The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-06-06

A Pail of Sadness Thrown Over Our
Community.

/
Our community was shocked to
learn OF the tragic death OF ono OF
our Oldest and most respected citi.
zens, Maj. John Ferguson, which oc.
CURED on his plantation in this coun
ty, on Thursday morning last, 31st
ult. His remains were carried to
Greenville and laid to rest in Spring
wood cemetery in the presence of a
large concourse of sorl owing friends.
The burial services were conducted
by Rev. Il. T. Cody, pastor First
Baptist church, and Rev. A. J. s.
Thomas, Of the Baptist Courier, a
life long friend Of the deceased.
1t seems that Maj. Ferguson had
goue to his lot, in which vicious bull
WAS kept, and the animal had at.
tackled and gored him to death.
Maj. Ferguson leaves surviving him
his wife, who wns Miss Harriet M.
Grady, six children, three sons aud
three daughters. Another son, the
eldest, the Rev. Henry Grady Fergu.
son, died several years ago. The
surviving children are John Fergu:
son, Jam. g VI. Ferguson, DIR. Frank
Ferguson, Mrs. Andrew b. Wardlaw,
of Greenville; Mrs. Harry Q. Valen-
tine, OF Trenton, N. j., and Mrs.
Kemble White, Of Fairmont, w. Va
Major Ferguson was for number
OF years the senior member of the
firm OF Ferguson & Miller, which
conducted the largest merchandise
business in the upper part of South
Carolina In 1898 the partnership
was dissolved and Muj. Ferguson re.
moved with his family to the old
homestead in this county, where he
continued to reside until his death at
the age OF 65 years.
Maj. Ferguson WAS a Confederate
soldier and served through the four
years in the Hampton Legion, where
his genius in business made him in
valuable in the commissary an d ordi.
nance departments.
Few men won the admiration of the
people of this and Greenville coun.
ty to o greater degree than Major
Ferguson. None deserved it more.
He took an active interest in public
affairs, using his influence aud his
means for the welfare of others.
Maj. Ferguson resided on the old
homestead in pickens county until he
WAS fourteen years Of nge. lie then
entered Thalian Academy, better
known as Slab Town, remaining in
that institution three years. He sub
sequently became student at Fur
man University for one session. In
1860 he entered the law Office OF
Maj j. Il. Perry of Greenville, under
whose direction he pursued his legal
studies for about q year, leaving to
enter the Confederate army. He
joined Brooks Troop Of the Hampton
Legion.
Ever since the war Mai. Ferguson
has given his attention to merchan-
dislng, and has been cminently sue.
cessful, having become one of the
widely and favorably-known mer-
chants in the State. Enterprise,
honesty, uprightness and integrity
hvae been the characteristics Of his
business career, and his private life
has been that OF an honorable, high
toned Christian gentleman.
The bereaved wife and children
have tho heartfelt sympathy of our
entire community, and trust lie who
has taken away their loved one will
send the white.winged angel OF peace
into their hearts to comfort them,
and may they realize that God knows
best, and can in perfect trust in his
divine will, say, Thy will, not ours,
0 God, be done.