Thompson Benton Ferguson

Thompson Benton Ferguson (March 17, 1857 – February 14, 1921) was the sixth Governor of Oklahoma Territory.

Thompson Benton Ferguson
Sixth Governor of Oklahoma Territory (1906-1907)
Born	March 17, 1857 Polk County, Iowa
Died	February 14, 1921 (aged 63) Oklahoma City
Nationality	U.S.A.
Occupation	minister, educator, postmaster, newspaper editor and publisher
Years active	1876-1921
Known for	Territorial Governor of Oklahoma Territory

Early life

Ferguson was born on March 17, 1857, near Des Moines, Iowa. The following year, he moved to Emporia, Kansas, with his parents. His mother died in 1860, and his father enlisted in the Union Army at the beginning of the Civil War. He was raised by his older sister, was educated in public schools and by teaching, he was able to finance his course through the Kansas State Normal School at Emporia. [lower-alpha 1] An earnest Bible student, he was ordained as a Methodist minister and after a short time moved to Chautauqua County, Kansas. There, Ferguson taught school for nine years and married Elva Shartel on June 9, 1885, in Sedan, Kansas.[1]

Career

In 1889, Ferguson joined the Oklahoma Land Run and staked a claim near Oklahoma City which he later sold and returned to Sedan, Kansas, where he purchased the Sedan Republican and edited it for two years. In October 1892, he moved to Watonga, Oklahoma Territory and established the Watonga Republican newspaper which he continued to publish until his death. He was appointed postmaster of Watonga in 1897.[2]

President Theodore Roosevelt appointed Ferguson as the sixth Governor of Oklahoma Territory (anecdotally, when Roosevelt offered Ferguson the position via telegram, Ferguson's wife Elva[3] accepted on his behalf without consulting him)[4] and he assumed the office on November 30, 1901. He served until January 5, 1906. Upon retirement, he returned to his residence in Watonga. He made two notable attempts to return to his public service. He was a candidate for U.S. Representative from Oklahoma in 1907[2] and the Republican candidate for Governor of Oklahoma in 1910.

Death

Ferguson died on February 14, 1921, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After a formal tribute in the Chamber of the House of Representatives, presided over by then-Governor James B. A. Robertson, his remains were returned to Watonga and were interred at Watonga City Cemetery.

Legacy

Historian John B. Meserve, who summarized the effects of the Territorial Governors in the Chronicles of Oklahoma

...his executive functions were devoted to giving the territory an honest, sober and economical administration. Aside from this sterling service, the regime of Governor Ferguson offered no outstanding features, but it will abide in the annals of history as a most successful tenure. His term of office occasioned less criticism than any of the preceding administrations in the territory. The governor had experienced the hardships and deprivations of the early formative days of the territory and knew the problems which had confronted and still confronted the pioneer folk whose political affairs he was undertaking to guide. He possessed the qualities essential for an executive and with patient but firm resolve gave to the territory a splendid administration and will linger as an outstanding governor of the old territory.[5]

Upon his retirement, he resumed his residence at Watonga and in 1907 made an unsuccessful race for Congress against his Democratic opponent. He continued publishing his newspaper until his death.[5]

Notes

1. Kansas State Normal School is now known as Emporia State University (ESU).

References

1. "Thompson Benton Ferguson". Chronicles of Oklahoma. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
2. "Thompson Benton Ferguson". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
3. Ferguson, Elva Shartel, by Linda W. Reese, at The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture; retrieved November 27, 2020
4. The First Lady of Oklahoma, in The Tacoma Times (via Chronicling America); published June 29, 1904
5. Meserve, John Bartlett. "The Governors of Oklahoma Territory." Chronicles of Oklahoma. September 20, 1942. Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 218. Accessed December 3, 2019.

External links

• "Index to Politicians: Ferguson". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
• "Governors Of Oklahoma". Rootsweb. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
• Thompson Benton Ferguson at Find a Grave
• Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Ferguson, Thompson Benton
• Chronicles of Oklahoma