Untitled Document

George Ferguson

A retired farmer, living at Cambridge , came to Henry County in
1855 and settled on a farm in Cornwall Township . He first purchased 80 acres of
land and increased his real estate until he became the owner of 400 acres. He was born
May 10, 1819, in County Monaghan , Ireland . His grandfather, Samuel Ferguson, was born in Ireland
and married Margaret Hall.

They had six children,one of whom, John, came to America and settled in
Pennsylvania , where he died. The children were named James, Samuel, John, Mary and Margaret.
Another daughter died young. James Ferguson, the oldest son, was born and died in Ireland . He married Margaret Huss, and they had ten children. The following named reached maturity : Margaret, Martha, Jane, Isabella, Samuel, Thomas, George and James. The two last are twins.

James came to the United States in the early part of May, 1847, and George followed toward the close of the same month. James settled in Hamilton , Canada , where he still lives. George was a laborer in the same place two years, and in 1849 he removed to Pennsylvania , where he was a resident six years. He came to
Henry County in December, 1855. He was occupied in the Keystone State as a teamster and on removal to Illinois became a farmer. In the summer of 1856 he bought 80 acres of land in Cornwall Township
and removed his family from Peoria , where they had been awaiting the preparation of their home.

He bought at intervals two additional tracts of land, each containing 160 acres, and by further purchase
added to his estate until he now owns 480 acres, under advanced cultivation. When he bought the first 8o acres, for which he paid at the rate of 4.25 per acre, he had sufficient means to obtain a clear title and a small amount of money for the pur chase of stock. Mr. Ferguson removed to Cambridge in May, 1884, where he expects to pass the remaining years of his life in the comfort earned by his frugal industry.

He is a Republican, and has been since he became a citizen of his adopted country. In his own country he was an inflexible adherent of the Order of Orangemen. He and his wife are prominent mem bers of the FreeWill Baptist Church . Mr. Ferguson was a member of the building committee for the construction of the church edifice of the society to which he belongs in Cornwall , and has since been one of the Trustees. He was prominent in the organization of the local body, and has been a liberal contrib utor to its support. The family has been unremitting in their efforts in social and religious matters in the community to which they so long belonged.

Mr. Ferguson married Ann, daughter of John Hall. Her father removed to Henry County in 1857, with his family, and died in the township of Cornwall . Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson had nine children, seven of whom reached adult age : John, James, Esther, Margaret J., Martha A., George and Mary E. John is a farmer in Minnesota ; James is engaged in the same business in Dakota.

The History of Henry County

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Illinois Ancestors