T. J. FERGUSON. Prominent among the early pioneer families of Howell County, Missouri, stands the name of Ferguson. T. J. Ferguson, a prominent farmer of the same, resides four and a half miles west of Willow Springs. He was born in Greene County, Tennessee, August 12, 1849, to the union of William and Elizabeth (Hogan) Ferguson (see sketch of J. A. Ferguson). Our subject received his scholastic training in the schools of Tennessee and those of Howell County, Missouri However, the war put a stop to his schooling, but not until he had obtained a fair education. When twenty-one years of age he came to Howell County and lived on the old home farm at Willow Springs until 1875, when he married Miss M. Harris, daughter of James and Parmelia J. (Davis) Harris, natives of Tennessee.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris came to Howell County at an early day, and the father died here in 1885. Mrs. Harris is still living and makes her home south of Willow Springs. They were among the early settlers of that section, and he was a soldier in the Civil War. Mr. Harris was born in Tennessee, and moved thence to Terre Haute, Indiana, and thence to this county, when a single man. The Davis family settled early in this section of Missouri. Mrs. Ferguson was one of a family of twelve children, as follows: J. M., M. A., W. L., S. E., Jane, J. A., M. M., M. J., A. R., S. S., and R. J. Mrs. Ferguson was born in Shannon County, Missouri, February7, 1861.
After marriage our subject and wife located on a homestead two miles west of Willow Springs, improved it in every way, and there resided for eighteen years. In 1892 they sold out and bought their present farm, 320 acres of as good land as is to be found in the county, with 75 acres under cultivation. Their house is modern and tasty, and the outbuildings are all in first-class condition. In politics Mr. Ferguson is a Republican, and as a citizen and neighbor no one is better liked. He is a self-made man, and by his own exertions has accumulated a fair share of this world’s goods. He and Mrs. Ferguson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are influential and prominent citizens of the county. Seven children have been born to them: Sanford S. died when sixteen years of age; Arthur E., at home; Alfred C. died when two years old; Oscar J., at home; Ernest C.; Alton T. died when two months old, and Olis B. No man in the county has a better farm than Mr. Ferguson, and no one has done more hard work than he. Industrious, progressive and persevering, he well merits his success.