The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-15
"GRAND old MAI" OF
MONTANA IS DYING
James Fergus, the Founder of Little Falls and
Fergus Falls and Striking Figure in
the Treasure State.

reader and no man in Montana is better
| informed. He has taken the New York
Tribune and the Scientific American since
their first issues. He has splendid
library and although not far from the
century mark in years, still finds COM
fort in their books. Until very recently he
kept the double entry books of the COM
pany of which he is the head-The Fer
gus Land and Live Stock company. Up
to year ago he frequently drove to Lew
l1stoWn alone, a distance Of thirty five
tsmiles.
A Freethinker.
Mr.. Fergus is d freethinker in his views.
doubtless owing to the rigid quality of
the faith of his Scotch Presbyterian pa
rents However, his life has been an eX
emplary one. He has never used whisky
or tobacco, and has only contempt for
| those who resort to, yulgarity or profanity
In conversation. He has always been gen
erous and hospitable, giving freely of his
means to every public enterprise and
every worthy charity. The latch-string
OF his ranch home was never pulled in
vain by the weary traveller, and many an
extra meal has been prepared for the be-
lated or lost without cost.
INF. Fergus has been stanch republic
can since the birth Of the party, and in
his earlier years he wrote and spoke Wig
orously in support of it's principles and
what opportunity he has had for eXer
clsing the right to vote. While this is
true regarding the principles of the party
as they pertain to national affairs, he
frequently has exercised a great deal Of
independence in local politics, believing
that, the very best men should be chosen
to positions Of public trust.
Associated with the Montana pioneers
organization, Mr.. Fergus became an hon
ored member and the center of interest
and affectionate, regard whenever he has
| been able to attend. But his advanced
age, enfeebled health, together with the
| long distance to the railroad and place Of
| meeting have prevented his attendance of
late years. He was the first president Of
! the association.
| ..- Intellect still Keen.
| The many friends of the Grand Old
Man" Of Montana will be grieved to learn
that he Is entering into the valley Of the
| shadow Of death and that possibly soon
! he will be laid beneath the soil of his
| adopted state-a state in which he was a
| trail blazer and a foe Of the outlaw and
savage But though his body is weak his
| rugged Intellect still shows it's fiber. A
snort time ago he wrote to friend say
| ing, Il am compelled to give up reading
and writing for the present. It was hard
| for reader like me, who has read on an
| average of three hours day for fifty
five years, to have to sit and merely look
| at the outside of thirteen new books and
thirty other publications, without daring
| to read them as I had to do when my last
! mail came.' - --.
| James Fergus has not only lived to see
a state snatched from savagry and law
! lessness and to feel that he was factor
| in bringing it about, but he has also sur
| vived to witness a nation grow from few
sparsely settled states to forty-fiye in
number and together forming one of the
| greatest powers on earth. What changes
! have taken place since his earlymanhood,
and what wonder that he often longed for
1.-The old times and the slower and simpler
fmethod of those early days! AS he ap-
lproaches the end his friends will forget
his faults and remember only his many
Virtues and his services to the state, and
agree with the poet when, he said, 1.-THE
good that men do lives after them; the
|.evil is oft inferred with their bones"
| Mr.. Fergus wife, noble woman died
in 1887. He has three daughters, Mrs S.
g. Fitzpatrick Of Helena. Mrs. R. H. Ham
| ilton Of Lewistown, Mrs Frank Maurey
| of Dilley, Ore, and also one son, Andrew
fergus of Armells, Fergus county.