So often when I am posting information or receiving inquiries from newly "found" FERGUS people I think back to the laborious efforts of the two men who researched and published the "Fergus Family History" book tracing mainly the ancestry of Francis FERGUS and his wife, Mary McCORMICK. They were Morris Freeman Fergus of Dayton, OH and John Franklin Fergus of Columbus, OH. I know that descendants of John Franklin Fergus are subscribers to this list. Are there any subscribers who are related to Morris? Would someone please post to the list any information on the beginning of the "Fergus Family History" - how the men started? Why? Did they work together? Or, did they both research and then discover the work of the other? I would love to have this information so that an updated history could include the beginnings of the book upon which so many of us depend upon for finding our ancestry. I am receiving many inquiries about the book by those persons who do not have copy. To my knowledge, there are no copies available. If anyone does have any spare or extra copies I would greatly appreciate having them as I am trying to find one to donate to the Ulster Folk Park, Emigration Studies Library located in Omagh, Co Tyrone. It is a repository for family histories of people who originated from Ireland . . . and of course, "my" Francis FERGUS was born in County Tyrone. I have researched at this library and will be returning there in January to continue to find that link from America back to Ireland and any FERGUS cousins currently living there. >From the inqueries I have received I think that perhaps there is enough interest to update and republish the "Fergus Family History" book in the future - but for now, it is important to compile as much missing information as possible. Are YOU "sitting" on any information that should be included? Please! do not remain silent, as now is the time to send in your information. I will be unable to have a rush of information arrive on my desk at the last minute. In the last 2 days I have received posts from two different lineages of DITTY families which were unknown until now. I have no information forward on: Catherine DITTY/Samuel FERGUS who migrated to Missouri; or Anna FERGUS/William PATTON (other than 1 more generation of LINDSLEY); or Polly FERGUS/Abraham BROWN; or Charlotte FERGUS/Cyrus HAYWOOD (only 1 generation further). Can anyone on this list add additional generations??? Did these lines "die" out or were they "daughtered" out? I am certainly willing to post as much information as I have time for to this list, but the list will not survive with only one person posting . . . please "jump in" even with small vignettes of your family - this could be a story which has been passed down through the years about your grandparents or great-grandparents. It will all add to the interest and knowledge of the subscribers to this list. Get posting folks! Cynthia crussell@traversecity.com FERGUS Website http://www.traverse.net/people/crussell/fergus_family.htm FERGUS Newsgroup FERGUS-L@rootsweb.com Rootsweb Archives: http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl