Dr. Senator John Ferguson

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91371577
• Interesting: politics
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-130280
• Occupation: 1869, New York City, New York, USA.; Doctor
• Occupation: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Physician - Doctor - Dr.
• Residence: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England

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.

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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).

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FERGUSON, JOHN was associated with Galt from 1870, but there is no evidence in the local newspapers to indicate that he ever practised there, his interests were directed towards the construction of railroads, canals, waterworks, etc., rather than medicine."A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography, " 1886 says that he:

…entered the medical department of Victoria College, Toronto, and was also a private student under 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 practising his profession, but after four years practice he abandoned it and began contracting for public works."

His biography is covered in this article except for one last notice in the Berliner Journal of October 1, 1896

"Senator Dr.. Ferguson died on Tuesday in Toronto and was buried in Galt on Thursday."

Dr. Alexander D. Campbell, Doctors in Waterloo County 1852-1925

John married Mary Elizabeth Robinson 2 Jun 1869, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Mary (daughter of Mayor William Robinson and Sarah Palmer) was born 22 Dec 1848, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; died 17 Aug 1927, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada; was buried , Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/244497318
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-130364
• Residence: 1871, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Church of England

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/244497318
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-146567

Notes:

I146567 William Ferguson Galt Reporter Sep 8 1871 pg 3
***The correct date is Sep 15 1871***

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• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/244497361
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-146495

Notes:

In Galt, on Tuesday, 24th inst., at 5 o'clock a.m., Ida Florence, infant daughter of Dr. John Ferguson, aged 1 year, 5 months and 16 days.

Galt Reporter Mar 27 1874 pg 3

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• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-64885

Notes:

Deaths

WILSON - Suddenly, on Friday. December 7, 1934, Beatrix Ferguson Wilson, wife of the late Lieut. Col. F. W. Ernest Wilson. 18 Edmund avenue, Toronto. Interment at Fairview cemetery, Niagara Falls, Ont., on Monday afternoon at 2 p.m.

The Ottawa Journal 7 Dec 1934 pg 1