The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-05-11
FULL O FYEARS AND HONOR
COL. j. w. FERGUSON PASSES
Distinguished Citizen of Laurens Dies
After Brief IIlneSS-Funeral
Wednesday Afternoon.


Within t2ree days after he suffered
sudden and violent attack of uremic
poisoning, Col. Jonn ". Ferguson, an
aged and honored citizen of the city,
died at the Julia Irby sanitarium last
Tuesday morning. Col. Ferguson was
stricken Saturday morning While on
the way TO his Office. He had driven
down from his home, and was just in
tie act of alighting from mis- carriage
when friends noticed that something
was wrong With him and they went to
his assistance at once. He was taken
to the hospital Immediately for treat
ment, but ne never rallied from the
attack and quietly passed away Tues
day at 9 o'clock.
TIE burial services were held We'd
nesday afternoon at $50 at the Lau-
rens cemetery, the exercises being
conducted by the Rev. c. F. Rankin,
of the First Presbyterian church, and
DR.. A. G. Ward3aw, Of Greer a former
pastor Of the Lanrens Presbyterian
church. A large concourse Of friends
and relatives attended the services,
many coming from otter towns and
different parts of the State for the fu-
neral.
AS teacher, soldier, lawyer, legisla-i
tor, writer and author, Col Ferguson
filled we'll and usefully his place in
the scheme of human endeavor and &C
complisnments. He was born in New
berry county Nov. 29, 1884, being son
of DR.. George Ferguson, a native of
this county.
A sketch of his life up to the time
he entered actively upon the practice
of the law, in 1874, is mere reproduced
from the voiume Eminent and Rep
resentative Men of the Carolinas," as
follows:
John ". Ferguson was reared to
manhood in his native county, the
greater part of his time being spent
in the city of Newberry. Both his
parents having passed away in his
early youth, he resided with relatives
of his mother. His first education was
received in the common schools of
tae county, but at ii he entered a
Presbyterian male academy at Green
wood, S. c., taught by DR.. Isaac Auld,
VINO at that time lad gained much
eminence as an educator. Here he
remained four years, after which he
entered Oglethorpe university, at Mil
ledgeville, Ga. He graduated from
this institution in 1856, then at the age
of 20. Returning to his l1ome, he too11
up the vocation of teacher, which ne.
followed for one year in the lower
part of Nevberry county, in what is
known as the Chinquipin section. He
was chosen as principal Of the male
academy at Cross Hill, Laurens coun-
,ty, which position he held Until the
breaking out of the war, and while
there he devoted his leisure time to the
study of law under Col. B. w. Ball, of
Laurens. He w2s opposed to seces-
sion, but went with the tide of his
State, and in the spring of 1861, en-
listed in Company F, of the Third reg
iment of the South Carolina volun-
teers. Here ae served some three OF
four months, when he was discharged
on account CT physical disability. On
his return home he resumed teaching,
which ne followed until September,
1864, when he re-entered the military
service as a member of the State
troops, and upon the organization Of
the Fourth regiment of the State
troops he was CHOSEN major. One
month later, the colonel of the regi-
ment resigned and Mr.. Ferguson was
elected to the colonelcy He held this
rank until the close of the war. All
of this period ne carried a discharge
and his service was consequently vol
untary pn his part. In 1856 he was
chosen principal of the male academy
at Laurens. Meanwhile he had been
admitted to the bar, namely in May,
1868, but ice retained mis- position as
principal of the Laurens male academy
until 1872. He was then elected pro-
fessor in the Laurensville female col
Iege. He resigned this position in 1874,
and entered upon the practice Of law,
wlich he has ever since followed"
In the practice Of MS profession Col
Ferguson was associated at. first with