My Genealogy Hound

HON. ROBERT E. FERGUSON. Throughout this portion of Missouri there is perhaps no resident of Pettis County better or more favorably known than Hon. Robert E. Ferguson, who is one of the most prominent agriculturists in Bowling Green Township. His fine estate of two hundred and seventy acres is pleasantly located on section 8, and bears all the improvements which are usually made by men progressive in their ideas and wide-awake to the best methods of carrying on their business projects.

Mr. Ferguson’s father, who bore the given name of William, was born in Barren County, Ky., from which locality he emigrated with his father’s family to this county. The grandfather, Thomas Ferguson, came to this section in 1842, and lived in Bowling Green Township until his decease, which occurred a few years later.

The mother of our subject, Mrs. Dorinda (Wright) Ferguson, was likewise born in Barren County, Ky., where she was reared to womanhood, and met and married William. Ferguson. They made the journey to Missouri the same year which saw the removal hither of Thomas Ferguson, and, like him, also located in Bowling Green Township, where the father died in May, 1890. His widow still survives and now makes her home in this township with her son Robert E.

The parental family comprised seven children, of whom our subject was one of the younger members. He was born in Bowling Green Township, this county, February 22, 1848, and, with the exception of two years spent in the state of Texas, has always made his home within its confines. Agriculture has been the chosen vocation of his life, and in its pursuance he has met with remarkable success, being now the possessor of a large tract, well cultivated.

Mr. Ferguson was elected Judge of Pettis County in the fall of 1890, and after filling the duties of that position in a most acceptable manner for two years retired to private life. He has been active in political circles as a Democrat ever since attaining his majority, and his labors in every position which he has been called upon to fill have been eminently satisfactory.

Judge Ferguson has been identified with the Missionary Baptist Church for many years and endeavors to carry the teachings of the Divine Master into his daily life, making all who know him respect the faith which he so earnestly upholds. Socially he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Woodmen, and also belongs to the Woodmen of the World and the Royal Tribe of Joseph.

Hon. Robert E. Ferguson was married, October 13, 1872, to Miss Janie P., daughter of the late Rev. E. K. Porter, of Bowling Green Township. She was born in this neighborhood April 12, 1853, and became the mother of six children, Robert Leslie, Jessie May, William Edwin, Luther Vest, Ruthie Ethel and Nellie Eunice. The wife and mother departed this life in Bowling Green Township, November 3, 1890. She identified herself in early years with the Methodist Church South, and from that time until her death was a consistent Christian worker in the Lord’s vineyard.