My Genealogy Hound

William A. Ferguson, sheriff of Osage County, Mo., is a native of Putnam County, West Va., and was born in 1839. He is a son of David P. and Rebecca (Summers) Ferguson, natives of Virginia, who removed with their parents to West Virginia, where they were married and where the mother died about 1854. The father died in Osage County, Mo., February 5, 1888, where he had lived since 1863. He was a carpenter and farmer, and served many years as justice of the peace of Benton Township. The paternal grandfather of our subject was David Ferguson, a native of Virginia, who was probably of Scotch descent. The maternal grandfather was Frank Summers, also of Virginia, and a farmer by occupation. William A. Ferguson received a good common-school education. September 6, 1860, he married Leanora Arthur, daughter of Lewis and Lucy Arthur, natives of Franklin County, Va., who afterward removed to Cabell County, West Va., where the latter died. Lewis Arthur was a farmer, and a soldier in the War of 1812. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, two sons and four daughters are living, viz.: Leavora (wife of W. M. Brock), Rebecca (who married L. Bryan), Alberta, Peter C., Florence Abelle and William A., Jr. In 1861 Mr. Ferguson removed to Ohio, and October 10, 1862, enlisted in Company M, Seventh Ohio Cavalry. He operated in Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North and South Carolina and Virginia, participating in the siege of Knoxville, and followed Gen. Morgan on his raid through Indiana, remaining twenty-eight days and nights in the saddle; he was also at the battles of Cumberland Gap, Bristoe, Va., Stanford and Richmond, Ky., and November 6, 1863, was captured at Rogersville, Tenn. He was taken to Belle Island, Va., where he was held a prisoner until the spring of 1864, when he was paroled. He afterward spent three months at Annapolis, and was then sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he remained six months, and on account of disability was sent home on furlough of 100 days, at the expiration of which time, being still unable for duty his furlough was extended until his discharge, July 4, 1865. In September of the latter year he removed to Deer Creek, Osage Co., Mo., where he lived until 1870, when he returned to his native place. In 1875 he again settled on Deer Creek, and remained until he purchased his present farm of 160 acres, situated one and a half miles southwest of Chamois, which is well-improved. After the war he learned the carpenter’s trade, which he has since followed in connection with farming. In 1888 Mr. Ferguson was nominated on the Republican ticket for sheriff of Osage County, and was elected in November by a good majority. He is a member of the G. A. R. and A. O. U. W., and is an enterprising and highly respected citizen of Osage County. Julius P. Ferguson, his brother, was killed at the battle of Cedar Creek, near the close of the war.