MARMADUKE E. FERGUSON

Marmaduke E. Ferguson is one of the successful small farmers of Drew COunty, Ark., and although his farm comprises only 120 acres, it is exeedeingly fertile and well tilled, and consequently yields a larger annual income than many larger farms. He was born in South Carolina, November 5, 1839, but was reared in Drew County, Ark., his father Jonathan Ferguson, having come here in 1846. His early educational advantages were good, and he was for some time an attendant of the schools of Monticello, but at the age of eighteen years he gave up school life and began fighting his own way in the world as a mechanic, which occupation he continued to follow until the bursting of the war cloud, which had so long been hovering over the country. He then entered the Confederate service, in May, 1861, became a member of Company C., Third Arkansas Infantry, Longstreet's corps and Lee's army and served throughout the entire war, being a participant in the battle of Seven Pines; all the engagements around Richmond, Petersburg, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, Antietam, Fortress Monroe, Harper's Ferry, Greenbriar, Sharpsburg, Mount Jackson, and numerous small engagements and skirmishes. He was wounded at Sharpsburg, Md., by the explosion of a shell, the wound being in the left leg above the knee and in the right hand, which resulted in permanent disability, although he continued to remain in the service. He was also slightly wounded in the shoulder at Strausburg, and was there captured in the early part of 1865 and sent to Camp Chase, where he was kept for about four and a half months. April 18, 1865, he took the oath of allegiance and went to Wheeling, Va., where he remained until the November following, engaged in managing a vineyard and working as a mechanic in the navy yard. He left this place for St. Louis, but only remained in the latter city engaged in business for a short time, and in November 1865, reached Drew County, Ark. After farming for three years he began milling and cotton-ginning, but as above stated is now giving his attention to agricultural pursuits, and of his farm has seventy acres under cultivation. He was married in Drew County, June 6, 1866, to Mrs. Mary E. Owen, a native of Shelby COunty, Tenn., born in 1839, a daughter of James H. and Salina Owen, who are now deceased. Mrs. Ferguson passed from life January 7, 1883, having borne a family of three sons and three daughters: Hyder, James L., Edward, Minnie, Theresa and Bettie R. Mr. Ferguson's second union took place October 23, 1884, to Mrs. Josephine Glosup, widow of B. Glosup, who died in 1879, and a daughter of Rev. A. Tomlin, a minister of the Baptist Church. He and wife, Nannie Tomlin, are now living in Drew County. Mr. Ferguson's second marriage has resulted in the birth of two children: Sallie, who died in 1886, and Cleveland. Mr. Ferguson is a Democrat in his views, and has for a number of years been a member of the Christian Church. Mrs. Ferguson had six children by her first husband, the following of whom are living: Emma (wife of Joseph L. Doss), Franklin, Jesse R., Irene, Henry, and a son and daughter deceased.

 

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