George S. Ferguson

As printed in 1915

GEORGE S. FERGUSON.

It is an unusual thing that four brothers of a family should continue in business together, for conditions and individual tastes usually separate them. However, in the Ferguson family, which has been represented in this county since 1868, there are four brothers who are partners in the ownership of the business conducted under the name of the Ferguson Manufacturing Company. One of these brothers is he whose name introduces this review and who throughout the greater period of his active business life has been connected with industrial pursuits. He was born m Bradford county, Pennsylvania, in 1862, a son of Edward and Isabelle (Cummings) Ferguson, who are mentioned at length on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Albert R. Ferguson. The family arrived in this county in 1868, when George S. Ferguson was but a little lad, and their home was established on a farm eight miles northeast of Waterloo.

George S. Ferguson attended the district schools of Bennington township and afterward became a student in the Prairie Home Seminary. He worked in the fields when not busy with his text-books and remained at home until twenty-one years of age, when he went to South Dakota, where he took up a claim and in connection with its development operated a well drilling machine for one year. At the end of that time he returned to Iowa, where he engaged in the creamery business for about three years. He next purchased a drilling machine and devoted the succeeding five years to drilling wells. At the end of that time he was employed as a traveling salesman by the Kelley & Tannehill Company and represented that house upon the road for about fifteen years, his long continued connection with the business indicating his capability and his faithfulness to the trust reposed in him by his employers. Others of the family were also in the employ of the firm, to whom the name of Ferguson stood as a synonym for reliability and capability. On leaving the road George S. Ferguson joined his brothers in the organization of the Ferguson Manufacturing Company and has since been general manager of the business, which is that of manufacturing well drilling machinery and supplies. His early experience in well drilling stands him in good stead in this connection, having brought to him a practical knowledge of the work to be done by the machinery which his company now manufactures. He concentrates his energies upon this business and his close application and keen insight have been factors in its growing success.

On the 23d of December, 1894, Mr. Ferguson was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Lemper, who was born in Galena, Illinois, a daughter of Paul and Anna (Cawthorn) Lemper, both of whom were natives of Illinois, whence they came to Iowa when Waterloo was a village and gave little promise of ever reaching its present metropolitan size and conditions. However, they took up their above in Waterloo and the father engaged in the hardware business, in which he continued until a few years prior to his death, which occurred in the latter '80s. His widow still resides in Waterloo, occupying the old home on Franklin street. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson have one son, Paul L., who is now a high-school pupil. They occupy an attractive residence at No. 302 Mobile street which Mr. Ferguson owns, together with other real estate in this city.

He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. He usually votes the democratic ticket although he is independent in his political views and actions. At one time he served as township clerk of Bennington township, but he cares little for public office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon other interests. He belongs to Grace Methodist Episcopal church and high and honorable principles guide him in all life's relations.

As printed in History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.