Son of James Henry Ferguson and Mary "Molly" Barrett. Married to Hannah Atkinson August 12, 1847 in Henry County, Indiana. She died in 1871 in KS. Abner enlisted in the 16th Regiment, Kansas Cavalry, 3/10/1864 in Americus, KS for a 3-year hitch as Pvt.
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The Emporia Weekly Gazette, 10 Oct 1912, Page 6
IN EARLY DAYS
TO THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE, SIR: As this week brings to mind many thoughts of early days around Emporia, will you allow me a little space in your paper?
My father, Abner B. Ferguson, arrived on September 27, 1859, at the little village of Emporia, then in Breckenridge County, with his family, having made the trip from near Des Moines, Iowa, in a covered wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. He brought along to the Promised Land a few heads of fine Durham cows, which were not numerous here in those days. He was not long in finding a place to go into for the winter, the A. Y. Hart farm just east of where the pumping station is now located. The house consisted of two rooms, one built of logs with a fireplace in one end. There was where my mother did the cooking for the family. The other room was built of native lumber, boarded up and down with plenty of ventilation between the boards. That was the sleeping apartment for the entire family.
The next thing after getting settled was to look for some grain for the stock. A load of grain was bought of the late Peter Sleisher at a good price, and then what was to be done with that corn? We could not afford to pile it out on the ground as the Indians were plentiful here then. But that difficulty was soon overcome, as a few boards were found and nailed across one corner of the sleeping room, and that load of corn was stored there for safe keeping. Imagine the women of today living in their modern homes with a load of corn piled up in their best bedroom. The antelope were numerous then. One bright still Monday morning a low rumbling noise was heard beyond the bluff in the west. It came closer and closer and soon a cloud of dust arose. The men, father and uncle, thought a band of Indians was coming down on the settlers without warning, but it soon proved to be a large herd of antelope, enjoying a morning run. The buffalo could be found in a day's drive and the neighboring men would go out in trains together and soon return with fat juicy buffalo meat, enough to supply their families for the winter. 1860 was the year of the great drought in Kansas. Much aid was sent to Kansas for the suffering people. Soon a call came for men and teams to go to Kansas City, Leavenworth and Lawrence to haul aid goods to Emporia. My father went on several trips, taking for pay goods at whatever price the committee and men could agree upon. My mother, who had been brought up in plenty, would not accept one thread of clothing, and only such provisions as were paid for in hauling goods.
One snowy night a neighbor came about three miles to borrow flour. Away down in the barrel the flour was taken out of they found a pair of long cotton socks. One was filled with tea, the other with green coffee. They had been put there, no doubt, to gladden the heart of the one who should find them.
The saddest time of our lives was yet in store for us. Our mother, who was never strong, did not stand the hardships of the early settler long, and one bright October morning she said good-bye to husband and little ones and her spirit went back to the God who gave it. We stayed together awhile, then we were put out into homes among strangers, and father went into the army. It was my fortune to have a good home with the late Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Loy. One hot July morning word came for every many who could find an old musket and a pony to be ready to start at 2 o'clock, to keep the Indians back. They were reported to be coming into Council Grove. After about a week's travel through heat and dust the men returned, worn out and with a jaded lot of horses. They had seen only one Indian, a poor lone old squaw, on the bank of a small stream doing a washing. That same fall was the Price Raid. He was reported coming over into Kansas. The militia was called out, going in command of Col. Mitchell, Major Robert Abraham and Lieut. J. W. Loy, with the Rev. F. D. Loy as its chaplain. Some of the women lived in torture from fear. There were two families in the Loy house. One of the sisters-in-law had a spinning wheel, the other a sewing machine. Those poor women were afraid to go to sleep, so every night the windows were heavily blinded and one woman at the spinning wheel, the other at the sewing machine, would work till 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning. But Price was whipped and did not get any nearer to Emporia than the east borders of Kansas.
Ruth F. Childers
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The Emporia Weekly Gazette, 30 Aug 1900, Thursday
AN OLD SETTLER DEAD
A. B. Ferguson died at the home of his son-in-law, E. D. Childers, Monday morning. He has been sick for little over a week. He was 77 years old. Forty-one years ago he moved to Kansas from Iowa. In the Civil war he served with the Sixteenth Kansas infantry. Since the close of that war, he has been a farmer in Lyon county, living most of the time five miles north of Emporia. Mrs. Ferguson is dead, and Mrs. Childers is the only child who lives in this county. One lives in Pittsburg and three in Oklahoma. Tuesday afternoon Fred Loy of Americus will preach his funeral at Mr. and Mrs. Childers's home. The interment will be made at Maplewood.
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The Emporia Weekly Gazette, 10 Oct 1912, Page 6
IN EARLY DAYS
TO THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE, SIR: As this week brings to mind many thoughts of early days around Emporia, will you allow me a little space in your paper?
My father, Abner B. Ferguson, arrived on September 27, 1859, at the little village of Emporia, then in Breckenridge County, with his family, having made the trip from near Des Moines, Iowa, in a covered wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. He brought along to the Promised Land a few heads of fine Durham cows, which were not numerous here in those days. He was not long in finding a place to go into for the winter, the A. Y. Hart farm just east of where the pumping station is now located. The house consisted of two rooms, one built of logs with a fireplace in one end. There was where my mother did the cooking for the family. The other room was built of native lumber, boarded up and down with plenty of ventilation between the boards. That was the sleeping apartment for the entire family.
The next thing after getting settled was to look for some grain for the stock. A load of grain was bought of the late Peter Sleisher at a good price, and then what was to be done with that corn? We could not afford to pile it out on the ground as the Indians were plentiful here then. But that difficulty was soon overcome, as a few boards were found and nailed across one corner of the sleeping room, and that load of corn was stored there for safe keeping. Imagine the women of today living in their modern homes with a load of corn piled up in their best bedroom. The antelope were numerous then. One bright still Monday morning a low rumbling noise was heard beyond the bluff in the west. It came closer and closer and soon a cloud of dust arose. The men, father and uncle, thought a band of Indians was coming down on the settlers without warning, but it soon proved to be a large herd of antelope, enjoying a morning run. The buffalo could be found in a day's drive and the neighboring men would go out in trains together and soon return with fat juicy buffalo meat, enough to supply their families for the winter. 1860 was the year of the great drought in Kansas. Much aid was sent to Kansas for the suffering people. Soon a call came for men and teams to go to Kansas City, Leavenworth and Lawrence to haul aid goods to Emporia. My father went on several trips, taking for pay goods at whatever price the committee and men could agree upon. My mother, who had been brought up in plenty, would not accept one thread of clothing, and only such provisions as were paid for in hauling goods.
One snowy night a neighbor came about three miles to borrow flour. Away down in the barrel the flour was taken out of they found a pair of long cotton socks. One was filled with tea, the other with green coffee. They had been put there, no doubt, to gladden the heart of the one who should find them.
The saddest time of our lives was yet in store for us. Our mother, who was never strong, did not stand the hardships of the early settler long, and one bright October morning she said good-bye to husband and little ones and her spirit went back to the God who gave it. We stayed together awhile, then we were put out into homes among strangers, and father went into the army. It was my fortune to have a good home with the late Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Loy. One hot July morning word came for every many who could find an old musket and a pony to be ready to start at 2 o'clock, to keep the Indians back. They were reported to be coming into Council Grove. After about a week's travel through heat and dust the men returned, worn out and with a jaded lot of horses. They had seen only one Indian, a poor lone old squaw, on the bank of a small stream doing a washing. That same fall was the Price Raid. He was reported coming over into Kansas. The militia was called out, going in command of Col. Mitchell, Major Robert Abraham and Lieut. J. W. Loy, with the Rev. F. D. Loy as its chaplain. Some of the women lived in torture from fear. There were two families in the Loy house. One of the sisters-in-law had a spinning wheel, the other a sewing machine. Those poor women were afraid to go to sleep, so every night the windows were heavily blinded and one woman at the spinning wheel, the other at the sewing machine, would work till 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning. But Price was whipped and did not get any nearer to Emporia than the east borders of Kansas.
Ruth F. Childers
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The Emporia Weekly Gazette, 30 Aug 1900, Thursday
AN OLD SETTLER DEAD
A. B. Ferguson died at the home of his son-in-law, E. D. Childers, Monday morning. He has been sick for little over a week. He was 77 years old. Forty-one years ago he moved to Kansas from Iowa. In the Civil war he served with the Sixteenth Kansas infantry. Since the close of that war, he has been a farmer in Lyon county, living most of the time five miles north of Emporia. Mrs. Ferguson is dead, and Mrs. Childers is the only child who lives in this county. One lives in Pittsburg and three in Oklahoma. Tuesday afternoon Fred Loy of Americus will preach his funeral at Mr. and Mrs. Childers's home. The interment will be made at Maplewood.
Son of James Henry Ferguson and Mary "Molly" Barrett. Married to Hannah Atkinson August 12, 1847 in Henry County, Indiana. She died in 1871 in KS. Abner enlisted in the 16th Regiment, Kansas Cavalry, 3/10/1864 in Americus, KS for a 3-year hitch as Pvt.
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The Emporia Weekly Gazette, 10 Oct 1912, Page 6
IN EARLY DAYS
TO THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE, SIR: As this week brings to mind many thoughts of early days around Emporia, will you allow me a little space in your paper?
My father, Abner B. Ferguson, arrived on September 27, 1859, at the little village of Emporia, then in Breckenridge County, with his family, having made the trip from near Des Moines, Iowa, in a covered wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. He brought along to the Promised Land a few heads of fine Durham cows, which were not numerous here in those days. He was not long in finding a place to go into for the winter, the A. Y. Hart farm just east of where the pumping station is now located. The house consisted of two rooms, one built of logs with a fireplace in one end. There was where my mother did the cooking for the family. The other room was built of native lumber, boarded up and down with plenty of ventilation between the boards. That was the sleeping apartment for the entire family.
The next thing after getting settled was to look for some grain for the stock. A load of grain was bought of the late Peter Sleisher at a good price, and then what was to be done with that corn? We could not afford to pile it out on the ground as the Indians were plentiful here then. But that difficulty was soon overcome, as a few boards were found and nailed across one corner of the sleeping room, and that load of corn was stored there for safe keeping. Imagine the women of today living in their modern homes with a load of corn piled up in their best bedroom. The antelope were numerous then. One bright still Monday morning a low rumbling noise was heard beyond the bluff in the west. It came closer and closer and soon a cloud of dust arose. The men, father and uncle, thought a band of Indians was coming down on the settlers without warning, but it soon proved to be a large herd of antelope, enjoying a morning run. The buffalo could be found in a day's drive and the neighboring men would go out in trains together and soon return with fat juicy buffalo meat, enough to supply their families for the winter. 1860 was the year of the great drought in Kansas. Much aid was sent to Kansas for the suffering people. Soon a call came for men and teams to go to Kansas City, Leavenworth and Lawrence to haul aid goods to Emporia. My father went on several trips, taking for pay goods at whatever price the committee and men could agree upon. My mother, who had been brought up in plenty, would not accept one thread of clothing, and only such provisions as were paid for in hauling goods.
One snowy night a neighbor came about three miles to borrow flour. Away down in the barrel the flour was taken out of they found a pair of long cotton socks. One was filled with tea, the other with green coffee. They had been put there, no doubt, to gladden the heart of the one who should find them.
The saddest time of our lives was yet in store for us. Our mother, who was never strong, did not stand the hardships of the early settler long, and one bright October morning she said good-bye to husband and little ones and her spirit went back to the God who gave it. We stayed together awhile, then we were put out into homes among strangers, and father went into the army. It was my fortune to have a good home with the late Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Loy. One hot July morning word came for every many who could find an old musket and a pony to be ready to start at 2 o'clock, to keep the Indians back. They were reported to be coming into Council Grove. After about a week's travel through heat and dust the men returned, worn out and with a jaded lot of horses. They had seen only one Indian, a poor lone old squaw, on the bank of a small stream doing a washing. That same fall was the Price Raid. He was reported coming over into Kansas. The militia was called out, going in command of Col. Mitchell, Major Robert Abraham and Lieut. J. W. Loy, with the Rev. F. D. Loy as its chaplain. Some of the women lived in torture from fear. There were two families in the Loy house. One of the sisters-in-law had a spinning wheel, the other a sewing machine. Those poor women were afraid to go to sleep, so every night the windows were heavily blinded and one woman at the spinning wheel, the other at the sewing machine, would work till 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning. But Price was whipped and did not get any nearer to Emporia than the east borders of Kansas.
Ruth F. Childers
*******************************
The Emporia Weekly Gazette, 30 Aug 1900, Thursday
AN OLD SETTLER DEAD
A. B. Ferguson died at the home of his son-in-law, E. D. Childers, Monday morning. He has been sick for little over a week. He was 77 years old. Forty-one years ago he moved to Kansas from Iowa. In the Civil war he served with the Sixteenth Kansas infantry. Since the close of that war, he has been a farmer in Lyon county, living most of the time five miles north of Emporia. Mrs. Ferguson is dead, and Mrs. Childers is the only child who lives in this county. One lives in Pittsburg and three in Oklahoma. Tuesday afternoon Fred Loy of Americus will preach his funeral at Mr. and Mrs. Childers's home. The interment will be made at Maplewood.
*******************************
The Emporia Weekly Gazette, 10 Oct 1912, Page 6
IN EARLY DAYS
TO THE EDITOR OF THE GAZETTE, SIR: As this week brings to mind many thoughts of early days around Emporia, will you allow me a little space in your paper?
My father, Abner B. Ferguson, arrived on September 27, 1859, at the little village of Emporia, then in Breckenridge County, with his family, having made the trip from near Des Moines, Iowa, in a covered wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. He brought along to the Promised Land a few heads of fine Durham cows, which were not numerous here in those days. He was not long in finding a place to go into for the winter, the A. Y. Hart farm just east of where the pumping station is now located. The house consisted of two rooms, one built of logs with a fireplace in one end. There was where my mother did the cooking for the family. The other room was built of native lumber, boarded up and down with plenty of ventilation between the boards. That was the sleeping apartment for the entire family.
The next thing after getting settled was to look for some grain for the stock. A load of grain was bought of the late Peter Sleisher at a good price, and then what was to be done with that corn? We could not afford to pile it out on the ground as the Indians were plentiful here then. But that difficulty was soon overcome, as a few boards were found and nailed across one corner of the sleeping room, and that load of corn was stored there for safe keeping. Imagine the women of today living in their modern homes with a load of corn piled up in their best bedroom. The antelope were numerous then. One bright still Monday morning a low rumbling noise was heard beyond the bluff in the west. It came closer and closer and soon a cloud of dust arose. The men, father and uncle, thought a band of Indians was coming down on the settlers without warning, but it soon proved to be a large herd of antelope, enjoying a morning run. The buffalo could be found in a day's drive and the neighboring men would go out in trains together and soon return with fat juicy buffalo meat, enough to supply their families for the winter. 1860 was the year of the great drought in Kansas. Much aid was sent to Kansas for the suffering people. Soon a call came for men and teams to go to Kansas City, Leavenworth and Lawrence to haul aid goods to Emporia. My father went on several trips, taking for pay goods at whatever price the committee and men could agree upon. My mother, who had been brought up in plenty, would not accept one thread of clothing, and only such provisions as were paid for in hauling goods.
One snowy night a neighbor came about three miles to borrow flour. Away down in the barrel the flour was taken out of they found a pair of long cotton socks. One was filled with tea, the other with green coffee. They had been put there, no doubt, to gladden the heart of the one who should find them.
The saddest time of our lives was yet in store for us. Our mother, who was never strong, did not stand the hardships of the early settler long, and one bright October morning she said good-bye to husband and little ones and her spirit went back to the God who gave it. We stayed together awhile, then we were put out into homes among strangers, and father went into the army. It was my fortune to have a good home with the late Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Loy. One hot July morning word came for every many who could find an old musket and a pony to be ready to start at 2 o'clock, to keep the Indians back. They were reported to be coming into Council Grove. After about a week's travel through heat and dust the men returned, worn out and with a jaded lot of horses. They had seen only one Indian, a poor lone old squaw, on the bank of a small stream doing a washing. That same fall was the Price Raid. He was reported coming over into Kansas. The militia was called out, going in command of Col. Mitchell, Major Robert Abraham and Lieut. J. W. Loy, with the Rev. F. D. Loy as its chaplain. Some of the women lived in torture from fear. There were two families in the Loy house. One of the sisters-in-law had a spinning wheel, the other a sewing machine. Those poor women were afraid to go to sleep, so every night the windows were heavily blinded and one woman at the spinning wheel, the other at the sewing machine, would work till 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning. But Price was whipped and did not get any nearer to Emporia than the east borders of Kansas.
Ruth F. Childers
*******************************
The Emporia Weekly Gazette, 30 Aug 1900, Thursday
AN OLD SETTLER DEAD
A. B. Ferguson died at the home of his son-in-law, E. D. Childers, Monday morning. He has been sick for little over a week. He was 77 years old. Forty-one years ago he moved to Kansas from Iowa. In the Civil war he served with the Sixteenth Kansas infantry. Since the close of that war, he has been a farmer in Lyon county, living most of the time five miles north of Emporia. Mrs. Ferguson is dead, and Mrs. Childers is the only child who lives in this county. One lives in Pittsburg and three in Oklahoma. Tuesday afternoon Fred Loy of Americus will preach his funeral at Mr. and Mrs. Childers's home. The interment will be made at Maplewood.
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