W.F. Ferguson

W.F. FERGUSON, of the firm of W.F. Ferguson & Company, a popular dry-goods firm in Sault de Sainte Marie, Michigan, has been identified with this city since 1888. His training having been in the boot and shoe trade, he opened a stock in that line at 80 Ashmun street, and conducted business until the organization of the present firm and the erection of its building. They carry a $25,000 stock. Their annual business is exceeded by only one dry-goods business in the “Soo,” and their financial rating gilt-edged and among the best in the city.

Mr. Ferguson was born in Ontario, November 10, 1866, a son of Adam Ferguson. He was educated in the Bay City schools, and at sixteen began his mercantile career as clerk for F.J. Mariontate, a dry-goods, boot and shoe man at Bay City. Upon the failure of his employer and the purchase of the stock by Burnham, Stoepell & Company, of Detroit, Mr. Ferguson was employed to manage the business, and remained with them three years.

March 15, 1892, Mr. Ferguson was married, in Sault Sainte Marie, to Miss Gussie Adams, and they one child, Clarence N., aged two years.

Mrs. Ferguson’s father, R.N. Adams, is a leading business man in this city, –a real estate dealer and capitalist. He was born in Hastings county, Ontario, May 13, 1844, and was a farmer until he embarked in real estate business here in 1888. He came to the United States in 1879, with some means, and bought a farm of 157 acres adjoining the town site of Sault Sainte Marie, which land he improved and cultivated. He has deal quite extensively in realty here, and is the holder of a large amount of property at present without the frequent attendant embarrassments following the collapse of a boom. He is interested with W.F. Ferguson & Company, is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Sault Sainte Marie, and is a member of the School Board and a Trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He takes a citizens’ interest in politics and fraternizes with the Republicans. His parents were John and Ann (Newton) Adams, the former a native of Cheshire, England, and the latter of Sligo, Ireland. Mrs. Ferguson’s mother was before her marriage Miss Elizabeth Ann Carr, of Yorkshire, England. Mr. and Mrs. Adams were married June 19, 1868, and are the parents of the following named children: George H., Mrs. Ferguson, John N., E. Gertrude, Clement L. and Lillian.

Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.