Ferguson was born on March 17, 1857, near Des Moines, Iowa. The following year, he moved to Emporia, Kansas, with his parents. His mother died in 1860, and his father enlisted in the Union Army at the beginning of the Civil War. He was raised by his older sister, was educated in public schools and by teaching, he was able to finance his course through the Kansas State Normal School at Emporia. [a] An earnest Bible student, he was ordained as a Methodist minister and after a short time moved to Chautauqua County, Kansas. There, Ferguson taught school for nine years and married Elva Shartel on June 9, 1885, in Sedan, Kansas.[1]
CareerEdit
In 1889, Ferguson joined the Oklahoma Land Run and staked a claim near Oklahoma City which he later sold and returned to Sedan, Kansas, where he purchased the Sedan Republican and edited it for two years. In October 1892, he moved to Watonga, Oklahoma Territory and established the Watonga Republican newspaper which he continued to publish until his death. He was appointed postmaster of Watonga in 1897.[2]
PresidentTheodore Roosevelt appointed Ferguson as the sixth Governor of Oklahoma Territory (anecdotally, when Roosevelt offered Ferguson the position via telegram, Ferguson's wife Elva[3] accepted on his behalf without consulting him)[4] and he assumed the office on November 30, 1901. He served until January 5, 1906. Upon retirement, he returned to his residence in Watonga. He made two notable attempts to return to his public service. He was a candidate for U.S. Representative from Oklahoma in 1907[2] and the Republican candidate for Governor of Oklahoma in 1910.
DeathEdit
Ferguson died on February 14, 1921, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After a formal tribute in the Chamber of the House of Representatives, presided over by then-Governor James B. A. Robertson, his remains were returned to Watonga and were interred at Watonga City Cemetery.
LegacyEdit
Historian John B. Meserve, who summarized the effects of the Territorial Governors in the Chronicles of Oklahoma
...his executive functions were devoted to giving the territory an honest, sober and economical administration. Aside from this sterling service, the regime of Governor Ferguson offered no outstanding features, but it will abide in the annals of history as a most successful tenure. His term of office occasioned less criticism than any of the preceding administrations in the territory. The governor had experienced the hardships and deprivations of the early formative days of the territory and knew the problems which had confronted and still confronted the pioneer folk whose political affairs he was undertaking to guide. He possessed the qualities essential for an executive and with patient but firm resolve gave to the territory a splendid administration and will linger as an outstanding governor of the old territory.[5]
Upon his retirement, he resumed his residence at Watonga and in 1907 made an unsuccessful race for Congress against his Democratic opponent. He continued publishing his newspaper until his death.[5]
thompson, benton, ferguson, march, 1857, february, 1921, sixth, governor, oklahoma, territory, sixth, governor, oklahoma, territory, 1906, 1907, born, 1857, march, 1857polk, county, iowadiedfebruary, 1921, 1921, aged, oklahoma, citynationalityamericanoccupatio. Thompson Benton Ferguson March 17 1857 February 14 1921 was the sixth governor of Oklahoma Territory Thompson Benton FergusonSixth Governor of Oklahoma Territory 1906 1907 Born 1857 03 17 March 17 1857Polk County IowaDiedFebruary 14 1921 1921 02 14 aged 63 Oklahoma CityNationalityAmericanOccupation s minister educator postmaster newspaper editor and publisherYears active1876 1921Known forTerritorial Governor of Oklahoma Territory Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death 4 Legacy 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditFerguson was born on March 17 1857 near Des Moines Iowa The following year he moved to Emporia Kansas with his parents His mother died in 1860 and his father enlisted in the Union Army at the beginning of the Civil War He was raised by his older sister was educated in public schools and by teaching he was able to finance his course through the Kansas State Normal School at Emporia a An earnest Bible student he was ordained as a Methodist minister and after a short time moved to Chautauqua County Kansas There Ferguson taught school for nine years and married Elva Shartel on June 9 1885 in Sedan Kansas 1 Career EditIn 1889 Ferguson joined the Oklahoma Land Run and staked a claim near Oklahoma City which he later sold and returned to Sedan Kansas where he purchased the Sedan Republican and edited it for two years In October 1892 he moved to Watonga Oklahoma Territory and established the Watonga Republican newspaper which he continued to publish until his death He was appointed postmaster of Watonga in 1897 2 President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Ferguson as the sixth Governor of Oklahoma Territory anecdotally when Roosevelt offered Ferguson the position via telegram Ferguson s wife Elva 3 accepted on his behalf without consulting him 4 and he assumed the office on November 30 1901 He served until January 5 1906 Upon retirement he returned to his residence in Watonga He made two notable attempts to return to his public service He was a candidate for U S Representative from Oklahoma in 1907 2 and the Republican candidate for Governor of Oklahoma in 1910 Death EditFerguson died on February 14 1921 in Oklahoma City Oklahoma After a formal tribute in the Chamber of the House of Representatives presided over by then Governor James B A Robertson his remains were returned to Watonga and were interred at Watonga City Cemetery Legacy EditHistorian John B Meserve who summarized the effects of the Territorial Governors in the Chronicles of Oklahoma his executive functions were devoted to giving the territory an honest sober and economical administration Aside from this sterling service the regime of Governor Ferguson offered no outstanding features but it will abide in the annals of history as a most successful tenure His term of office occasioned less criticism than any of the preceding administrations in the territory The governor had experienced the hardships and deprivations of the early formative days of the territory and knew the problems which had confronted and still confronted the pioneer folk whose political affairs he was undertaking to guide He possessed the qualities essential for an executive and with patient but firm resolve gave to the territory a splendid administration and will linger as an outstanding governor of the old territory 5 Upon his retirement he resumed his residence at Watonga and in 1907 made an unsuccessful race for Congress against his Democratic opponent He continued publishing his newspaper until his death 5 Notes Edit Kansas State Normal School is now known as Emporia State University ESU References Edit Thompson Benton Ferguson Chronicles of Oklahoma Archived from the original on 26 March 2015 Retrieved 11 September 2012 a b Thompson Benton Ferguson The Political Graveyard Retrieved 11 September 2012 Ferguson Elva Shartel by Linda W Reese at The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture retrieved November 27 2020 The First Lady of Oklahoma in The Tacoma Times via Chronicling America published June 29 1904 a b Meserve John Bartlett The Governors of Oklahoma Territory Chronicles of Oklahoma September 20 1942 Vol 20 No 3 pp 218 Accessed December 3 2019 External links Edit Index to Politicians Ferguson The Political Graveyard Retrieved 2008 08 01 Governors Of Oklahoma Rootsweb Retrieved 2008 08 01 Thompson Benton Ferguson at Find a Grave Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture Ferguson Thompson Benton Chronicles of Oklahoma Political officesPreceded byWilliam C GrimesActing Territorial Governor Governor of Oklahoma TerritoryUnder President Theodore Roosevelt1901 1906 Succeeded byFrank Frantz Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thompson Benton Ferguson amp oldid 1145160138, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
