in his being in a drug and alchohol daze He still drinks,he said he was going to quit.???He said he checked with Tribal representative in ca. and they told him he was 3/4 indian. he says emma walker was cherokee and jesse ferguson was Fox and Cree. so maybe you could
check these tribal representatives also. He also said the in 1919 when grandpa jess came back from the war the train was met be a whole lot of indians and the Governor of Oklahoma. He also said emma walker was an Indiam Princess so what are we to believe. some of it is true,maybe. maybe you can check this out. love, mom12 and dad have a nice holiday.

************** from Michele Meador
John and Minnie Ferguson were buried in Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier CA. I wrote the cemetery for information, and received the following: John buried Grave 2, Lot 2645, Mountain View Lawn - Mortuary was Utter McKinley-Beaver's Mortuary, Inglewood CA. Minnie buried Grave 3, Lot 2645, Mountain View Lawn - Mortuary was Dunaway Funeral Home, Hawthorne CA. Is there anyone in the Los Angeles area who could contact the funeral home to see if they have listed John's place of birth, parents, siblings, etc? Also, I wonder who is buried in Grave 1 next to them?
Holly called 10.2.2000, they are to send picture of gravestone 323 723 5391

Contributed by Keith Owens[keithowens@email.msn.com]. Visit his website at:
[http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/3150/index.html]. Total records =
1,081.

Mortuary was Utter McKinley-Beaver's Mortuary, Inglewood, CA Grave 2, Lot 2645

Holly, I went to the library this afternoon and found the John A.
Ferguson family in the 1900 Missouri census. They were living in Polk
County - Union Township - Sheet 4A, page 232A, enumeration district 135
Dwelling 63, Family 63
Ferguson, John A. b. May, 1877 23 yrs of age married 2 years b. Kansas,
father b. Illinois, mother b. Missouri, Farm Laborer
Minnie A. wife b. April 1876 24 yrs of age married 2 years, mother of 2 children; 2 children living b. MO, father b. TN,
mother b. TN
Ira E. son b. Nov 1897 age 2 b. MO, father b. KS, mother b. MO
Jessie R. son b. Aug 1899 age 9/12 b. MO, father b. KS, mother b. MO I am not sure of Jessie's age. In the Soundex it is 11/12. The figure has been written over on the actual census but it looked like 9/12 to me. Since enumerators were to record a person's age as of June 1, 1900, it is hard to say what was really meant. I did not find John in 1910 Soundex; when did they move to CA (20s)

Found in the 1900 Polk Co., MO census as having been born in Kansas, at time was married to Minnie and had son, Ira Elmer

Found an Absher
Johna says they lived near RR tracks and like Milderine that John A. worked for the RR. They used to collect the coal klinkers to heat house. She also confirms that he had 2 brothers and 1 sister named Oranda Pearl Ferguson and a bros named Frank. She said try the spelling Abshear and they may have taken in all the kids. John worked for the Frisco RR in Oklahoma and when they moved to CA, worked as a switchman for awhile then retired.

They also went on to say that John's Grandfather was from Scotland and originally came in through N.J. where he stayed for 4 years prior to moving to MO to continue his horse training. It is said his son, John's father was a horsetrainer as well as being a sheriff (killed in action?) This makes me curious as to why John Alexander put born in KS on the census.

It seems that John Alexander may have served at least one year as a deputy sheriff as well. Being lawmen or in the service runs strongly in this family.

May have worked at Ashbrook furniture.
From bob Ferguson May 2001: May have been a sheriffin Springfield MO.

Holly, I was at the Dallas Public Library today doing research. Not much luck...the library is re-doing the genealogy section and has moved all the stuff to temporary space where it is hard to find what you want. But I did look at the actual 1880 census for Wayne County MO. I found the family of John L Ferguson in Greenville, St Francois Township. pg 2 # 23.
It is all as that fellow told you, except that John L's age is not 31, it is 41! There was a little smudge over the area where it is written, but I am certain it says 41. I asked a couple other people who were working on things there to look at it, and they thought so too. That gives us a little different time frame to be looking at. Also, I looked at everyone else in the town, and there was no other obvious relative near them. I looked at 1870 index, but did not get to look at the microfilm. There was a John L Ferguson in Wayne County in 1870, but his age is 24, and birthplace is TX so it may not be him. If it is him, there is some inconsistency between 1870 and 1880. There was a train wreck in Wayne County around 1890, in which "a Mr Ferguson was killed" but there was no other info given (found this in a history of the county). Also did not find Nancy's mother in 1870, or Wm McCarty. I still think this has to be the right family. Marilyn July 2001
Census Place: Greenville, Wayne, Missouri
Source: FHL Film 1254740 National Archives Film T9-0740 Page 228B
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
John L. FERGUSON Self M M W 31 IL Occ: Work In Clerks Office Fa: IL Mo: VA
Nancy L. FERGUSON Wife F M W 34 MO Occ: Keeps House Fa: IN Mo: IN
Frank W. FERGUSON Son M S W 6 MO Fa: IL Mo: MO
John A. FERGUSON Son M S W 4 MO Fa: IL Mo: MO
Oranda P. FERGUSON Dau F S W 2M MO Fa: IL Mo: MO
Mary A. MOORE MotherL F W W 69 IN Fa: GA Mo: GA
Wm. MC CARTY Other M S W 39 MO Occ: Painter Fa: VA Mo: VA
Holly, remember that John Absher we found in the California death records? The one from Wright Co MO who married Hattie (I forget her last name off the top of my head) and was born in 1877 (the same year as John Alexander Ferguson) and died in 1952? I was talking to my dad tonight and he said that Grandpa Absher's son John's wife was named Hattie. He also said that he drove John Absher's son up to Ventura or Oxnard, somewhere in Ventura County, for the funeral for Grandpa Absher! So I'm thinking that he must have had another child or children who lived in Ventura County. Dad said he might have died in Ventura County. We are definitely on the right track to find the Absher connection!
Dad also said they used to call John Alexander "Alec." He said Minnnie only called him John if she was upset with him.

missing pix of family reunion, John Mildred, Wilma Elmer, Iva, Thayl, Jess

More About John Alexander Ferguson:
Burial: January 19, 1949, Grave 2, Lot 2645, Rose Hill Memorial Park, Whittier, California.
Social Security Number: None.

More About John Alexander Ferguson and Minnie Ann Harvey:
Single: June 26, 1897, Hartsville, Wright Co., MO film #0941334.

Children of John Alexander Ferguson and Minnie Ann Harvey are:

+Jesse Raymond Ferguson, b. August 06, 1899, in the sticks, Dade County, Missouri or Afton, OK?, d. June 24, 1986, Lakeport, California.
+John Herbert Ferguson, b. April 09, 1910, Bonny, Missouri, d. March 11, 1971, San Felipe, Baja, Mexico.
Sarah Thayl Ferguson, b. July 31, 1907, MO????, d. June 06, 1995, Bakersfield, Kern County California.
+Ira Elmer Ferguson, b. November 10, 1897, d. October 22, 1970, Rose Hill Memorial Park, Whittier, California.
+Iva Leona Ferguson, b. June 09, 1901, Monett, County, Missouri, d. January 18, 1990, Cave Junction, Josephine County, Oregon 97523.
Mildred Cynthia Ferguson, b. April 10, 1903, Missouri, d. February 03, 1978, Cave Junction, OR.
Wilma Evelyn Ferguson.