Bio: Ferguson, Free N. (1914)

Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org.

Surnames: Ferguson, McCoubry, Dighton, Bennington, Johnson

----Source: History of Eau Claire County Wisconsin (1914) pages 707-708

Free N. Ferguson, proprietor of the Fairchild Motor Company garage and dealer in all kinds of automobiles, was born in the town of Otter Creek, Eau Claire county, November 23, 1878, and is the son of Charles W. and Jane (McCoubry) Ferguson, natives of Canada and Ireland, respectively, and is descended from Scotch and Irish ancestry. The father came to Eau Claire county in the late fifties and was the first millwright employed by the Eau Claire Milling Company. He was a member of the logging firm of Ferguson & Waterbury for seven years, and then engaged in farming in the town of Otter Creek, having purchased 120 acres of land, on which he resided until his death in 1901 at the age of 65 years. Of five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, Luella, the wife of Benjamin Dighton, Free N. and Roy C. are living. Ethel, who married E. H. Bennington, and Avis are both deceased.

Free N. Ferguson was raised on the farm and attended the country schools and remained on the farm until 1905, when he located at Fairchild and engaged in the farm implement business, which he carried on about two years, when he became road salesman for gas engines and power equipment, in which he continued for five years, and since 1912 he has been engaged in his present business, and up to August 1, 1913 (when this sketch was obtained), he had disposed of twenty cars.

On November 18, 1905, he married Miss Ellen Johnson, daughter of Sever Johnson, a native of Norway, and they have one son — Charles Wesley. Mr. Ferguson is a member of Osseo Lodge, No. 213, A. F. and A. M., and the United Commercial Men's Association. He was elected to the office of village clerk of Fairchild on the Republican ticket, and has since been re-elected and is one of the hustling young business men of Fairchild.