The  Arnold  Ferguson Family Story 1876-1981

This all started in 1876 when the Reverend Robert Alexander Ferguson from Pilot Grove Iowa, was visiting his sister, Mrs. Joseph Rayburn (Aunt of Sam Rayburn) and her family near Mesquite, TX.  While in the vicinity he met Mr. W.W. Purinton, Esq. Who was a land agent for the railroads.  Rev. Ferguson was interested in making some investments in land, so on the 5th of April 1876, he and Mr. Purinton left from Sherman, Texas In a buggy with a team of horses heading West. After several days of travel they arrived at a place near what was known as the Big Wichita River where two families had settled and they planned to start a town, which they would call ??? City. Later to become Wichita Falls. One of the families was a Mr. and Mrs. Williams with whom they spent several days. If the trip was continued on into the Texas Panhandle, it is not known, however, at this time he also bought three sections of land in what is now Hansford County, Texas for fifty cents per acre. Some years later this land was leased to Clayton McCrea of the Zulu Ranch and to the James Cator Ranch for grazing purposes. In 1929, Arnold E. Ferguson, grandson of the Reverend Ferguson moved to one of the sections near the new town of Gruver in Hansford County, bringing with him his wife and a year old son, Roy Donnell (Don). That summer and fall he broke out 600 acres of sod and planted a wheat crop. He and his father also put up two barns and a house and had a water-well dug. This all happened at the beginning of the great depression along with the years of drought and the awful dust storms that continued throughout the 1930's. Thus was a difficult time for most farmers in the area and especially for Ferguson who had spent all the money he had and all he could borrow to get started farming. There was a tractor, plows, drills and a combine to buy, operating and living expenses, then, fighting the wind erosion, terracing and strip-planting the land.  During the 1930's three more children were born to the family: Robert Clark (Bob), Corinne A, and Richard (Dick).  In 1941 Arnold E Ferguson accepted a position with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the Commodity Loan Supervisor for grain in the state of Texas. In 1943 he was transferred to Washington, D.C. as the supervisor of grain loans for the nine southern states. In 1945 he transferred to Kansas City, MO., as the Field Representative for the Commodity Credit Corporation. In 1949 he returned to the farming and cattle business on the farm near Gruver. In 1954 when son, Robert (Bob) was discharged from the US. Air Force, he took over the operation of the Ferguson farm and grassland. While Bob was in the service, he was married to Peggy Pierce. They have three children, Monte R., Douglas E., and Denise. Bob continues to farm the land that has been in the Ferguson family for more than 105 years.

Written by Arnold E. Ferguson. Hansford County History Vol. II page 112-113 1983

ROBERT C. FERGUSON FAMILY STORY

Robert Alexander Ferguson was born in 1833 in Blount County Tennessee. He entered Ewing and Jefferson College In 1855, and graduated in 1861, and was soon after ordained as a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. During the fall of 1863, East Tennessee was the scene of contending armies. The forces of General Burnside and General Longstreet, occupied the country most of the time. Battles were fought, and the country generally laid to waste. The churches were either burned, or used as hospitals. Since he was unable to accomplish much in his field in that area, he decided to move to Illinois. In 1867, now married, he moved to Iowa, where he lived until his death, in 1899. He was a popular and sought after minister in his church, consequently, he was called upon to do considerable traveling. He made a number of trips to various places in Texas on his church work, and when there would usually include a visit to his brothers and sisters who had moved there from Tennessee. His sister had married Joseph Rayburn (Sam Rayburn family). Reverend Ferguson's wife, Helen A., had a substantial inheritance from her family, and this he invested in new lands. In 1876, he purchased several sections of land in what is now Hansford County, and one section in Wichita County. In his diaries, he tells of a trip he took over his land. He and Land Agent Mr. W.W. Purinton, Esq., left from Sherman, Texas in a buggy and a team of horses. After several days of travel, and camping out at night, they reached the pro-posed town of Wichita City (now Wichita Falls), where there were two houses and where two families lived. They stayed with one of them, Mr. and Mrs. Williams. He looked over his land nearby, and also over the section a friend of his had purchased, declaring this to be some of the finest land he had ever seen. There is no information available on the continuation of his trip to the Panhandle. After hrs death in 1899, his two sons, Robert D. and Roy C. Ferguson, became owners of the Hansford County land. They arranged grazing leases with Mr. Clayton McCrea of Zulu, and, later with Mr. W.B. Hart, and with Mr. James Cator, Sr. This arrangement continued until 1929, when Arnold Ferguson, son of Robert D. Ferguson and his wife Mildred (Weaver) Ferguson, and their son Roy Donnel, moved to the land and began wheat farming and a small cattle operation. The dust storms, drought, and depression, in the early and mid-thirties, nearly ended his career as a farmer and rancher. Wheat was sold at the elevator for as little as 26 cents per bushel, and several years during that period, there was no crop production. Also born to Arnold and Mildred Ferguson were, Robert Clark, Corrine Amelia and Richard Albert Ferguson. In 1954, Robert C. Ferguson, after being discharged from the US Air Force, and his wife Peggy (Pierce), moved to the farm and took over the operation, which they have continued to do to this date. They have raised their family of two sons and a daughter there. All of the children are married and have children of their own, making Bob and Peggy grandparents to four boys and two girls. Monte Robert Ferguson lives at Wellington,Texas. His wife is Brenda (Childers) and they have one son, Damon Lee. Douglas Earl Ferguson lives in Gruver, Texas, with his wife, Cindy (Wallin). They have two sons, Tek Douglas and Travis Lynn. Peggy Denise Canada lives in Gruver and has three children, two daughters and a son; Shannon Denise, Mark Cole, and Diana  By Robert C. Ferguson from Hansford County History Vol. II pg. 113 1983