Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Dr. Senator John Ferguson

Male 1838 - 1896  (~ 58 years)


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  • Name John Ferguson 
    Prefix Dr. Senator 
    Born Apr 1838  , Middlesex Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2
    Gender Male 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91371577 
    Interesting politics 
    Occupation 1869  New York City, New York, USA. Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Doctor 
    Occupation 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Physician - Doctor - Dr. 
    Residence 1871  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Church of England 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-130280 
    Died 22 Sep 1896  Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Cause: Bright's Disease (2 years) 
    Buried Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Person ID I130280  Generations
    Last Modified 11 Jun 2024 

    Family Mary Elizabeth Robinson,   b. 22 Dec 1848, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 17 Aug 1927, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years) 
    Married 2 Jun 1869  Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Children 
     1. Bessie Robinson Ferguson,   b. 21 Feb 1870, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Apr 1874, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 4 years)
     2. William Robinson Ferguson,   b. 13 Sep 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 21 Jul 1905  (Age 33 years)
     3. Ida Florence Ferguson,   b. 8 Oct 1872, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Mar 1874, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 1 years)
     4. Mary Victoria Beatrice Ferguson,   b. 10 Nov 1881, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 7 Dec 1934, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 53 years)
    Last Modified 11 Jun 2024 
    Family ID F40673  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • JOHN FERGUSON, M.D., Niagara Falls, M. P. for Welland County, was born in the county of Middlesex, Ontario in the year 1839. He is descended from an Irish family of Scotch extraction, whose estates lay in Galway and Ayrshire. In 1660, James Ferguson, a younger son of the family, became possessed of a large property in the county of Cavan, Ireland, in which place he settled. His son Thomas and grandson Richard entered the army, the latter taking part in the troubles of 1743, as an officer of the King's Black Horse ( now the 7th Dragoon Guards) under the Duke of Cumberland. His grandfather, Henry F., held a commission in the Cavan militia, and took an active part in the Irish rebellion of 1798. This gentleman came to Canada in 1824, and settled in London Township.

      The father of our subject was John Ferguson, of Middlesex, who was a justice of the peace in that county. Dr. John Ferguson received his education at the London grammar school, and afterwards entered the medical department of Victoria College, Toronto, and was also a private student of the late Dr. Rolph. In 1864 he graduated M. D. From Victoria College, and then left for the city of New York and entered Bellevue hospital, under Austin Flint, M. D., and attended the hospital for wounded soldiers at Blackwell's Island. On his return to Canada he began practicing his profession, but after four year's practice he abandoned it and began contracting for public works. He built a portion of the New York and Oswego Midland Railway, and the Galt and Berlin Railway. He was also a member of a firm who built (from 1873 to 1877) six miles of the Welland Canal enlargement, and in company with Robert Mitchell constructed the larger portion of the Toronto Water Works. In company with H. C. Symmes he built and established the first wood pulp mill at Sherbrooke in the province of Quebec. Dr. F. has taken an active part in political contests as a Conservative, appearing in the fight in nearly every election since 1867. In that year he assisted , for seven months on the public platform, A. P. Macdonald, who was elected in West Middlesex ; John H. Munroe, who was elected in West Elgin ; also in the contests in Bothwell and North Middlesex.

      In 1871 he took an active part in South Waterloo election in the interest of Abraham Erb, who was the candidate of the late Sanfield Macdonald ministry. During 1873 he went through South Waterloo delivering a number of vigorous, powerful and brilliant, speeches in behalf of Mr. Phin and the Conservative cause, and he took a similar course through North Wentwrth, Waterloo and West Middlesex, Mr. McKechnie profiting by his effective addresses. In 1882 he appeared on his own behalf before the electors of Welland, and received the reward of his ability, his integrity and zeal, in being chosen for parliament. He has since sat in the House of Commons, and he was very speedily looked upon as one of the clear-headed and solid members of that body. He is vigorous, ready and practical, and his judgement upon public questions is certain to be careful and sound.

      In 1887 he was re-elected for Welland by a largely increased majority. In 1879 and 1880 he travelled extensively through Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. He married,in 1869, Miss Robinson, only daughter of the late William Robinson, who was the mayor of the town of Galt, and who contested the south riding of Waterloo in the Conservative interest against Jas. Cowen in 1863, and in that Reform constituency came within sixty-three votes of being elected. The fruit of the union is four children, three daughters and one son. The two eldest daughters died in 1874. The son is attending Upper Canada College, and is in his fifteenth year. In 1881 Dr. F. purchased a large fruit farm on the banks of the Niagara river, and upon the farm is the celebrated Whirlpool Rapids Park. We may add in conclusion that Dr. F. is not a parliamentary gladiator, but whenever the occasion demands he is ready, and gives his views with promptness, with point and with effect.

      History of Welland County, Welland Tribune Publishing House.

      _________

      John Ferguson (April 27, 1839 \endash September 22, 1896) was a physician, contractor, farmer and political figure in Ontario, Canada. He represented Welland in the House of Commons of Canada from 1882 to 1891 as a Conservative member. He then served as a member of the Senate of Canada from 1892 to 1896.

      He was born in Middlesex County, Upper Canada, the son of John Ferguson, and was educated in London. Ferguson received a M.D. from Victoria College in Toronto in 1864.[1] Ferguson continued his studies at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. After his return to Canada, he practised for four years and then entered business as a contractor for public works. Ferguson worked on the construction of the New York and Oswego Midland Railway, the Galt and Berlin Railway, the Welland Canal and the water works for Toronto. He was also responsible for the operation of water works in Toronto and St. Catharines. With H.C. Symmes, he built a pulp mill at Sherbrooke, Quebec.[2] In 1869, Ferguson married a Miss Robinson from Galt. He served as coroner for Middlesex County.[1] He owned a fruit farm on the banks of the Niagara River.[1] Ferguson was defeated when he ran for reelection in 1891. He died in office at the age of 57.

      John Ferguson (Ontario politician) (2023) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ferguson_(Ontario_politician) (Accessed: 9 October 2023).

  • Sources 
    1. [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 2, Pg. 13.

    2. [S505] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Trinity Anglican (Galt) CC#4497 Internet Link .
      Hon. John Ferguson M. D./ born April 1838/ died 22 Sept. 1896/ Ida Florence/ died 24th March 1874/ aged 1 y'r 5 mo's/ and 16 days/ Bessie Robinson/ died 24th April 1874/ aged 4 y'rs 2 mo's/ and 3 days/ children of/ Dr. John and Mary E./ Ferguson/ William Robinson/ Ferguson/ born 12 Sept. 1871/ died 21 July 1905/ Mary Elizabeth Robinson/ beloved wife of/ Senator John Ferguson/ born Dec. 22, 1848/ died Aug. 17, 1927/ Ferguson

    3. [S31] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Dumfries Reformer (1850-1892), 9 Jun 1869.
      Robinson, Mary E. married 2 Jun 1869 to John Ferguson, M.D. At the residence of the bride's father, in Galt, by the Rev. Dr. Boomer, Rural Dean. Groom, of New York; the bride, the eldest daughter of William Robinson.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - Apr 1838 - , Middlesex Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Doctor - 1869 - New York City, New York, USA. Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 2 Jun 1869 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Physician - Doctor - Dr. - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Church of England - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: Bright's Disease (2 years) - 22 Sep 1896 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth