James Fergus (October 8, 1813 – June 5, 1902) was a miner, rancher, businessman and politician in Minnesota and Montana. He immigrated as a young man from Scotland and became a naturalized United States citizen. He helped develop the frontier in both territories, founding cities and counties.
Fergus was born in 1813 in Lanarkshire, Scotland. As a young man, he immigrated to the United States via Canada in 1835. He was one of the founders of Little Falls, Minnesota and Fergus Falls in the same state Was named for him.[2] Fergus was naturalized and obtained his citizenship in October 1842.
In 1845 Fergus married Pamelia Dillin in Moline, Illinois. They had four children: Andrew, Mary Agnes, Luella, and Lillie.[3]
Politicsedit
After becoming a US citizen, Fergus became deeply interested in politics. In 1856, he was elected Judge of Probate for Morrison County, Minnesota Territory (Little Falls was in this county). Two years later, he was elected to a two-year term as Morrison County Treasurer.[4]
Fergus moved with his family west to Montana Territory. He became involved in territorial and state politics.[3][5] In 1869, Fergus was appointed to a vacant seat as county commissioner of Lewis and Clark County.
In 1873 and in 1875 Fergus served as a precinct chairman in Montana for the Republican Party.[5] In 1879 he was elected to represent Fergus County in the Territorial House of Representatives.[5] Fergus was instrumental to the Republican party in Montana, as chairman and through his writings in local newspapers.
In 1884 he participated in the constitutional convention in preparation for seeking admission of the territory as a state. At the same time, he promoted the organization of Fergus County and is considered its founder.[3]
Businessedit
In 1895, James Fergus and his son Andrew Fergus expanded their ranching business operation. They created a family corporation named Fergus Livestock and Land Company. It developed as one of biggest ranching operations in central Montana.[3] Their ranch was located on Armells Creek in northeastern Fergus County. James died in 1902 and Andrew before his time. Due to the loss of these business leaders and the economic strains of the Great Depression, heirs were forced to sell this exceptional ranch.
Deathedit
Fergus died June 5, 1902.[5] Andrew Fergus died in 1928, shortly before the stock market crash and onset of the Great Depression.[3]
^ abcd"James Fergus: The Grand Old Man of Montana", Rootsweb
April 18, 2024
james, fergus, roman, catholic, bishop, bishop, american, author, fergus, october, 1813, june, 1902, miner, rancher, businessman, politician, minnesota, montana, immigrated, young, from, scotland, became, naturalized, united, states, citizen, helped, develop, . For the Roman Catholic bishop see James Fergus bishop For the American author see Jim Fergus James Fergus October 8 1813 June 5 1902 was a miner rancher businessman and politician in Minnesota and Montana He immigrated as a young man from Scotland and became a naturalized United States citizen He helped develop the frontier in both territories founding cities and counties James FergusJames Fergus ca 1885 1 BornGlassford Lanarkshire ScotlandNationalityScottish American naturalized 1842 Occupation s Businessman cattleman miner politician Contents 1 Early life 2 Politics 3 Business 4 Death 5 Legacy 6 ReferencesEarly life editFergus was born in 1813 in Lanarkshire Scotland As a young man he immigrated to the United States via Canada in 1835 He was one of the founders of Little Falls Minnesota and Fergus Falls in the same state Was named for him 2 Fergus was naturalized and obtained his citizenship in October 1842 In 1845 Fergus married Pamelia Dillin in Moline Illinois They had four children Andrew Mary Agnes Luella and Lillie 3 Politics editAfter becoming a US citizen Fergus became deeply interested in politics In 1856 he was elected Judge of Probate for Morrison County Minnesota Territory Little Falls was in this county Two years later he was elected to a two year term as Morrison County Treasurer 4 Fergus moved with his family west to Montana Territory He became involved in territorial and state politics 3 5 In 1869 Fergus was appointed to a vacant seat as county commissioner of Lewis and Clark County In 1873 and in 1875 Fergus served as a precinct chairman in Montana for the Republican Party 5 In 1879 he was elected to represent Fergus County in the Territorial House of Representatives 5 Fergus was instrumental to the Republican party in Montana as chairman and through his writings in local newspapers In 1884 he participated in the constitutional convention in preparation for seeking admission of the territory as a state At the same time he promoted the organization of Fergus County and is considered its founder 3 Business editIn 1895 James Fergus and his son Andrew Fergus expanded their ranching business operation They created a family corporation named Fergus Livestock and Land Company It developed as one of biggest ranching operations in central Montana 3 Their ranch was located on Armells Creek in northeastern Fergus County James died in 1902 and Andrew before his time Due to the loss of these business leaders and the economic strains of the Great Depression heirs were forced to sell this exceptional ranch Death editFergus died June 5 1902 5 Andrew Fergus died in 1928 shortly before the stock market crash and onset of the Great Depression 3 Legacy editFergus was posthumously inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame District 6 References edit Leeson Michael A 1885 History of Montana 1739 1885 A History Of Its Discovery And Settlement Social And Commercial Progress Mines And Miners Agriculture And Stock Growing Schools And Societies Indians And Indian Wars Vigilantes Courts Justice Newspaper Press Navigation Railroads And Statistics Histories Of Counties Cities Villages And Mining Camps Also Personal Reminiscences Of Great Historic Value Views Of The Territory In Our Times And Portraits Of Pioneers And Representative Men In The Professions And Trades Chicago Warner Beers and Company p 134 Archived from the original on 2011 09 29 Retrieved 2020 01 30 Upham Warren 1920 Minnesota Geographic Names Their Origin and Historic Significance Minnesota Historical Society p 394 a b c d e Guide to the James Fergus Papers at the University of Montana James Fergus a b c d James Fergus The Grand Old Man of Montana Rootsweb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Fergus amp oldid 1217929492, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
