Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 1
Clan : Fergusson
Motto : Sweeter After Difficulty
Crest : A Bee on a Thistle all Proper
Coat of Arms is “A blue shield
with a gold clasp between
three silver boars' heads.”
According to our research, the origin of the name is Scottish and the Coat of Arms
contains “A blue shield with a gold clasp between three silver boars' heads.” The Crest
is “A bee on a thistle.” The family motto is “Dulcius ex asperis” - "sweeter after
difficulties." The Celtic Clan has both highland and lowland connections. The highland
lands were in Atholl and the lowland in Ayrshire. The Clan probably descends from
Fergus who was Prince of Galloway in the 12th Century. The Chiefship of the whole
name is vested in Fergusson of Kilkerran, Baronet.
First found in Galloway where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well
before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Some of the first settlers of this name were: Daniel Ferguson who settled in New
England in 1651; Duncan Ferguson settled in Virginia in 1716; Robert Ferguson settled
in Virginia in 1716; Thomas Fergusson settled in Barbados in 1678.
The western coast of Scotland and the desolate Hebrides islands are the ancient home
of the Ferguson family. Their name is derived from the Scottish surname MacFergus,
which means "son of Fergus." Spelling variations include: Ferguson, Fergusson,
Farguson, Fargerson, Fargusson and many more. First found in Galloway where they
were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and
the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Some noteworthy people of the name Ferguson: Alex Ferguson Scottish soccer
manager Adam Ferguson (1723-1816) Scottish philosopher Harry George Ferguson
(1884-1960) Irish engineer James Ferguson (1710-1776) Scottish astronomer John
Ferguson (1832-1907) Scottish statesman Patrick Ferguson (1744-1780) Scottish soldier
Robert Ferguson (c.1637-1714) Scottish conspirator Samuel Ferguson (1810-1886) Irish
poet Fergie Ferguson (1959-) British ex-wife of Prince Andrew Sarah Ferguson (1959-)
British ex-wife of Prince Andrew.
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 2
No photo of Ansel Ferguson
available
Ansel Ferguson
Harriet Quick VanCise Ferguson
ANSEL1 FERGUSON (I have seen Ansel with a middle initial of M and H, so there is
some controversy over which is correct.) He was born in March 1824 [based on the
above obituary; however, according to the census reports, he was born in March 1822]
in New York state, and died Aug. 11, 1902. He married HARRIET QUICK on
November 15, 1858 (according to her recollection). She was born March 29, 1826, and
died September 3, 1906. They moved to Potter County, PA in 1864.
Shortly after Harriet discovered that she and Ansel were not legally married, Harriet left
Ansel in the 1870s. She only took her youngest child, Almarion, with her. It turns out
that Ansel had married Caroline Harris and had a son with her. For some reason, they
separated, and Ansel claimed that she had died in Hornellsville, NY. So far, we have
been unable to trace her or her son.
Due to their separation, Harriet and Ansel may have planted the seeds of bitterness in
their children. Ansel reported that he was widowed to the census takers, but, of course,
we know that Harriet, and perhaps even Caroline, outlived him.
My father (Bob Ferguson) and my Aunt Pat knew about Sam living in Clara, and Aunt
Ina and Aunt Cleo knew the family well. However, Uncle Bill (William) Ferguson wrote,
“I strongly suspect that Ansel Ferguson is from a different branch of the family because
I never heard Dad (Casey Ferguson) mention him. Dad was born in 1901 so would not
have known him but if he had been related, he surely would have mentioned him.
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 3
Grandad Ferguson (Almarion C.) had a brother but he left and went to Canada when
Dad was a teenager. I do recall Dad talking about a ‘Pealhead’ Ferguson as someone he
knew but he was still living after 1902, in the days when they rode the logs down the
river to Pittsburgh.”
My theory (Bob Ferguson’s) is that when Ansel and Harriet parted company the older boys
remained with Ansel. Harriet took the youngest child with her. It could be that Grandpa Casey
fabricated what he told his younger children. Since several of the older family members knew
about Sam’s family, I am beginning to think that Casey had some disagreement with his cousins.
He could be a stubborn individual. I was told that Grandpa Casey use to take (Granny) Ethel to
visit his sister Ina, but he would refuse to go in the house because he didn’t like Frank King
(Aunt Ina’s husband).
My Uncle Bill continued, “It has been suggested that perhaps it is better not to know
some of the information that you dig up in such research. You never know how many
horse thieves will turn up in your family tree. I may have heard the name Sam
Ferguson once or twice, but he was never identified as Dad's uncle. As far as I knew,
Eli was Almarion's only brother.”
“I do not know whether Dad never talked about Sam Ferguson because he wanted to
forget him or whether there were other reasons. You mentioned in one of your e-mails
that a Yvonne Ferguson was in Jim's graduating class. I do not know if that was a
branch of the Sam - Mark family but I do know that Dad denied that we were related to
them in anyway.”
It sounds like his father, Casey, instilled this attitude. You can see from what my Uncle Bill wrote
that he didn’t know much about his family tree, and he was a well-educated attorney who taught
at Emory University for thirty-five years. I also spoke to my Uncle Jim, and he had similar
thoughts. His first cousin graduated with him from high school, and he had been taught by his
father to deny the relationship! Of interest is Ansel’s obituary, in which it mentions that “his
remains were taken in charge by his two sons who reside in Clara Township.” Since at the time
of Ansel’s death in 1902, Eli was living in Canada, it must mean Sam and Almarion took
charge; however, we have not been able to find Ansel’s burial site. In Harriet’s deposition, she
claimed that Ansel was buried in Clary [sic], obviously meaning Clara.
Children of ANSEL FERGUSON and HARRIET QUICK are:
SAMUEL2 SYDNEY FERGUSON, b. April 24, 1860, New York state; d.
May 27, 1942.
ELI FERGUSON, b. December 23, 1861. We believe he died in British
Columbia in May 2, 1957.
ALMARION C FERGUSON, b. July 30, 1865; d. July 20, 1930.
(married Ida Luella Cole on 12/23/1887 in Wellsville, NY)
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 4
Samuel & Mary Ferguson and
Family
Samuel S. & Mary Ferguson
with Grace
SAMUEL SYDNEY2 FERGUSON (ANSEL 1) was born April 24, 1860 in New York
state, and died May 27, 1942. He married MARY PERMELIA NESBIT WILLIAMS,
daughter of JOHN NESBIT and MARY. She was born December 10, 1874, and died
April 15, 1941.
Children of SAMUEL FERGUSON and MARY NESBIT are:
TIMOTHY3 JAY FERGUSON, b. January 09, 1902; d. April 16, 1997 in
Williamsport, PA.
MARK JOHN3 FERGUSON, b. July 07, 1904, Clara Township, PA; d.
May 25, 1972 in Salamanca, New York state.
GRACE HAZEL FERGUSON, b. January 26, 1907; d.
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 5
TIMOTHY3 JAY FERGUSON, b. January 09,
1902; d. April 16, 1997 in Williamsport, PA.
Waiting for photos
TIMOTHY3 JAY FERGUSON, b. January 09, 1902; d. April 16, 1997 in Williamsport,
PA.
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 6
Almarion & Ida Ferguson with Cleo [1897]
Almarion C. Ferguson & his dog
ALMARION2 CASEY FERGUSON (ANSEL1) was born July 30, 1865 in Rose Lake, PA,
and died July 20, 1930. According to Aunt Ina Ferguson King, he died as a result of
falling off a wagon load of timber because the driver backed over him. He died within a
few months of the accident.
He married IDA LUELLA COLE December 23, 1887 in Wellsville, New York. Ida was
born in 1869 died January 25, 1950 at her daughter Ina Ferguson King’s home. When
Ida got really sick, she moved in with Aunt Ina and she took care of her until she
passed in Ceres, PA.
Almarion worked as a mail carrier, in addition to living on a farm. In the 1900 census,
Almarion is listed as at teamster [a person who drives a team of horses, especially in
hauling freight]
Children of ALMARION FERGUSON and IDA COLE are:
CLEO MARIE FERGUSON. Born October 03, 1896; died from
cancer in 1975.
CASEY CLIVAN FERGUSON. Born March 27, 1901; died January
15, 1972. [SSN# 166-14-7541]
INA ISABELLE FERGUSON. Born December 28, 1910 in Millport,
PA; died June 27, 2004 in Olean General Hospital; married Frank W.
King on Jan. 26, 1929 in Olean, NY.
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 7
Casey Clivan Ferguson
Ethel Emma Davis Ferguson
CASEY CLIVAN3 FERGUSON (ALMARION2, ANSEL1) Casey was born March 27, 1901
in Toad Hollow, Potter County, PA, and he died January 15, 1972. Casey married
ETHEL Emma DAVIS on November 2, 1920 in Olean, NY. Ethel was born April 12,
1901 and died on December 11, 1992 in Coudersport, PA. Casey and Ethel are both
interred in Maple Grove Cemetery, Shinglehouse, Potter Co., PA.
An interesting story about Casey and Ethel is that they were married twice. Their first
wedding was 11/2/1920 when Ethel's parents had left town to go to NY for several
months. When Ethel’s parents returned, sometime in 1921, they insisted that she have
a church wedding. It wasn't a big wedding but they demanded it be a "real" wedding.
Casey and Ethel lived on First Street (second house from the corner from Union and
First Street) in Shinglehouse for many years. In 1945, Casey purchased a farm on the
Sunnyside Road outside of town. Prior to purchasing his farm, Casey had worked at the
feed store, as a postal clerk, and other positions. In 1950, he was the post master for
the Shinglehouse Post Office. After they moved to the farm, Granny (Ethel) started
keeping the accounts, along with Casey, for the Shinglehouse Cheese Factory (owned
by the Harold Olson family).
Children of CASEY FERGUSON and ETHEL DAVIS are:
ROBERT4 C. FERGUSON, b. May 31, 1922; died July 1998.
PATRICIA Mae FERGUSON, b. May 13, 1926.
WILLIAM D. FERGUSON, b. 1928; died March 29, 2006.
JAMES E. FERGUSON, b. August 2, 1931.
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 8
Haven’t decided which photo to use here.
Robert Clivan Ferguson in 1941
Betty Buckingham Ferguson
ROBERT4 FERGUSON (Bob) (CASEY3, ALMARION2, ANSEL1) was born May 31, 1922
in Potter County, PA at his Great Aunt Emma Davis Edgett’s house on E. Honeoye Street
(his Grandfather James Edward Davis' sister); he died in the Hamot Hospital in Erie, PA
on July 13, 1998. On January 27, 1945, he married Betty Louise Buckingham at the
Ferguson family home on First Street in Shinglehouse. Betty was born in Red Oak, IA
on November 3, 1925 and died in Roswell Hospital in Buffalo, NY on July 23, 1986.
Bob remarried twice after Betty died. He first married Mary ? Foster, and they divorced
after about a year. Later he married June ? in the mid-1990s.
Bob was a Staff Sergeant during World War II. After the war, Bob and Betty moved
from Iowa to a small farm he had outside of Shinglehouse, PA. He tried his hand a
number of jobs including farming, selling tractor parts, making cider, working in a
factory, and carpentry. He spent many years working construction, several of those
years he served as a foreman or superintendent. In addition, he taught at Alfred’s
campus in Wellsville, NY. He was a very active Scoutmaster for the Boy Scout Troop in
Shinglehouse. Perhaps his greatest love was flea marketing and selling antiques. He
acquired several barns full of ‘junk’ during his flea marketing days. He loved both the
collecting and the selling.
Children of ROBERT FERGUSON are:
ROBERT 5 C. FERGUSON, JR., b. January 3, 1946.
BARBARA Ann FERGUSON, b. August 4, 1950.
BONNIE Louise FERGUSON, b. July 8, 1955.
BEVERLY Mae FERGUSON, b. June 12, 1956.
Education: Graduated from Shinglehouse High School in 1941. Military training in
the Army Air Force in radio communications, gunnery, etc.
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 9
Robert & Sally Ferguson and sons at Chautauqua circa 2004
Robert C. Ferguson, Jr. and Sally Jo Morley Ferguson [Left 1969 on bicycle]
Robert5 (Bob) Ferguson, Jr. was born in Shenandoah, Iowa on January 3, 1946. He
was born to Robert C. Ferguson and Betty Louise Buckingham Ferguson, who moved to
a small farm outside Shinglehouse, PA in March 1946. Before starting school, Bob was
taken to Sunday School each week at the Shinglehouse Methodist Church. He became a
member of the church in 1956.
Bob graduated from Oswayo Valley in 1963 and pursued a French and English degree
at Mansfield. After completing his student teaching in Galeton, PA, Bob graduated from
Mansfield University in January 1967 and started teaching at Northern Potter the
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 10
Monday following his graduation on Saturday. While at Northern Potter, Bob started the
National Honor Society, French Clubs, Chess Club and team. He also served as advisor
to the literary and drama clubs.
Sally Morley was a student in both his French and English classes and in his homeroom
her senior year. They started dating in 1968 and were married August 1, 1971. Sally
completed her student teaching in the fall after they returned from their European
honeymoon on $5 a day.
In 1974, they built a house outside of Ulysses on Cowburn Road. Their two sons were
born while they lived in that home.
When Bob began his position as Coordinator for Gifted Education in 1978, Bob, Sally,
and their sons moved to Bradford, PA in McKean County. He worked for the Bradford
Area School District until June 2004, when he retired to pursue his chess interests as
Executive Director for the American Chess School, the USA Junior Chess Olympics, and
the Castle Chess Camps, which he founded.
Bob served on the board of Directors of the U.S. Chess Federation and as a member of
the USCF Scholastic Council. In addition, he served as an adviser to the International
Scholastic Chess Organization. He is perhaps best known for his more than seven years
of chess research, which led to the accolade “Dean of Chess and Education” by the
University of Texas and was acknowledged as the world’s foremost authority on the
educational benefits of chess. Bob is also a charter member and on the editorial board
of the International Society for Chess Research.
Bob and Sally continue as members of the Hill Memorial United Methodist Church where
they serve on a number of committees. They reside at 140 School Street in Bradford,
PA; however, they plan to be interred in Ulysses Cemetery after they finish their race.
Robert6 C. Ferguson, III (Rob) born November 4, 1975 in
Coudersport, PA, married Tamara Genedievna Koridze (also known as
Tamara Corey) on August 8, 2008.
Ryan J. Ferguson born December 24, 1976 in Coudersport, PA, married
Jennifer Megan Smith (Jenn) on August 12, 2006.
Education: Oswayo Valley H.S; Mansfield University, B.S. & M.Ed.; LaSalle University,
Ed.D.; ABI, certificate in Business Management
Children:
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 11
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Descendants of ANSEL Ferguson are on the next page.
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 12
Descendants of ANSEL Ferguson
Generation No. 1
1. ANSEL1 FERGUSON was born in March 1822 or 1824 in New York State, and died Aug. 12,
1902. He married HARRIET QUICK. She was born March 28, 1826, and died September 03,
1906.
Children of ANSEL FERGUSON and HARRIET QUICK are:
i. SAMUEL SYDNEY2 FERGUSON, b. April 24, 1860, New York State; d. May 27, 1942.
ii. ELI FERGUSON, b. 1862. We believe he died in British Columbia in May 1957.
iii. ALMARION C FERGUSON, b. July 30, 1865; d. July 20, 1930. (married Ida Luella Cole
on 12/23/1887 in Wellsville, NY) He worked as a mail carrier, in addition to living on
a farm.
Generation No. 2
2. SAMUEL SYDNEY2 FERGUSON (ANSEL 1) was born April 24, 1860 in New York state, and died
May 27, 1942. He married MARY PERMELIA NESBIT, daughter of JOHN NESBIT and MARY. She
was born December 10, 1874, and died April 15, 1941.
Children of SAMUEL FERGUSON and MARY NESBIT are:
i. MARK JOHN3 FERGUSON, b. July 07, 1904, Clara township, PA; d. May 25, 1972
Salamanca, New York state.
ii. TIMOTHY JAY FERGUSON, b. January 09, 1902; d. April 16, 1997 in Williamsport, PA.
iii. GRACE HAZEL FERGUSON, b. January 26, 1907.
3. ALMARION2 FERGUSON (ANSEL 1) was born July 30, 1865, and died July 20, 1930. He
married IDA LUELLA COLE December 23, 1887 in Wellsville, New York.
Children of ALMARION FERGUSON and IDA COLE are:
i. CLEO3 MARIE FERGUSON. B October 03, 1896; d. 1975
ii. CASEY CLIVAN FERGUSON. B March 27, 1901; d January 15, 1972 [SSN# 166-147541]
iii. INA ISABELLE FERGUSON. B December 28, 1910 in Millport, PA; d June 27, 2004 in
Olean General Hospital; m Frank W. King on Jan. 26, 1929 in Olean
Generation No. 3
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 13
4. MARK JOHN3 FERGUSON (SAMUEL SYDNEY2, ANSEL 1) was born July 07, 1904 in Clara
township, PA, and died May 25, 1972 in New York state. He married AGNES ELIZABETH
CHANDLER October 30, 1926 in Angelica, New York, daughter of ARTHUR CHANDLER and
ELIZABETH BOWER. She was born April 06, 1908, and died September 06, 1997 in Buffalo, New
York.
Children of MARK FERGUSON and AGNES CHANDLER are:
i. LEROY ARNOLD4 FERGUSON, b. September 28, 1938; d. March 27, 1939,
Pennsylvania.
ii. THEODORE BERDETTE FERGUSON, b. March 08, 1935; d. December 19, 1998; m.(1)
MARNEY BOWEN JULY 1959
(2) SHARON ? (3) NANCY Collins, July 07, 1982.
iii. YVONNE FERGUSON, b. April 14, 1931.
iv. MARY ELIZABETH FERGUSON, b. March 17, 1941.
v. LOIS ANN FERGUSON, b. November 12, 1939; d. September 6, 1991
vi. NEIL EDWARD FERGUSON, b. July 28, 1942; d. August, 14, 2012.
5. TIMOTHY3 FERGUSON (SAMUEL SYDNEY2, ANSEL 1) was born January 09, 1902. He married
(1) LUCILLE MAYER. She was born January 15, 1903. He married (2) ELLA FORCEY.
Children of TIMOTHY FERGUSON and LUCILLE MAYER are:
i. TIMOTHY4 FERGUSON JR., b. October 06, 1930; m. CONNIE.
ii. SARAH (Sally) FERGUSON, b. 1932
6. CLEO3 FERGUSON (ALMARION2, ANSEL 1), b. October 03, 1896; d. 1975. She married CLYDE
LANGDON.
Child of CLEO FERGUSON and CLYDE LANGDON is:
i. MARGERIE4 LANGDON.
7. CASEY CLIVAN3 FERGUSON (ALMARION2, ANSEL 1) He married ETHEL DAVIS.
Children of CASEY FERGUSON and ETHEL DAVIS are:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
ROBERT4 CLIVAN FERGUSON, b. May 31, 1922; died July 1998.
PATRICIA MAE FERGUSON, b. May 13, 1926.
WILLIAM DEAN FERGUSON, b. 1928; d.
JAMES EDWARD FERGUSON, b. August 2, 1931.
8. INA3 FERGUSON (ALMARION2, ANSEL1) She married FRANK KING.
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 14
Children of INA FERGUSON and FRANK KING are:
i. MARIE4 KING.
ii. JOCELYN KING.
iii. JAMES KING.
Generation No. 4
9. YVONNE4 FERGUSON (MARK JOHN3, SAMUEL SYDNEY2, ANSEL 1) was born April 14, 1931.
She married HAROLD JORDAN in Yuma, Arizona (maybe). He was born June 16, 1922 in Bowling
Green, Kentucky, and died November 18, 1983 in Bandon, Oregon.
Children of YVONNE FERGUSON and HAROLD JORDAN are:
i. KARIN5 JORDAN, b. May 25, 1953, Van Nuys, California; m. DAVID JACOBS, February
02, 1974, Lompoc, California; b. June 11, 1953, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, California.
ii. PATSY JORDAN, b. May 26, 1952.
iii. JANET JORDAN, b. October 31, 1955.
iv. RODNEY JORDAN, b. February 16, 1966.
10. MARY ELIZABETH4 FERGUSON (MARK JOHN3, SAMUEL SYDNEY2, ANSEL 1) was born March
17, 1941. She married JOHN BRYANT, son of CHARLES BRYANT and RUBY. He was born
September 06, 1936
Children of MARY FERGUSON and JOHN BRYANT are:
i. MARK5 BRYANT, m. (1) PATTY; m. (2) LYNN GRANDMASON, June 19, 1960.
ii. CHARLES BRYANT, b. Sept.9, 1961; d. June 18, 1983.
iii. JULIE BRYANT, b. Aug.17, 1968
11. LOIS ANN4 FERGUSON (MARK JOHN3, SAMUEL SYDNEY2, ANSEL 1) was born November 12,
1940, and died September 6, 1991 She married VICTOR BROL.
Children of LOIS FERGUSON and VICTOR BROL are:
i. DAWN5 BROL, b. November 16, 1966.
ii. JAMES BROL. Born Jan.6, 1967
12. ROBERT4 FERGUSON (CASEY CLIVAN3, ALMARION2, ANSEL1) was born May 31, 1922; d. July
1998.
Children of ROBERT FERGUSON are:
Ferguson Family Genealogy Book 15
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
ROBERT5 C. FERGUSON, JR, b. January 3, 1946
BARBARA Ann FERGUSON, b. August 4, 1950.
BONNIE Louise FERGUSON, b. July 8, 1955.
BEVERLY Mae FERGUSON, b. June 12, 1956.
Generation No. 5
13. ROBERT5 FERGUSON, JR. (Robert 4 C, CASEY CLIVAN3, ALMARION2, ANSEL1) was born
January 3, 1946. He married Sally Jo Morley on August 1, 1971.
Children of ROBERT FERGUSON, JR. are:
i.
ii.
ROBERT6 Clivan FERGUSON, III b. November 4, 1975.
RYAN Jeremy Ferguson, b. December 24, 1976.
Generation No. 6
14. ROBERT6 FERGUSON, III (ROBERT5 C, Jr., Robert 4 C, CASEY CLIVAN3, ALMARION2, ANSEL1)
was born November 4, 1975. He married Tamara Gennedievna Corey (Koridze) on August 8,
2008 in the Hill Memorial UMC in Bradford, PA. No children.
15. RYAN6 JEREMY FERGUSON, (ROBERT5 C, Jr., Robert4 C, CASEY CLIVAN3, ALMARION2, ANSEL1)
was born December 24, 1976. He married Jennifer Megan Smith on August 12, 2006.
Children of RYAN6 JEREMY FERGUSON are:
i.
ii.
iii.
Aiden7 James FERGUSON, b. May 25, 2010.
Micaiah David Ferguson, b. November 17, 2011.
Elaina Ann Ferguson, b. March 5, 2014.
Generation No. 7