FERGUSON, LeRoy - 58th ANniv - Putnam

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FERGUSON, LeRoy - 58th ANniv

Source: Spokane Washington Chronicle 11 Oct 1926 p 2

58 years married and still happy. This is the proud boast of Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Ferguson, W1918 Sharp Avenue. Surrounded by their children, grandchildren and friends, Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are celebrating their wedding anniversary at their home today. “To live happily married 58 years, just one should talk at a time,” said Mrs. Ferguson. “When you both talk at once your happiness might not stretch over such a long period as ours. When the wife talks let the husband be silent. This has not always proven out in our case, but is a good rule.”  Yes, there are stumbling blocks in the matrimonial road, but we have managed to get over them so far and our prospects look exceedingly bright for the future,” said Mr. Ferguson. “The best way to keep happily married 58 years is to keep so busy you won’t find time to quarrel.”  Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson were married at Knoxville, Iowa in 1868. They were both 20. They farmed there for five years and went to California in 1873. While in California, Mr. Ferguson hauled freight from the bay country south of San Francisco to San Jose. They lived in California five years then moved to a farm near Salem, Ore. In 1888 Mrs. Ferguson rode horseback from Oregon to the Big Bend Country and bought land near Davenport. He returned to Oregon and brought his family back in  prairie schooners. They lived on the farm until 1907, then came to Spokane to make their home. “When we left Oregon the people told us we would be killed by the Indians up in Washington,” said Mr. Ferguson. “Our place was near the reservation and there were lots of Indians passing our way, but they all seemed friendly, excepting when they would get “fire water.”  Mr. Ferguson was born in Putnam County Indiana in 1848, and Mrs. Ferguson was born the same year in Mahaska County, Iowa. There were 8 children born to them, five are living: WT Ferguson, Spokane; JE Ferguson who resides on the old home place at Davenport; Floyd Ferguson, Spokane; Mrs. Frances Slater Peabody, residing in Kansas and Mrs. CO Walter, Spokane. They have 16 grandchildren 8 boys and 8 girls and one great grandchild. JF West, Mrs. Ferguson’s brother-in-law, who attended their wedding is present. A dinner will be given for them this evening with covers laid for 20.
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