M.W. FERGUSON of Section 31, Carson Township was born in Wayne County, Indiana, March 1, 1821, the son of Nimrod and Elizabeth Isabelle Ferguson, both from in Wilkes County, North Carolina. They came to Wayne County in 1812, but they were forced to move back to their old home in North Carolina on account of trouble with the Indians. They again moved to Wayne County where they remained until 1849 and then came to Edgar County, Illinois and in 1855 to Jasper County, Iowa. M.W. Ferguson remained in Jasper County until 1867, when he went to Dallas County, Iowa and then to Fremont City, Iowa, where he bought 160 acres of wild land, which he broke and to which he has since added another 120 acres of wild land, which he broke and to which he has since added another 120 acres, until he now has 280 acres of land in a fine state of cultivation. He engaged in extensive grain and stock raising, being quite successful in each.

Mr. Ferguson was married in July 1860, in Jasper County to Miss Mary Jane Hanley, a woman of intelligence, who was born in Wayne County, Kentucky the daughter of George W. Hanley. They have three children: George Ferguson, at home; James I., who is one of the successful teachers of the county, and Mary the wife of George Conod of Carson Township. Politically Mr. Ferguson is a Democrat. Mrs. Ferguson was brought up under the auspices of the Christian Church, while her husband was raised in the Baptist Church.

Contributed by: Darlene Vergamini