Ferguson, F.M. 1854-1926

FERGUSON, MOSSMAN, FLANAGAN, BARKER, LEFFLER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/18/2012 at 09:11:23

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Dec. 17, 1926

F.M. FFERGUSON BURIED HERE
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Funeral of Long Time Resident of Grinnell Held Thursday Afternoon.
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PASSED AWAY DEC. 11 IN POUGHKEEEPSIE, N.Y.
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Services Were Conducted By Rev. E.M. Vittum, Friend and Former Pastor.
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Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the Snyder Brothers chapel for F.M. Ferguson, for many years an honored and respected resident of Grinnell, who passed away December 11 at Poughkeepsie after an illness lasting since Nov. 17, when he experienced the first slight stroke of the paralysis which eventually caused his death. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson had been making their home in Poughkeepsie for several months. Mrs. Ferguson and daughter, Mrs. L.F. Mossman of Sansula, Fla., were with him when the end came and his son, Kenneth, of Chicago, had visited him a few days before the end came. Another daughter, Mrs. Hallie Flanagan is in Berlin studying drama under the Guggenheim Foundation.

The services Thursday afternoon were beautiful and impressive. Words of sympathy and comfort were spoken by Rev. E. M. Vitum, an old family friend and former pastor. The string quartette of the college furnished music. The pall bearers were C.S. George, E.W. Virden, J.W Harpster, John Behder, A.M. Burton and A.C. (???)

Interment was made in Hazelwood cemetery where his father and mother rest.

Mr. Ferguson was 72 years of age. He was born in Monroe, N.H., August 3, 1854. Besides his wife and children he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. A.C. Barker, a resident of California and Mrs. P.A. Leffler of New York City and a brother, C.W. Ferguson of Chicago.

Mr. Ferguson came west in young manhood and located in Omaha, later moving to Aberdeen, S.D. In 1900 he moved to Grinnell and the family home has been here since that time.

Mr. Ferguson was traveling salesman in the eighties for the firm of Craver, Steele & Austin. About 1900 he moved to Sonora for a short time, and was active in the work of the Church serving as assistant Supt. of the Sunday School.

Mr. Ferguson has always been interested in good things in Grinnell and it will always be remembered of him that at one critical period in the history of the college he was instrumental in raising between $50,000 and $75,000 for the endowment.

He was a member of the Masonic order.

His friends will like to remember of him that his last summer was spent in the Berkshire Hills among which he had been so happy as a boy and a young man and which he loved so dearly.

The body was accompanied to Grinnell by his son, Kenneth. Mrs. Ferguson, who has been ill, is better, but the doctor would not permit her to make the trip and she and Mrs. Mossman remained in Poughkeepsie.