Henderson Ferguson, Jr, was my 3rd great uncle. He was the second son and fourth child of Henderson Sr. and Mary Ann "Polly" Dunaway Ferguson. Piecing together the story of his family - including his parents, wife, children and descendants - has been an Adventure!
In the story about Joshua Ferguson, Henderson Sr.'s father, I shared some of their background. You can read about that here:
https://regnirpsstories.blogspot.com/2019/01/id-like-to-meet-joshua-ferguson-my-4th.html.
Henderson Ferguson, Jr. was born between August and December 1852, after his father died. His mother, Mary Ann "Polly" was only 23 when she was widowed with four children. So, the first 2-3 years of Henderson's (Jr) life, he was raised by a single mom. Polly remarried within a couple of years to a man named Henry W. Roten, Jr., who was significantly older than she. Henry already had four sons when he and Polly married, so, now there were eight! In 1856, Henderson, Jr. finally got to be a big brother, instead of being the youngest of four, then of eight! Robert Z. Roten, son of Polly and Henry Roten was born November 3, 1856. It wasn't too long until more children arrived:
By June 4 or 5, 1880, Henderson, age 28 and Verlinda J, age 27 are listed in the McNairy County, Tennessee census with their first four children:
Also, from March 1896, we have another reference to the minor children of Henderson and Verlinda in this document:
I have been lucky enough to connect with several descendants of Henderson and Verlina and they have shared a great deal of information, stories and photos. Here are photos of some of the children of Henderson and Verlinda:
In the story about Joshua Ferguson, Henderson Sr.'s father, I shared some of their background. You can read about that here:
https://regnirpsstories.blogspot.com/2019/01/id-like-to-meet-joshua-ferguson-my-4th.html.
Henderson Ferguson, Jr. was born between August and December 1852, after his father died. His mother, Mary Ann "Polly" was only 23 when she was widowed with four children. So, the first 2-3 years of Henderson's (Jr) life, he was raised by a single mom. Polly remarried within a couple of years to a man named Henry W. Roten, Jr., who was significantly older than she. Henry already had four sons when he and Polly married, so, now there were eight! In 1856, Henderson, Jr. finally got to be a big brother, instead of being the youngest of four, then of eight! Robert Z. Roten, son of Polly and Henry Roten was born November 3, 1856. It wasn't too long until more children arrived:
- William P Roten - August 1859
- Francis E A Roten (female) - abt 1863
- Rachel Lee Roten - January 8, 1867
- Mary Ann Roten - October 1869
Polly Roten died either in December of 1869 or 1870 - there is evidence for both - leaving 5 children under the age of 18, including Henderson Ferguson, Jr. In the 1870 census, Henry Roten is listed with Polly and their 4 children, but Henderson Ferguson, Jr, age 18, is not listed there.
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| Transcript: Record for Polly A Roton, DetailYear: 1870; Census Place: District 6, McNairy, Tennessee; Roll: M593_1549; Page: 262B; Image: 133753; Family History Library Film: 553048. Web Address search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=7163&h=10501907&indiv =try |
James Ezekiel Ferguson, Henderson's older brother, has not been found in any 1870 census and it is possible that Henderson was living with him and his new wife, Margaret Hill Ferguson, who married February 27, 1870 in McNairy County, Tennessee.
The only concrete date we have for Henderson, Jr is when he and Verlinda Jane Ramer (connected to my Ramer family, too!) were married on January 2, 1872 in McNairy County. Here is a copy of their Marriage License.
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| Front of copy showing Henderson Ferguson and M J Ramer License to Marry Issued January 1, 1872. Solemnized by Rev. Robert Young. Bound if marriage did not take place: Henderson Ferguson and Boss Ferguson (nickname for J E Ferguson, his brother) |
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| Back of copy showing place and date copied: McNairy County, Tennessee County Court Clerk Colume E, page 585. Copied July 1992 at LDS Library |
By June 4 or 5, 1880, Henderson, age 28 and Verlinda J, age 27 are listed in the McNairy County, Tennessee census with their first four children:
- W T or J (male) age 8
- Lorine age 5
- Robert Lee age 3
- Henry E age 5/12, born in October 1879.
Here is the census:
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| Source Citation: Year: 1880; Census Place: District 1, McNairy, Tennessee; Roll: 1268; Page: 2D; Enumeration District: 116. Description: ED: 116; Description: First Civil District Source Information: Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. |
Henderson and Verlinda had three more children:
- Joseph Orlando Ferguson - 13 Jan 1881
- James Elmer Ferguson - 20 Sep 1887
- Hubert/Herbert Wesley Ferguson - 26 Apr 1891
Then, once again this family was left motherless, when Verlinda died sometime between April 26, 1891 and January 27, 1892. Henderson was left to raise the children alone, but then he died before March 1896. The orphaned children show up in a couple of legal docuements. Here is a receipt for $46.25 given to J S Robinson, Guardian of the children of H Ferguson, deceased, from the Estate of William M Ramer (Verlinda's father), administered by J S Ramer.
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| Page from Estate of William M Ramer, McNairy County Court House Personal Collection |
Also, from March 1896, we have another reference to the minor children of Henderson and Verlinda in this document:
MCNAIRY COUNTY GUARDIAN'S BONDS 1861 - 1947
ANTIQUITIES OF MCNAIRY
Typed and proofed by Helen King and Dorothy Smith
Compiled by Nancy KennedyPlease allow for errors
DECEASED. MINOR HEIRS. DATE. GUARDIAN. BONDSMAN
FERGUSON, H. WILLIE, ROBERT, EDGAR. MAR 1896. J W ROBERSON. J T BARNHILL
FERGUSON, H. ORLANDER, ELMER & WES. MAR 1896. J W ROBERSON. J T BARNHILL
Here is a photo of Verlinda Jane Ramer Ferguson, thanks to her great granddaughter, Sharon Verlinda Sather Freitag Sevigny.
According to Erin Berrier Hudspeth, one of the granddaughter of James Ezekiel Ferguson (Henderson Jr's brother), James Ezekiel and his wife, Margaret Hill Ferguson took in four of the boys to live with them at some time while they were growing up:
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| Note from Erin Berrier Hudspeth shared by a Bob Hudspeth, Erin's son |
We also know that Elmer, age 11 in this census, (listed above as becoming a Presbyterian Minister) lived with J E and Margaret during the 1900 census:
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| Detail: Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 6, Ellis, Texas; Page: 18; Enumeration District: 0031; FHL microfilm: 1241630 |
I have been lucky enough to connect with several descendants of Henderson and Verlina and they have shared a great deal of information, stories and photos. Here are photos of some of the children of Henderson and Verlinda:
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| Loraine Ferguson Crum and her family |
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| Robert Lee Ferguson |
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| Rev. Dr. James Elmer Ferguson Courtesy of Linda Sather Freitag Sevigny |
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| Herbert/Hubert Wesley Ferguson Courtesy of Linda Sather Freitag Sevigny |
This is about all I have, at the moment, to share about Henderson, Jr and Verlinda Ramer Ferguson. A lot of the information is here only because I have met MANY persons along this adventure and they have shared what they know about this family. Here are some of the names of persons who have shared since before 1992!
- Evelyn Turner Kowen
- Virginia Howell
- Nancy Kennedy
- Harold Cox
- Linda Freitag Sevigny
- Johnnie Prue Ramer Borders
- Bernice Ramer Wright
- James Hudspeth
- Erin Berrier
- Robert Hudspeth
- Nita Gatia
- My mother, Dorothy Nell Clark Springer
- McNairy County Courthouse
- Jack McConnico Library, Selmer, McNairy County, Tennessee
- "Reflections" from the McNairy County Genealogical Society
- Margie Ferguson Bryant
- Kelley Crum Glasscock
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this adventure and I hope we can all continue to share and grow this amazing story!
'Til Next Time!
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