John Lindsay Ferguson (1848 - 1900)

Born 1848 in Glasgow, Scotland

Husband of Eliza (Derham) Ferguson — married 1888 in New Zealand

Died 26 Apr 1900 at about age 52 in Ravensbourne, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

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Biography

Birth

John Lindsay Ferguson was born in Glasgow in 1848 to David and Mary (Lindsay) Ferguson.

Emigration

After his mother died, father and son emigrated from Scotland, arriving in New Zealand in 1865.

Occupation

John was a school headmaster for 35 years at Albany Street School, North Dunedin.

Marriage

In October 1888 Eliza Derham and John Lindsay Ferguson were married. ^[1]

Children

In November 1889 John Lindsay Ferguson, named after his father, was born to Eliza and John Lindsay Ferguson. ^[2]

Death

In April 1900 John Lindsay Ferguson committed suicide, aged 52 ^[3]

Obituary

^[4]
His zeal in the cause of education and his resource and energy found expression in the success which so long characterised his work at the Albany street School. Since 1876 he held the position of headmaster, and it was due to his efforts that it became one of the largest and most successful schools in Otago. The relations existing between Mr Ferguson an:l his staff were of an exceedingly cordial nature. He invariably consulted them whenever changes in the working or organisation of the school seemed desirable, and he was careful that the burden of the work did not fall too heavily on the individual shoulders of any one member of the staff. He was never known to speak unkindly or harshly lo any teacher in the school, and the result was that whenever the work demanded a special effort the teachers were more than willing to make it. In all that pertained to the children's welfare, both in school and out of it, Mr Ferguson was ready either to organise or to help. This was especially the case in matters affecting the physical training of the young. The cadet corps, the gymnastic classes, the dancing class, the swimming tournament, and the fife and drum band were among the school institutions initiated and brought successfully on by him from year to year. In this connection, it may be mentioned, that Albany street school was the first school in the province to establish a savings bank for the children, and to furnish itself with a gymnasium. As to his earlier career, the late Mr Ferguson was trained as a pupil teacher in one of the large schools in Glasgow, and was a student m the Glasgow Free Church Training College, He obtained his certificate before leaving Home, and entered the service of the Otago Education Board in 1865 as master of the Palmerston School, which had then not long started. He was appointed shortly afterwards as an assistant in the old Middle District School, Dunedin, now the Arthur street School, and held the position of first assistant in that school until the beginning of 1876, when he was appointed head master of the Albany street School in succession to the late Mr Montgomery, In 1883 Mr Ferguson obtained leave of absence, and visited Great Britain.

Burial

Cemetery Record^[5]

Surname FERGUSON

Forename JOHN L

Age 52 Years

Gender Male

Date of Death 26 Apr 1900

Last Address RAVENSBOURNE, DUNEDIN

Cemetery SOUTHERN CEMETERY

Location Block 6A. Plot 16

Date of Burial 28 Apr 1900

Type Burial

Notes Original reference:- S19000417

Occupation:- SCHOOL MASTER

Native of:- GLASGOW, SCOT

Years in NZ:- 35

Place died:- DUNEDIN

The following burials are also in this Plot

FERGUSON DAVID 84 Years, Burial, Died 17 Jul 1905

FERGUSON ELIZA 31 Years, Burial, Died 25 Jun 1891

FERGUSON ELLEN CLARK 23 Years, Burial, Died 10 May 1896 [Helen]

FERGUSON MARY 74 Years, Burial, Died 16 Jul 1907 [Margaret]

Headstone

John Lindsay Ferguson who was 24 years headmaster of Albany Street School, died 26th April 1900, aged 52 years.

Will

His will was dated 21 December 1891 at Rothesay, near Dunedin. He left his estate in the hands of executor, his father David Ferguson.

Sources

1. ↑ NZBDM marriages 31/10/1888 1888/3346 Eliza Derham, John Lindsay Ferguson
2. ↑ NZBDM births 9/11/1889 1889/14769 Ferguson, John Lindsay, Eliza, John Lindsay
3. ↑ NZBDM deaths 26/4/1900 1900/3161 Ferguson, John Lindsay, 52Y
4. ↑ Otago Witness, Issue 2409, 3 May 1900, Page 45
5. ↑ Dunedin Cemetery, John Ferguson