Michigan Trails through Chippewa County
|
R.G. Ferguson, a leading business man of Chippewa County is the president of the Ferguson Hardward Co., one of the leading commercial concerns of Sault Ste Marie, the growth of which has been almost phenomenalwhen the time of its existence is taken into consideration. To successfully conduct such an enterprise requires a man ofkeen perception, resolute pupose, utiring perseverance and excellent managerial ability - qualities possessedin aln eminent degree by the president of the company.
He first came to this city in August 1888, and opened a hardware establishment ot become a jobbing house as their trade demanded. Itsoon became apparent that they must enlarge their stock if they would meet the wants of the public. Thisthey did and from the beginning they receivd a most liberal patronage. In 1893 the Ferguson Hardware Co. was organized, with a capital of $30,000, all paid in. The following are its officers; R.G. Ferguson, President; W.H. Miller, vice-president; A.L. Ferguson, secretary/Treasurer. From that date it was the firm's puprpose to do a general jobbing as well as a retair business, and this plan has been very successful. They furnish employment in the works here to some 10 tinners, and 8 clerks and o an annual business second to none in the ciyt. The stock consists of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves, tinware, mill and lumbermen's supplies, all kinds of tin work,plumbing and steam and water heating. The members of the company are men of practical business experience, thoroughly acquainted with their line of trade, scrupulously honest and exact in their dealings, and their success is well merited.
In connection with the history of this concern it is interesting to note farther facts concerning its efficient president, for he is a self-made man who hwas won prosperity entirely through his own efforts. He was born in brampton Ontario, Oct. 22, 1858. About 1868 his father removed with the family to St. Joseph MO. In his early life he had followed farming and on removing to the west began merchandising in St. Joseph. In 1873 he returned to the East and carried on a grocery trade in Bay City MI. He is now living retired from active business cares and makes his home in this city. He was born in St. Thomas,Ontario, and belongs to an old Canadian family of Scotch-Irish lineage. He has now reached the age of 73 and is enjoying a rest which he has turly earned and deserves. His wife, Catherine Golden, is 60 years of age. Their children are: R.G.; A.L. born April 15, 1864 and is secretary and treasurer of the hardware company. He was married in this city in Sept. 1891 to Alice McNaughton, a daughter of W.W. McNaughton and they have one child, Robert G. W.F. was born in 1867 and Ferguson August 18, 1877.
R.G. Ferguson received good school privileges, completing his education by study int he Christian Brothers College of St. Joseph MO. During his boyhood he entered the employ of W.H. Miller who is now vice-president of hte Ferguson Hardware Co. and for a time did service in the store and office. As time went on and he became thoroughly familiary with the business he won promotion in 1874. He was very successful - in fact he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. On leaving the road he came to Sault St. Marie and the history of his business career has already been given.
On the 20th of Sept. 1886 in Winnipeg Manitoba, Mr.Ferguson wsa married to Christina Baine, daughter of James Baine, formerly of Belleville Ontario. Their home is blessed with a daughter, Helen Elizabeth born August 20, 1887. Mr. Ferguson exercises his right of franchise in support of the Republican part. Socially he is a Knight Templar Mason and religiously is a Methodist.
Northern Pennisula 1895 Portraits & Biographical Pg 267
|
|
Robert G. Ferguson has been a resident of Sault Ste. Marie
during a period of forty years, and was here the founder of the
wholesale and retail hardware business of which he still continues
the executive head and which under his wise management has been
developed into one of the large and important concerns of this
kind in the Middle West. In addition to being president and general manager of the Soo Hardware company, Mr. Ferguson is
president of the First National bank, the Ojibway Park Hotel company, and the Sooford Auto company, in his home city, and also
of the HItinimcr-Ferguson Hardware company in the sister city
of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Canada. Mr. Ferguson was born at
Brampton. Ontario, Canada, October 22. 1858, and is a son of
Adam and Catherine (Golden) Ferguson, the former of whom was
born at St. Thomas, Ontario, and the latter of whom likewise
was a native of that province, the closing years of her life having
been passed in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, where occurred also
the death of her husband, after he had been for some time retired
from the mercantile business, his activities as a merchant in Michigan having been principally centered at Bay City, from which
latter place he came to Sault Ste. Marie.
Prior to his removal to Bay City he had been engaged for some time in the mercantile business at St. Joseph, Missouri. Robert G. Ferguson acquired his early education in the schools of Brampton, Ontario, and after the removal of the family to St. Joseph, Missouri, he there attended the Christian Brothers college. Thence he accompanied his parents to Bay City, Michigan, where he became a salesman and office executive in a wholesale hardware establishment, and later he was a traveling salesman for the same concern. These experiences gave him intimate and valuable knowledge of the various phases and details of the wholesale hardware trade and fortified him well for later independent operations in the same line. It was in the year 1887 that Mr. Ferguson established his residence in Sault Ste. Marie, and here organized the hardware firm of R. G. Ferguson & company. The business expanded rapidly in scope and importance, and in 1893, as a matter of commercial expediency, the firm was reorganized and the business incorporated, under the title of the Ferguson Hardware company, and with a fully paid in capital stock of $30,000. In 1896 another readjustment occurred and the present corporate title of Soo Hardware company was adopted, the founder of the business having since continued president and general manager, the other executive officers being A. L. Ferguson, vice-president, and D. M. Hackney, secretary and treasurer. The Soo Hardware company occupies a large and modern building that affords ample accommodations for the extensive and well selected stock of heavy and shelf hardware required in meeting the demands of its large wholesale trade, and the retail store of the company is the largest in Chippewa county. Mr. Ferguson has not only proved a vigorous and resourceful business man but has also stood forward as a loyal and progressive citizen. He has given his influence and liberal co-operation in the forwarding of measures and enterprises for the betterment of his home city and county, has served as a member of various public welfare boards, a member of the Michigan State Hospital for the Insane at Newberry, Luce county. He was appointed by Gov. Fred Warner as a member of the board of Newberry hospital and served 14 years in all. When the State Hospital Commission was organized in 1921, he was made a member of the commission by Governor Grosbeck and made chairman as reappointed by Governor Green, and he is still serving as chairman. This commission has control of all state hospitals for the insane and Michigan home and training school and all institutions located in Pontiac, Ionia, Kalamazoo and Newberry. He is a stalwart in the local ranks of the Republican party, is affiliated with both York and Scottish Rite bodies of the Masonic fraternity, in which connection it may be noted that on the paternal side he is of staunch Scotch-Irish ancestry, and he is an active member also of the local lodge of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. The maiden name of his wife was Christina Bain, and she was born at Belleville, Ontario, Canada, a daughter of James Bain. Helen E., the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, is now the wife of David M. Hackney, who is the present secretary of the Soo Hardware company and who is represented in a personal sketch elsewhere in this publication. A history of the upper peninsula of Michigan ...
|
