William James Ferguson (1879 - 1951)

Born 10 Oct 1879 in Harlem Township, Winnebago, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 19 Jun 1951 at age 71 in Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa, United States

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Biography

William Ferguson is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Rockford, Illinois.

William James Ferguson was born on 10 Oct 1879 in Harlem, Winnebago, Illinois as the son of Alexander Ferguson and Margaret Ralston.^[1][2]

William (age 24) married Josephine L (Collins) Ferguson (1885-1948) (age 18), the daughter of Charles Howard Collins and Minnie Nichols, on 8 Jun 1904 in Winnebago County, Illinois. ^[3]

They lived in Rockford. ^[4][5][6][7]

William died on 19 Jun 1951 in Iowa City, Johnson, Iowa.

Children

1. Howard W. Ferguson 1905–1953
2. Raymond Ferguson 1907–1971
3. Dorothy Jean (Gerarde) 1919–1974
4. Robert Harvey Ferguson 1921–2002

Obituary

WILLIAM J. FERGUSON DIES; PROMINENT ROCKFORD MASON

Services for William James Ferguson, 71, 1436 Camp ave., prominent member of the Masonic lodge for many years, who died suddenly Tuesday night, will be at 1 p.m. Friday in the Julian-Poorman funeral home, 304 N. 5th st.

Dr. William H. Fulton, pastor emeritus of First Presbyterian church, will officiate. Masonic rites will be conducted. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery. Mr. Ferguson died following a heart attack suffered in the home of a daughter, Mrs. Horace W. Gerarde, Iowa City, Ia., where he had been visiting for 10 days.

A lifelong resident of Winnebago county, Mr. Ferguson was born Oct. 10, 1879, in Harlem township, son of Alexander and Margaret Ralston Ferguson. He married the former Josephine Collins June 8, 1904, and the couple moved to Rockford in 1908. He had operated the Ferguson Parcel Delivery service here for many years before he retired six years ago.

Active in Rockford Masonic groups for many years, Mr. Ferguson was a member of the Star in the East lodge, No. 166, A. F. and A. M.; member and past commander of Crusader Commandery, No. 17, Knights Templar; member of Rockford council, No. 30, R. and S. M.; past thrice illustrious master of Winnebago chapter, No. 24, Royal Arch Masons; past exalted high potentate, Tebala Shrine; and a member of Rockford chapter, No. 53, Order of the Eastern Star.

At the time of his death he was treasurer of the O. E. S. chapter and Crusader commandery, and had held these posts for 11 and nine years, respectively. He also was a member of First Presbyterian church.

Surviving, besides Mrs. Gerarde are three sons, Robert H. and Raymond A., both of Rockford, and Howard W., Belvidere; 12 grandchildren; and a sister, Cora E. Ferguson, Rockford. His wife died June 1, 1948.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Winnebago County Clerk, comp. Winnebago County Clerk Genealogy Records. Winnebago, IL: Winnebago County Clerk, 2008.

   Name: Baby Boy Ferguson

   Birth Date: 10 Oct 1879

2. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX2S-T83 : 13 January 2022), William G. Ferguson in household of Alex Ferguson, Harlem, Winnebago, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district , sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm .
3. ↑ "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9L-KP6M : 19 February 2021), William J Ferguson and L Josephine Collins, 08 Jun 1904; citing Winnebago, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,914,051.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKF6-PGV : accessed 20 July 2022), William J James, Rockford Ward 4, Winnebago, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 169, sheet 15B, family 322, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 336; FHL microfilm 1,374,349.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJZD-89R : 1 February 2021), William J Ferguson, 1920.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X39Z-WXX : accessed 20 July 2022), William Ferguson, Rockford, Winnebago, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 30, sheet 10B, line 94, family 271, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 572; FHL microfilm 2,340,307.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWTW-DFW : 8 January 2021), William Ferguson, Rockford Township, Winnebago, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 101-33, sheet 7B, line 53, family 143, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 913.
8. ↑ Morning Star (Rockford, IL) 21 June 1951, page 4 GenealogyBank: accessed 20 July 2022

See also:

• Find A Grave: Memorial #141368222: accessed 20 July 2022), memorial page for William James Ferguson (10 Oct 1879–19 Jun 1951), citing Greenwood Cemetery, Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois, USA ; Maintained by Dean McMakin (contributor 46804161) .