The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-06-10
4. B.. FERGUSON



afternoon. excel for the period Of
the funeral service. mis- IN order that
the great number of Mr.. Fergusson'f
friends may W. an opportunity 20
pay the laat tribute to the dead.
Ills IAfe ilccoed.
MIR. Ferguson was az years old.
he was born September .. iSfs. In
Piokens county. Alabama. his parents
being pr :. ~. and Mary y. Fergus
son. His early education was in the
public schools Of Pickens county and
later In private school At NOxubee.
Mississippi. Following his rcpnra-
tory school work he attended wash
inH,on and Lee university. graduating
with the degree ~ Master 81 Arts in
1873. a ycar later he graduated
with honors from the law school %
the sDme university. lie went from
college To- Winchester. virginia. where
from 1874 10 1879 he was assistant
principal Of the Shenandoah Valley
academy. From 1876 Ia 1883 ne
prncticed law In Wheeling. West viz
ginia. and In the latter part ~ 1859
he came "a New Mexico. choosing NJ
his first location white oaks. IN Lin
coin county. hen a bustlinR frontier
mining town. He came 10 Albuquer-
que IN iSSi. and since hat time has
made his hom' here. where h. was
married and where his children have
grown up.
IIis Public Career.
Mr.. Fergusson's career a. a public
ofhciai began almost Immediately az
ter his arrival ln his city, where he
promptly ,ook an active part ia com
munity business and public affairs.
In 1853 ne was appointed district
attorney foi the Second Judicial dis
trict, serving IN hat capacity Tor two
years. Fits service included count
and legislative duty ana together
with IL he built up a large and uni
formly successful law practice which
he continued to carry on personally
up to thc period OF his last service ~
congress. tie was appointed a spe'
! cial United states attorney In 1888 1,
prosecute violations OF the nntiona
banking law In this state, and in 1894
became the New Mexico member u
the Democratic national committee
which post he held until 1905. whcr
h. wus succeeded by Hon. 4, \
Jones He was elected delegate fron
New Mexico iu The fits. nfth con
gress in 1896, serving one term !
was during this single term, nn'
without q vote. that Mr.. Ferguson
secured the passage 81 the Ferguson
land grant act by which ave million
acres OF the public domain were Eivei
Ia the state outright for the use %
its public schools. higher education
ai institutions. penal n other Inst
tutions. and for various important
development purposes. He was nom
mated. but defeated for recollection
In 1905. me again VAS defeated fo.
congress In 1909.
Mr.. Ferguson was active in ever,
campaign for statehood FOR Nev
Mexiro and had much o. do In bring
ing about the final passage ~ IN
enabling act. He was elected "a dele
gate to the constitutional convention
from B|erunlllio county and left IN
impression 81 his ideals on the prod
uot Of that convention. beng a ~.
nority member of several 90 its mos
important oornmitteos.
Mir Ferguson wls nominated an.
elected 90 congress in tho first stat
election. ana was reelected Co th
! sixty-third congress by 20 handsom
maIorly. In 1914 h. was agaln
candidate for reelection hut was DO
feuted hy o. g. Hernandez Nt IN
completion ~ his congressiouIl terri
A Mr.. Ferguson became private scOre
tary 60 william Jennings Hryaf
which position he held for sever.
months His health had been fui|
ing steadily. however. and no 70
turned 20 New Mexico hut O. Co.
weeks ago. Intending to resume M
!, practice of law lie spent a week d
buoro In n local hospital ~recup"rntin
and was thought to be on the ron
back 10 health