Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-24
Samuel Jacob Ferguson. Lead
ing Citizen, Succumbs After
Three Months Illness.
HELD OFFICE Is YEARS
Was Leading Mason and Prominent in
Church Circles-Death Had
Been Expected.

of Rock Islands most widely known
citizens. died at his home, 1880 Tween
ty-second street, at II o'clock this
morning
For the past several months Mr..
Ferguson had been suffering from
cancerous condition of the stomach
and liver. II was thought that during
the annual Rock Island County Teach
ers' institute held here in August, he
overtaxed his strength and the illness
followed at the close of the meeting
of the teachers.
Undergoes Two Operations.
He Immediately went to Excelsior
Springs. Mo-, where he underwent an
operation, but his condition did not
improve After spending about five
weeks in a sanatorium in that place
he was removed to Rock Island, and
a week later was operated upon, the ,
second time at st. Anthony's hospital.
II was learned at the second opera ,
ton that his condition was such that ,
nothing could be done to save him, .
and all hope for his recovery was Civ .
en- up by the physicians. Since that :
time he gradually became more weak
and within the last week his death
had been expected momentarily.
Served County Well.
For the past. IS years Mr. Ferguson
had been county superintendent of '
schools and in tlat capacity gave 9
Rock Island county one of the best :,
school administrations that it ever :;
had Although in politics a republi- Il
can, he never allowed his utilization :,
with the party to enter into the school y
work, and never did he show any par q
tisanship. He was as broadminded as y :,
an official as he was capable. ~
1t was on the strength of his good =
work in the capacity of county super "
ntendent that the voters of Rock Is =
and county elected him four success
We times
Prominent in State.
He was prominent as an educator,
lot only in this vicinity, but in the
state He was one of the most active 6
members of the State Teachers $50 Il
,iation and was manager of the State d
Reading circle. an organization affiliat- o.
ID with the teachers association.
Native of Maryland. b
Samuel Jacob Ferguson was born p
n Hayes, Md, March 90, 1865. He il
vas a son of Samuel Ferguson, Sr, to
ow a resident of Oakland, Md. He al
rev into manhood at Hayes and lie
raduated from Lebanon college, Lee re
anon, O., June, 1894. In the fall of W
nat year he removed to Rock Island is
ounty, locating in Reynolds, where h,
Or four years he was in charge of the
rhools. b,
In 1898 he was for the first time te
ected as county superintendent. 70
hich position he held at the time of br
is death He and Miss Anna Easter tn
I Harrisburg, Ark, were united in he
arriage July II, 1895. UT
A Leading Mason. te
Not only was he prominent as an de
iucator, but he was eminent in Ma no
mic circles. He was past high priest re-
Rock Island chapter No. IS, Royal Gle
rich Masons, past eminent command hil
of Rock Island commandery No. IS. by
nights Templar and was prelate of
ock Island commandery at the time tin
his death. He was a member of tie
Dck Island Lodge, No. 65S, A. F. 20
I'd A. NJ, and was also affiliated with thu
aaba Temple, Mystic Shrine, Daven- SUI
TT. IL
Mr. Ferguson was also affiliated Il
tn the Woodmen, North Star and
,uTt of Honor.
Since his residence in this city Mr..
.rguson has been a member of the
rst Methodist Episcopal church, and Wv
s always proved as deyout to his re-
ion as to his duties to the county
was one of the leading members anc
Tho. raIioio,,s danou;nation IN ,b;. Iii
- stol
AS citizen of Rock Island he had "h
Ways been interested and active in ORA
Y projects which meant progress for Ihe
city pool leland Iosav or,a ., a.. fer,
st citizens in the death of County see
perintendent Ferguson.
lie is survived by a wife and three anu
ldren-Vance H, Kenneth E, and MAJ
ia Al Liz father ma ,ha @o,to-, thei
brothers and sisters also survive WOO
d: Charles F. Ferguson, of Sioux the
Y, Iowa; Webb and Harry Fergu- new
, of Berrysburg, Va; Edward Fer anu
ION, of Warden, Montana; Herbert case
Ernest, of Fairmont, w. Va. Mrs anu
~ Boyer. Thomas, W. Va; Mrs +. crys
Fleming, OF Washington, Pa; and nan
p n Horner Niss waude Eer- irise
on and Miss Blanche Ferguson, of mao
luesne, Pa
WOO
grea
larry Golf, % years Of age, passed is o
~ Saturday night at st. Anthony's man
pltal after snort illness. Death And
; due TO uric poisoning from which were
had sufferedfor many years. cold'
was one of the city's popular young most
!. ty
Ir. Golf was born in Rock Island hard
ober 2. 1885, and attended the pub
schools of this city and Hannibal.
, where the family resided previous In
their return to TINS city In 1904. apot
ides the parents, Mr.. and Mrs. J. belle
iof. 1920 Third avenue. he leaves red
e brothers. Gilbert OF this cit!,i tent