George Ferguson, hardware merchant at Glidden, is one of the old settlers of this town, dating his residence from 1870. He is a native of Scotland, born in Glasgow in 1834. His father, Benjamin Ferguson, came to America in 1848, his family following one year later and settling in Venango County, Pennsylvania, and in 1855 removed to Bureau County, Illinois. The father was a potter, and our subject, in his youth, learned the same trade. In 1860 he went to Rock Island County, Illinois, and worked at his trade there during the summer of 1860 and part of 1861. In August, 1861 he enlisted at Rock Island, Illinois, in Company A. Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and was Second Sergeant of his company. His regiment was mustered into service at Chicago, Illinois, September 16, 1861, and soon after went to St. Louis. From there they went to Pilot Knob, thence to Jacksonport, Arkansas, and during this time participated in several skirmishes. From Jacksonport he went to Helena, arriving at the latter place June 14, 1862, where his regiment was detailed as escort to General Benton. He was in a skirmish almost every week while at Helena. In November, 1862, he went, under General C. C. Washburn, into Mississippi, and was on General Gorman’s expedition up White River in January, 1863. In August of that year he was sent on scout duty to Grenada, Mississippi. He went to Germantown, Tennessee, April 13, and May 15 was in a skirmish to Cochran’s Cross Roads, Mississippi, and was also in several battles and skirmishes until September, 1864, when he received his discharge by reason of the expiration of his term of service. After leaving the army he returned to Bureau County, Illinois, where he was married in March, 1866, to Miss Mary A. Monrose, a native of Illinois. They are the parents of two children—A. H., who is employed on the engineer corps of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, and Hattie I. In the spring of 1868 Mr. Ferguson left Illinois for Greene County, Iowa, and was the first settler of Greenbrier Township, where he lived on a farm till he came to Carroll County in 1870. He then bought out the hardware and implement business of M. L. Peters, at Glidden, which he conducted alone until 1876. He then formed a partnership with George Chambers, which continued several years, when Mr. Ferguson disposed of his interest to his partner and went to Colorado for the benefit of his health. In the spring of 1882 he returned to Iowa and engaged in business at Coon Rapids. In the fall of 1883 he bought out the hardware stock of Potter & Armitage, of Glidden, and has since carried on that business with good success. Politically Mr. Ferguson affiliates with the Republican party. He is a comrade of the Grand Army Post at Glidden, of which he is commander.

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