Mid-West Pioneers: Fifty Years in the Northwest http://www.ancestry.com/ancestry/search/3791.htm MORRISON COUNTY. page 471 Morrison county was named in honor of Hon. Allen W. Morrison, who came to Minnesota some time in the ‘20s, and was [p.471] prominent in the early history of the Territory. It was organized April 18, 1856, by the election of the following county officers: Commissioners, Wm. Trask, Elliott J. Kidder and W. W. Stebbins; register of deeds and clerk of board of commissioners, Nathan Richardson; judge of probate, James FERGUS; sheriff, Jonathan Pugh; district attorney, W. B. Fairbanks; assessors, W. B. Tuttle and John Fry. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----ROYALTON VILLAGE page 475 James FERGUS was born in the parish of Glassford, Lanarkshire, Scotland, Oct. 8, 1813. His parents were well-to-do farmers, and gave him a good education along with excellent moral and religious training. In his youth he was noted for his thoroughness in whatever work he undertook and his fondness for good books. At the age of nineteen years he came to America to improve his fortunes, locating first in Canada, where he spent three years, and learned the trade of a millwright. Becoming involved in some political troubles just before the outbreak of the Papineau Rebellion, he left Canada for the United States, and spent a couple of years in Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and at Chicago and Buffalo Grove, Illinois, going thence to Iowa, and thence to Moline, Illinois where he found employment in the machine shops and foundries of Buford, Sears &Wheelock. In 1854 he removed to Little Falls, and in company with C.A. Tuttle built a dam across the Mississippi and platted the village. He subsequently owned the site of Fergus Falls, now a thriving city, that has done well in assuming his name. In 1862 he drove his own team from Little Falls to Bannock, then in Idaho, now in Montana Territory. He became prominent in territorial affairs; was influential in the organization of the new county of Madison, and held many positions of trust and responsibility. He was the commissioner [p.475] appointed for Madison county served two terms in the Montana legislature, and was a member of the constitutional convention of 1887. At one time he lived in Lewis and Clark counties; he now resides in Meagher county, near Fort Maginnis, where he is engaged in stock raising. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----ROYALTON VILLAGE page 475 Mr. FERGUS was married March 16, 1845, to Pamelia DILLIN, of Jefferson county, New York. Mrs. FERGUS died Oct. 6, 1887. He has one son and three daughters, the latter married and living in Montana.

I again visited the Ditty Cemetery in the Ditty Community of Putnam Co TN, which is just outside of Cookeville TN. I transcribed the following from the headstones found there: Francis Fergus Wagoner Jameson's Regt. PA Troops Rev War 1841 Jincy Ditty A B Ditty Born Feb l 1789 Born Jan l 1789 Died Oct 14 1855 Died Dec27 1869 John Ditty Born Feb 12 1792 Died Aug 10 1861 God Gave. He Took. He will Restoreth. He doeth all things well. Elizabeth Farley Jesse Farley Born Jan 2 1813 Born March 15 1787 Died April 15 1880 Died Oct 5 1862 Martha Ferges Born March 26 1833 Died Dec 25 1868 Sleep mother, sleep till Judgement Day, til we meet you there. This cemetery is in a little stand of trees on a hill on the farm of a Mr. Lillard Maxwell. It is in a pasture and the cattle have caused much damage to the stones. Many are barbed wired together and we had to take wire cutters with us and also had to cut away wild rose bushes from the stones. Frances Fergus's marker is a DAR Marker. The headstone of Jincy and Abraham is one stone with his name on one side and hers on the other, as is the stone for the Farleys. Abraham Ditty once owned this land and the land was owned after his death by the Farleys, hence the Farleys being buried there. John Ditty is the brother of Abraham Ditty, and not the father, as I once thought, his name being John also. I am unsure who Martha Ferges is. I did draw a diagram of the cemetery and did attempt to measure it out, but due to the damage there and the moving of the stones, it was not feasible. Mr. Maxwell tells me he is planning to put some sort of barrier around the cemetery, but I am sure, if some of us want to get a work crew together and do it ourselves, he would not mind at all. He would like to also build a road up to the cemetery? Any volunteers out there who would like to get together in the fall, when the weather cools and work on this cemetery? I am game. Thanks, Vicki Moore Beech Bluff TN

To any of you who are related to this lineage: Please search through any information you may have relating to Mary McCORMICK . . . I need ANY tidbit you might have or know, names of parents, siblings, family names, etc. outside of what is published in the "Fergus Family History". The ONLY information I have about her is as follows: Mary McCORMICK, b. 1782, Ireland (does anyone know where, what county? or when did she migrate?, etc.) Mary McCORMICK m. Francis FERGUS, 1780 Cumberland Co, PA (does anyone have a record of this - in a Bible notation, copy of a record, or anything at all?) I have tried to locate records and had no success. Mary McCORMICK FERGUS gave birth to her first 3 children in PA - James is listed as McClure's Gap (does anyone have any records of these births, notes, letters, or anything to substantiate the places of the births?) Mary McCORMICK FERGUS died Aug 20, 1820 (again any record or letters or references to her death and especially to her place of burial????) Did Mary have any siblings? If you can give me any tidbit or scrap of information it would be very helpful as I have a query regarding Mary McCORMICK FERGUS, my g-g-g-g-grandmother. I need your help if you have any information. Would you please post it to this list to share with all even if you send it to me directly? Enjoying 90° weather in Northern Michigan today, Cynthia P.S. Welcome our new FERGUS subscriber from Alaska! I believe related to Pamelia and James FERGUS of Montana.

This was posted to another list I am on and thought I'd pass them on. Anybody fancy free genealogy courses? Try these:- http://www.rootsweb.com/~genclass/205/gen205.htm scotland http://www.rootsweb.com/~genclass/201/gen201.htm england http://www.rootsweb.com/~genclass/110/gen110.htm beginners

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 0 Common Progenitor son g. son g.g. son 2 g.g.son 3 g.g.son 4 g.g.son 5 g.g.son 6 g.g.son 7 g.g.son 8 g.g.son 1 son Brother nephew g. nephew g.g.nephew 2 g.g.nephew 3 g.g.nephew 4 g.g.nephew 5 g.g.nephew 6 g.g.nephew 7 g.g.nephew 2 g. son nephew 1 Cousin 1 Cousin 1R 1 Cousin 2R 1 Cousin 3R 1 Cousin 4R 1 Cousin 5R 1 Cousin 6R 1 Cousin 7R 1 Cousin 8R 3 g.g. son g. nephew 1 Cousin 1R 2 Cousin 2 Cousin 1R 2 Cousin 2R 2 Cousin 3R 2 Cousin 4R 2 Cousin 5R 2 Cousin 6R 2 Cousin 7R 4 2 g.g.son g.g.nephew 1 Cousin 2R 2 Cousin 1R 3 Cousin 3 Cousin 1R 3 Cousin 2R 3 Cousin 3R 3 Cousin 4R 3 Cousin 5R 3 Cousin 6R 5 3 g.g.son 2 g.g.nephew 1 Cousin 3R 2 Cousin 2R 3 Cousin 1R 4 Cousin 4 Cousin 1R 4 Cousin 2R 4 Cousin 3R 4 Cousin 4R 4 Cousin 5R 6 4 g.g.son 3 g.g.nephew 1 Cousin 4R 2 Cousin 3R 3 Cousin 2R 4 Cousin 1R 5 Cousin 5 Cousin 1R 5 Cousin 2R 5 Cousin 3R 5 Cousin 4R 7 5 g.g.son 4 g.g.nephew 1 Cousin 5R 2 Cousin 4R 3 Cousin 3R 4 Cousin 2R 5 Cousin 1R 6 Cousin 6 Cousin 1R 6 Cousin 2R 6 Cousin 3R 8 6 g.g.son 5 g.g.nephew 1 Cousin 6R 2 Cousin 5R 3 Cousin 4R 4 Cousin 3R 5 Cousin 2R 6 Cousin 1R 7 Cousin 7 Cousin 1R 7 Cousin 2R 9 7 g.g.son 6 g.g.nephew 1 Cousin 7R 2 Cousin 6R 3 Cousin 5R 4 Cousin 4R 5 Cousin 3R 6 Cousin 2R 7 Cousin 1R 8 Cousin 8 Cousin 1R 10 8 g.g.son 7 g.g.nephew 1 Cousin 8R 2 Cousin 7R 3 Cousin 6R 4 Cousin 5R 5 Cousin 4R 6 Cousin 3R 7 Cousin 2R 8 Cousin 1R 9 Cousin

My Fergus line that I know about is as follows. William Fergus born @1746 died April 3, 1819 in Madison County, Georgia. He served several terms in the South Carolina General Assembly. He married Margaret Armstrong. I have no information about her. They had four daughters and one son to reach adulthood, however, the son never married and died of wounds received in the War of 1812. Two daughters married Groves brothers, one married Anthony Story and the other married Cicero Kennedy. There is evidence that William was born in PA and his parents were John and Martha Fergus. There is also evidence of two brothers, James and John, both of whom were born in PA and were younger. If anyone has any more information on this family, please email me. Anita Cole--anita.cole@worldnet.att.net @worldnet.att.net

Here is the FERGUS list Archives http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~fergus00/archives.htm you might want to check it out in your leisure.

Here are just a few Data Bases that can be searched if any one has others please post them to the list Shirley Subject: FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service (http://www.familysearch.org/) Subject: Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet (http://www.cyndislist.com/) Subject: Ancestry.com - Online Genealogy ( Free databases and Membership databases ) (http://www.ancestry.com/) Subject: RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative (http://www.rootsweb.com/) Subject: SierraHome Family Tree - Genealogy Research (http://www.sierra.com/sierrahome/familytree/ )

Hello, I just have one FERGUS, but she is my direct line ancestor. Her name was Janet FERGUS and she was born about 1646 possibly in Campsie, Stirling, Scotland. She married James BOYLL sometime around 1667 maybe in Campsie. I only know of one of her children and that was James BOILL born 28 Feb 1668 in Campsie, Stirling, Scotland. Do any of you have relations in Stirling, Scotland? Thanks for any help! Sincerely, Shanna Jones St. George, Utah, USA sjones@redrock.net http://www.burgoyne.com/pages/sjones

Hello list I am writing to let some of our new subscribers know how to post to the list .You just need to drop the word request or just click on this FERGUS E-mail Address: FERGUS-L@rootsweb.com Please also send your replies to the Fergus list. This will help others who may need that missing link. The following is the Fergus information list: To subscribe or unsubscribe type only the word SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE in the body and subject line of the letter. FERGUS-L-request@rootsweb.com Shirley Fergus Cynthia Russell

-----Original Message----- From: Edward Fergus <ecfergus@pe.net> To: bernardf@intrstar.net <bernardf@intrstar.net> Date: Friday, May 28, 1999 11:10 PM Subject: Research for my husband and son >Hi, > > My name is Christine Fergus. I am writing to help my son and >husband know their roots. My husbands grandfather came from County Cork. His name was Michael Fergus (no middle name). He was born in County Cork. I don't know a lot more information than that presently. > I am also from Irish stock. My grandmother came from Kilkenny. Iam >very proud to have Irish ancestry. > > Sincerely, > Christine Fergus > > >

Hello to all Fergus cousins I have been publishing a Fergus Newsletter for a few months; intended, mostly, for the Ferguses of my own branch of the family. A few copies have been mailed to distant cousins with whom I am in frequent contact via the web. One such distant cousin, Bernard and Shirley Fergus of Harrells, N. Carolina, suggested that others of you working on, and with, the Fergus charts, might be interested in receiving the newsletter. SO... Rather than mailing copies of this amateur publication to you, and since we can't send attachments to rootsweb, if there are any of you who might wish to receive this mundane, esoteric, commonplace newsletter I will send it to you as an attachment directly to your personal e-mail address. I won't be offended if you choose not to be interested in it, I will understand. As mentioned above, the newsletter was intended for those of my closer family....first cousins, etc. etc. Also, if you choose to discontinue receiving same, a short comment such as "knock it off", "forget it", etc., will be adequate. I'll scratch your name off the list. The letter is set up on Microsoft Publisher and since there are frequent photographs included I cannot put it all on one floppy disk unless I omit the mast-head so as an attachment you may be without the mast-head. (the Fergus Coat of Arms is part of the mast-head as a bitmap and requires, as you know, quite a bit of space on the disk). Or, if you have an Acrobat Reader I will send it to you as a PDF file, which is better still, the mast-head will be included. If you don't know about Acrobat Reader you can go to www.adobe.com and download Acrobat Reader 3.0 for free. Adobe wants everyone to use their software such as Photoshop, Page Maker, Acrobat, etc., so they are quite willing to let you down load the "reader" portion of their programs for free. Makes no difference which platform you are using; they have a version for every platform. So, if you have a curiosity about the newsletter, if you have nothing better to do than read such ramblings, just drop me a note and tell me how you want it....regular attachment or PDF files. I make no promise as to its regularity since I do have a regular business to attend and it sometimes requires my attention. If you like the newsletter, send your thanks to Bernard and Shirley Fergus.....if you don't like it I wont be offended. Regards to all, Jim Fergus jfergus@sirinet.net 1303 West Gore Blvd. Lawton, Oklahoma 73501

Hi Fergus list, Just thought I would share this. It was sent to me many many many years ago. Even if you are not from this Fergus line, it is interesting journalism of the period. April 16, 1874 Mrs. Marion McGhee The funeral of Mrs. Marion McGhee was attended from her late residence on Wednesday, April 8th. A large concourse of neighbors, friends and relatives gathered to pay the last sad duties to the aged lady. The funeral service was very kindly and appropriately conducted by Rev. E. Turner. Mrs. McGhee was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland April 21st, 1794. She was the third child of William and Marion Fergus, and according to the family records, a direct descendant of one of the kings of Scotland. In the year 1812 she married Alexander McGhee, and the following year emigrated to America. Their first residence was Jersey City, but various removes and fortunes finally brought the family to Willsboro, about the year 1824, since which the subject of this sketch has lived in a retired and beautiful spot at the foot of Ball Mountain, about one mile from Willsboro' Falls, where both the well know visitor and the pedestrian stranger seeking rural haunts or mountain fastness were sure to the open hand and warm heart characteristic of Scotch hospitality. By what turn of the fickle wheel of fortune their estate in Scotland was swept away the writer does not know, but certain it is, that quiet home under the mountain contained many a relic of former magnificence. Though the fortunes of the family have been well mended by the sons, yet there was a time when this estimable lady suffered many privatations that she might allow her children priveleges of education. Keenly alive to any neglect which reversal of fortune is sure to bring, Mrs. McGhee guarded her family pride with jealous eye, and when feeling the tooth ill-founded aristocracy, was once heard to boast of royal blood, and to assert with becoming dignity, that the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton attended her wedding. Mrs. McGhee was noted in life for her kindness to the poor and suffering, and many a wasted little body has been arrayed for the grave in garments furnished and adjusted by her own hands. She lived to the advanced age of eighty years, was a member of the Congregational Church and died in peaceful assurance of faith in Jesus Christ. BOUQUET RIVER

Dear Cynthia, I might have the answer to the following question: Do any of you DITTY relatives have anything definitive on Jency and on the spelling of her name which appears as <Jincy> and also <Jency>? I have a copy of a letter written by Jincy to her brother dated May 3, 1847. The letter was transcribed word-for-word, letter-by-letter from the original hand-written letter in which she spells her own name "Jincy Ditty". Lisa Dusenberry

In response to your e-mail regarding Mary MCCormick and her birthdate of 1759... I have copies of some pages from a book written by Morris Freeman Fergus and John Franklin Fergus - History of the Descendants of FRANCIS FERGUS. In this document, it states that Mary MCCormick was born in Ireland. It states it's source as the "History of Shelby County, Ohio" - Shelby County Historical Society. I hope this helps. Teri Adams Plano, TX

Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter A Weekly Summary of Events and Topics of Interest to Online Genealogists - subscription is FREE Vol. 4 No. 17 - April 24, 1999 sponsored by Ancestry Publishing http://www.ancestry.com Past issues of this Newsletter are available at: http://www.ancestry.com/columns/eastman/index.htm ++++++++ Fergus research worldwide Web site includes origin of the surname and variations, primary records, secondary records, personal records (Bibles and letters), current and ongoing research, info on Fergus mailing list and more: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~fergus00/family.htm

Can anyone help me out here as I am confused by a few of the statistics below - actually my questions all involve the birth places listed for the submission that was sent to the LDS. Fact of fiction? For Mary McCORMICK her birthdate of 1759 is listed, is there a document supporting this? Where did this date come from? It is really important for me to know. And, also the same for her birthplace of McClure's Gap. How do we know this is a fact? -------- Elizabeth is listed as being born in Bucks Co, PA - well did Mary and Francis FERGUS move from McClure's Gap - as it is in Cumberland Co. Why would a child be born in Bucks Co with a family who lived in Cumberland Co? Do you know the source of this piece of information? I wonder if she was visiting her McCormick family or perhaps that elusive mysterious brother to Francis, of whom we do not have a name???? or connection. Are we getting warmer though? -------- And, then after the rest of the children being born in Rockbridge Co and Pulaski there is Samuel with a birthplace in Bucks Co also . . . hmmmmmmmmmm Again, a source please if you can. ---------- And Jency FERGUS is also listed as being born in Bucks Co. Do any of you DITTY relatives have anything definitive on Jency and on the spelling of her name which appears as <Jincy> and also <Jency>? ---------- It is so difficult to trace the errors, but I think it is important as these details will derail us in scattered directions searching in the wrong place. Or, I am wondering if there is now a reason to search in Bucks Co. Does ANYONE have answers to the above questions for the lineage of Francis FERGUS, b. 8 Sept 1752, Co Tyrone, IRE? If so please post your reply to the list! and not to me directly. This is the purpose of the list - to post for all to read, those who are related to see what they know, and post again to the list to share with all. Cynthia Russell Family Group Record FamilySearch® Ancestral File™ v4.19 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Husband's Name Francis FERGUS (AFN:1MLH-Z59) Born: 8 Sep 1752 Place: Tyronne, County, Ireland Died: 28 Sep 1841 Place: White, County, TN. Buried: Place: Ditty, Cem. Married: 1780 Place: Cumberland Co. P Father: Mother: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wife's Name Mary MCCORMICK (AFN:1MLH-Z6H) Born: < 1759 Place: <Mcclures Gap, Cumberland Co., PA.> Married: 1780 Place: Cumberland Co. P Father: Mother: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Children - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Sex Name M James FERGUS (AFN:1MLH-ZJK) Born: 18 Nov 1783 Place: Mcclures Gap, Cumberland Co., PA. Died: 27 Sep 1855 Place: Buried: Place: Bethel Twp., Miami Co., OH. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Sex Name F Elizabeth FERGUS (AFN:1MLM-KD7) Born: 21 Jun 1785 Place: Bucks, County, PA. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Sex Name M John FERGUS (AFN:1MLM-5Q7) Born: 13 Jul 1794 Place: Rockbridge, County, VA. Died: 18 Jun 1837 Place: Sidney, OH - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Sex Name F Anna FERGUS (AFN:1MLJ-0KW) Born: 29 Aug 1796 Place: Rockbridge, Co., VA. Died: 1855 Place: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Sex Name F Polly FERGUS (AFN:1MLM-5TT) Born: 20 May 1799 Place: Rockbridge, County, VA. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Sex Name M Sawyer Baxter FERGUS (AFN:1MLJ-0TK) Born: 18 Mar 1802 Place: Pulaski, County, VA. Died: 21 Jun 1864 Place: Upland, IN. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7. Sex Name F Charlotte FERGUS (AFN:1MLJ-19F) Born: 21 Jun 1804 Place: Pulaski, County, VA. Died: 1831 Place: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8. Sex Name M Samuel FERGUS (AFN:CC52-BM) Born: 13 Feb 1787 Place: Bucks, County, PA. Died: 4 Oct 1842 Place: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9. Sex Name F Jency FERGUS (AFN:BJWL-PB) Born: 1 Feb 1789 Place: Bucks, County, PA. Died: 14 Oct 1855 Place:

Hello, Out of curiousity I decided to search the LDS site http://www.familysearch.org for a general search of the name James FERGUS. My g-g-g-grandfather was named James FERGUS and I thought perhaps there might be information listed concerning him. No, there was no information on him, however there are 25 listings on the name <James FERGUS> and ALL of them are from Scotland: Clackmannan Kilsyth Campsie Aberdeen Renfrew Lanark Dunbarton Midlothian Fife Wigtown Perhaps if any of you have a James FERGUS ancestor from any of the above places you will want to do a search there. Happy hunting, Cynthia ^.^.^. N E W FERGUS Research Worldwide website http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~fergus00/ ^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.^.

Hi list, would any of you remember that William L. Fergus that wrote Cynthia and it was forwarded to me. Well I finally got that all sorted out. He and my wife share the same ggg grandfather William Fergus b: Sep 05, 1779. All of these Fergus with birthdates shown and most of the others as well ....were born in Westray Orkney Scotland. I have several pieces of old Scotish documents that support all this now, it just took some time to find it all. Any others related to this line on this list? cheers, Bill 1 Thomas Fergus b: abt 1710 2 Thomas Fergus b: 11 Jul 1742 3 William Fergus b: Sep 05, 1779 4 Thomas Fergus b : 01 Sep 1811 4 James Fergus b: Oct 09, 1813 d: Apr 16, 1875 5 George Munro Fergus b: Mar 2, 1855 d: 1885 5 William Seater Fergus b: Mar 5, 1857 d: Aug 1885 5 James Fergus b: Feb 7, 1859 d: Feb 7, 1900 5 Susanna Margaretta Fergus b: Jul 3, 1861 d: May 07, 1878 My wifes Grandmother 5 David Munro Fergus b: Dec 05, 1865 d: Apr 08, 1953 4 John Fergus b: Dec 16, 1817 5 William Fergus b: Jan 01, 1840 6 John Fergus 6 Thomas Fergus 6 William Fergus 7 William C. Fergus 8 William L. Fergus 6 James Fergus 6 David Fergus 6 Robert Fergus 6 George Fergus 6 Mary Ann Fergus 6 Marion Fergus 6 Margaret Fergus 6 Elizabeth Fergus 6 Georgina Fergus 6 Barbara Fergus 4 William Fergus b: Dec 16, 1817

There is a wonderful web site by the Church of Latter Day Saints to search for ancestors by name. It has been in Beta testing since April 1st. It has now been launched and announced on TV so it is quite busy. The best time to look about in 6 a.m. I am posting two urls, the first is to the main search page. If you want to concentrate on the "British Isles", which is where you would find Irish and Scottish births listed, use the second url, which is listed as a custom search. You will also find some marriage records. http://www.familysearch.org/ Click on Custom Search tab, or use the url below http://www.familysearch.org/Search/customhomepage.asp Click on International Genealogical Index. Key in your ancestors first and last name. Scroll down and click on the drop down menu for Region, and click British Isles. Then click search. You might have to experiment with your information if you get a lot of names from England. You can key in parents names, I would try with and without those names. You can also key in a year which would narrow the search. If you get the error message: http://server too busy, just click back to your previous screen and click search again. Don't narrow your search information in the beginning, and make allowances for changes in spelling of surnames.