Earl R. Ferguson, a man of purpose whose plans are well formulated and who accomplishes what lie plans, is a native son of Shenandoah, his birth having here occurred April 30, 1876. He is a son of judge W. P. Ferguson, mentioned elsewhere in this volume, and his work has been in accordance with the example set by his honored father, who from the earliest days of Shenandoah’s development has been a most important factor in its growth and upbuilding. At the usual age he was sent to the public schools and passing through the consecutive grades was graduated from the high school with the class of 1893. He afterward spent two years as a student at the Western Normal College and also one year on the Galveston (Tex.) News, his newspaper experience being. a source of benefit in widening his information and giving him practical business experience.
Returning to his home, Earl R. Ferguson took up the study of law, which he read with his father as his preceptor for three years. He was then admitted to the bar in 1900 before the supreme court at Des Moines, and at once entered upon active practice in Shenandoah, where he has since remained as a successful and capable follower of the profession, being recognized today as one of the leaders of the Page county bar, although the years of convection therewith of most of its members far outnumber his own. In no calling is advancement more dependent upon individual effort and it is by reason of his comprehensive knowledge of the law, his careful preparation of his cases and his keen discrimination in seeing the relation between legal principles and points in litigation that Mr. Ferguson has gained the place of distinction that he now occupies at the bar of southeastern Iowa. In the contested election of Hon. W. P. Hepburn versus W. D. Jamieson, although a republican Mr. Ferguson represented Mr. Jamieson, the democratic contestant, who was successful.
On the 22d of October, 1902, occurred the marriage of Mr. Ferguson and Miss Lucile Ann Bull, a daughter of Isaac T. and Jennie (Adams) Bull. Mrs. Ferguson was born in College Springs, Page county, September 30, 1878. She obtained her education in the public schools and Amity College, of her native town. Her parents came to Page county from Knox county, Illinois, in 187o and settled on a farm in Amity township, where they lived for about three decades. Retiring from active business life in 1889, Mr. Bull then removed to Shenandoah, where he and his wife still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson have one child, Sterling Burnet, born August 7, 1903.
The parents are members of the First Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Ferguson is serving as a trustee and in the work of which they are actively and helpfully interested. Mr. Ferguson is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degree of the blue lodge and the chapter, and is also connected through membership relations with the Elks, the Woodmen, the Maccabees, the Foresters, the Highlanders, the Knights and Ladies of Security, the Caledonian Club and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and the political offices which he has filled have been in the line of his profession. For eight years he acted as justice of the peace, trying cases in the justice courts before he was seventeen years of age.
He has also filled the office of city attorney for four years. Shenandoah owes much to him for his efforts in her behalf as he has been one of the main factors in exploiting the advantages and opportunities of his home town and has been chiefly instrumental in bringing to its portals almost every industry which is now found here and which contributes to the business activity and consequent prosperity of the city. He owns a modern residence and other Shenandoah realty and lie has one of the best law libraries in Page county and is an able attorney with a splendid future before him. Also numbered among the vigorous, energetic, enterprising young men, his property has come as the result of the many substantial and admirable qualities which lie has displayed and which have gained him a firm hold on the affection of his fellow townsmen, as well as a prominent place in professional ranks and in connection with public affairs.