Bio: Ferguson, Samuel & Johanna
Contact: Stan
----Source: Jill Ferguson, Local Histories, Federal Census Reports & Family Records, Clark Co., WI History Buffs Researchers
Surnames: Bone, Dunnivan, Ferguson, O'Neill, Palmer
Samuel & Johanna Ferguson
Samuel Ferguson was the first white man to make actual settlement and enter land in Clark County. He initially settled in the area of Neillsville in the spring of 1845 when his employers, James and Alexander O'Neill, changed their base of operations from Prairie du Chien. In June, James O'Neill, Henry O'Neill (who died in 1859), with E. L. Brockway, (who subsequently settled in Jackson County) and Samuel and William Ferguson, accompanied by a number of laborers, removed to what is today Neillsville. Consequently, these individuals became the first settlers in the area which was later organized as Clark County, Wisconsin. The party came overland in a wagon, drawn by an ox team, cutting their way through the brush and other obstructions, and were two days on the trip. This was the first road ever made in the county.
At that time, the village site, as also a large portion of the county, was an uninhabited wilderness. Game of all kind was abundant; deer, wolves, otter, mink, beaver and martin were abundant. Deer could be easily shot from the doorway of the O'Neill cabin and wolves frequently chased them around the clearing. Often, the deer would hide behind the dam at the rear of the mill.
At that time, O'Neill's residence and mill, with Samuel Ferguson's bachelor's hall and his blacksmith shop, which stood on the lot which was later occupied by a brickyard , were the only buildings to be seen on the four acres appropriated for village purposes.
Sometime in the 1850's, Samuel ventured to Pennsylvania where he married before returning to Pine Valley Township in 1856 and purchasing his land.
Samuel's wife, Johanna, died just a few months before Samuel. She had been a widow when she married Mr. Ferguson, and was the mother of C. F. Bone, the editor of the Rice Lake Times. Samuel and Johanna are buried in the Neillsville City Cemetery.
The Fergusons were neighbors of Ira and Mary Hill and the family of David and Helen Sturdevant.
Samuel's nephew, James W. Ferguson was Postmaster of Neillsville. He was born in Erie Co., Pennsylvania Aug. 16, 1840. In April, 1854, he moved to Neillsville and when the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in the 14th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered out, Oct. 9, 1865, and returned to Neillsville in 1867 and worked as a tinner until he was appointed postmaster in 1871. James married Miss Amelia Palmer, of Neillsville and they had two children, Clara and Edward J.
In later years he went to Washington
state as this statement from the Military Record of Clark Co 1918 states:
Those now living are: James Ferguson, who resides in the state of Washington,
and who is engaged in the hardware business at Wenatchee.
This information also confirms the above and is taken from a Palmer Family
History online:
Amelia PALMER b: 11 Mar 1843 in Windsor, Ashtabula Co., OH d: 26 Jan 1916 in
Wenatchee, Chelan Co., WA
................ +James W. FERGUSON b: 16 Aug 1846 in Erie Co., PA m: 01 Sep
1870 in Neillsville, Clark Co., WI d: 29 Aug 1914 in Wenatchee, Chelan Co., WA
| 1880 Federal Census--Pine Valley, Clark Co., Wisconsin | |||||||||
| Name | Relation | Marital |
Sex |
Color |
Birth Year |
Birthplace |
Occupation |
Father Born | Mother Born |
| Samuel Ferguson | Head | M | Male | White | 72 | Ohio | Farmer | Pennsylvania | Virginia |
| Johanna Ferguson | Wife | M | Female | White | 63 | Pennsylvania | Housekeeping | Ireland | New Jersy |
| Emma M. Ferguson | Daughter | S | Female | White | 20 | Wisconsin | Teacher | Ohio | Pennsylvania |
Researcher's Notes (Provided by Lani Batelt)
A family member has claimed that Samuel Ferguson fought in the 4th WI Cavalry during the Civil War, but this has not been substantiated.
Lani Bartelt note/April,2006
Upon further research here is the proof that Samuel was indeed in the 4th WI Calvary during the Civil War
Samuel D Ferguson
Regiment - 4th WI Calvary
Company A
Rank In PVT
Rank Out Cpl
Alternate Name - Samuel D Furgerson
4th Regiment, Wisconsin Cavalry
Organized at Racine, Wis., as 4th Wisconsin Infantry and mustered in July 2, 1861. Moved to Baltimore, Md., July 15-22. Attached to Dix's Division, Baltimore, Md., to February, 1862. Williams' Brigade, Butler's New Orleans Expedition, to April, 1862. 2nd Brigade, Dept. of the Gulf, to December, 1862. Grover's Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to January, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 19th Army Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to July, 1863. Cavalry Brigade, 19th Army Corps, July, 1863. District of Baton Rouge, La., Dept. of the Gulf, to October, 1863. (Designation changed to 4th Cavalry August 22, 1863.) Unattached, Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to January, 1864. District Baton Rouge, La., Dept. Gulf, to June, 1864. 4th Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. Gulf, to August, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, Dept. Gulf, to February, 1865. Cavalry Brigade, District of Baton Rouge, to March, 1865. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Military Division West Mississippi to April, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Dept. of the Gulf, to May, 1865. 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Dept. of the Gulf, to July, 1865. Dept. of Texas, to May, 1866.
SERVICE.-Guard railroad near Baltimore, Md., till November, 1861. Expedition to eastern shore of Maryland November 14-22. Duty at Baltimore till February, 1862. Moved to Fortress Monroe, Va., February 19, thence sailed on Steamer "Constitution" for Ship Island, Miss., March 5, arriving there March 13, and duty there till April 16. Operations against Forts Jackson and St. Phillip April 16-29. Surrender of Fort St. Phillip April 29. Occupation of New Orleans May 2. Expedition to New Orleans and Jackson Railroad May 8-10. Occupation of Baton Rouge May 12. Reconnoissance to Warrenton May 14-29. At Baton Rouge till June 17. Expedition from Baton Rouge June 7-9 (2 Cos.). Williams' Expedition to Vicksburg, Miss., and operations in that vicinity June 20-July 26. Grand Gulf June 23-24. Battle of Baton Rouge, La., August 5. Evacuation of Baton Rouge August 20. At Carrollton till September 29 and at Camp Parapet till December 19. Bayou Des Allemands September 4-5. Expedition from Carrollton to St. Charles' Court House September 7-8. Bonnet Carre near St. Charles' Court House September 8. Moved to Baton Rouge December 19, and duty there till February, 1863. (Co. "G" detached for Heavy Artillery service in the Defences of New Orleans November 13, 1862, to August 14, 1863.) Moved to Bayou Plaquemine February 6, 1863. Expedition to Indian Village February 13. To New Orleans February 23, thence to Baton Rouge March 6. Demonstration on Port Hudson March 7-27. Operations in Western Louisiana April 9-May 14. Teche Campaign April 11-20. Fort Bisland April 12-13. Pursuit to Opelousas April 15-20. Expedition to Bayou Plaquemine April 22-23. Expedition from Opelouses to Chicotsville and Bayou Boeuf April 26-29. Near Washington May 1. Boyce's Bridge, Cotile Bayou, May 14. Cheyneyville May 18. March to Port Hudson May 19-25. Siege of Port Hudson May 25-June 9. Expedition to Niblitt's Bluff May 26-29. Assault on Port Hudson June 14. Grierson's Expedition to Clinton June 1-6. Clinton June 3-4. Surrender of Port Hudson July 9. Moved to Baton Rouge, La., July 25, and duty there till September. Designation of Regiment changed to 4th Wisconsin Cavalry August 22, 1863. Duty at Baton Rouge engaged in scouting, picketing and operating against guerrillas in that section of country lying between the Comite, Amite and Mississippi Rivers till June, 1864. Near Baton Rouge September 8, 1863 (Detachment). Greenwell Springs Road September 19 (Detachment), and October 5. Donaldsville February 8, 1864. New River February 9. Expedition to Rosedale February 14-22. Baton Rouge March 8. Black Bayou March 19. Reconnoissance to Clinton May 1. Olive Branch Church near Baton Rouge May 3. Baton Rouge June 16. Plaquemine June 28. Ordered to Morganza June 29, and duty there till August 9. Plaquemine August 6. Moved to Baton Rouge August 9. Near Bayou Letsworth August 11. Expedition to Clinton August 25-29. Olive Branch, Comite River and Clinton August 25. Expedition to Clinton, Greensburg and Camp Moore October 5-9. Expedition from Baton Rouge to Brookhaven, Miss., and skirmishes November 14-21. Liberty Creek November 15. Jackson November 21. Davidson Expedition to Mobile & Ohio Railroad and Pascagoula Bay November 27-December 13. At Baton Rouge till April, 1865. Mobile Campaign April. Capture of Mobile April 12. March through Alabama to Georgia and to Vicksburg, Miss., April 18-June 5. Moved to Shreveport, La., June 26-July 2. March to San Antonio, Texas July 8-August 3, and duty there till October. Expedition to Fort Inge and to Fort Clark and Eagle Pass September. Guard and patrol duty along the Rio Grande from Brownsville to Laredo till May, 1866. Mustered out at Brownsville May 28, 1866. Moved to Madison, Wis., June 3-18, and discharged June 19, 1866.
Regiment lost during service 11 Officers and 106 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 311 Enlisted men by disease. Total 431.
Predecessor unit:
UNION WISCONSIN VOLUNTEERS.
4th REGIMENT INFANTRY.
Organized at Racine, Wis., and mustered in July 2, 1861. Moved to Baltimore, Md., July 15-22. Designation changed to 4th Wisconsin Cavalry August 22, 1863. Service given under 4th Regiment Cavalry (which see).
Samuel Ferguson is a brother of my husband's great-great grandfather, and I can share some information.
Samuel's family came from Cumberland Co, PA to Winchester, VA and then to what is now Ashtabula Co, Ohio. Samuel was born there on 5 Oct 1808. His family then moved to Erie Co, PA. Samuel and his brother William, as stated in your "History of Samuel and Johanna Ferguson", removed to Clark Co, WI.
Samuel later returned to Erie and married Joanna Dunnivan Bone, a widow, on 10 Mar 1854. Joanna's first husband was Francis Bone, father of Charles Francis Bone (the Rice Lake editor), and a son of John Bone, keeper of the Erie Landlight from 1818 to 1833. The marriage announcement stated that Samuel was "of Wisconsin." Their children were: -Harry Ferguson (26 Dec 1854, Neillsville, WI-14 Dec 1918, Minneapolis, MN) Harry married Alice Cornwell on 5 May 1877. -Emma Marie (19 Feb 1860, WI-18 Jan 1950, Emmett, Gem Co, Idaho) Emma married: 1) Enos P Brainard on 1 Jul 1883, near Neillsville, WI. Enos died 12 Feb 1886. 2) Wilbur J Chapman on 19 Feb 1892, Neillsville, WI
Joanna's 1st husband, Francis Bone, had sisters who married older brothers of Samuel and William Ferguson. Nancy Bone married Hance Ferguson (and are my husband's 2 great grandparents) and Eliza Bone married James Ferguson. Their son was James W Ferguson, Samuel's nephew. Your record gives his DOB as 16 Aug 1840, but we have several sources that give 6 Aug 1846; he was born in Erie Co, PA. His father died in 1846, and James W lived for awhile with Hance and Nancy in Erie, and then removed to Clark Co, WI.
I have enjoyed using your excellent website and found information helpful to my family research. I hope the above information is useful to you. Jill Ferguson
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