H.H. Ferguson
Mendon Twp.

H. H. Ferguson, proprietor of Ferguson's barber shop, formerly owned by C. Reeves, was born in Dryden, Tompkins County, N.Y., Nov. 19, 1828. His parents were William and Irena (Foot) Ferguson, natives of New York State, and members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a furniture manufacturer, and had a family of two sons and two daughters. H.H. was the oldest son. He attended school in Dryden until twelve years of age when he removed with his parents to Chagrin Falls, O., where he attended school, and learned the saddler's trade until 1851, when he removed to Portage City, Columbia County, Wis., where he followed saddlery and played in Otis's Orchestra until 1857; he removed to Monroe, Wis., and followed the same business until 1862, when he removed to Davenport, Ia. He then traveled for L. B. Cotlamar, wholesale saddlery and leather findings, until 1870, when he went to Council Bluffs, Ia., and engaged in the lightning-rod business until 1871, when he came to McGregor, Ia., and worked as foreman for S. M. McConnel & Company, wholesale dealers in saddlery, hardware, etc., until June, 1881, when he purchased and opened his present barber shop. Mr. Ferguson married Miss Lina H. Corning, at Kirtland, O., in June, 1848. She was born in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson had one daughter-- Emma Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson married his present wife, Miss Mary Welch, September, 1872. She was born in Altrop, France; she was a daughter of Michael Welch, an old settler of Clayton County. Mrs. Ferguson is a member of the German Presbyterian church. Mr. Ferguson is a Republican. He has held the office of Alderman two years in McGregor. He is one of the enterprising representative business men and citizens of McGregor. In 1854 he came to McGregor to look at the country and was not favorably impressed and returned to Portage City, Wis.

source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 979-980
transcribed by Sally Scarff and Marlene Chaney