Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
ERNEST N. FERGUSON. Step by step along the path of orderly progression Ernest N. Ferguson proceeded until he reached a prominent position as a representative of the industrial interests of Springfield, becoming cashier of the Holland Banking Company and president of the State Savings Trust Company. The initial step toward these ends was made when he was but a boy when he began careful preparation for a business career, and he has left no stone unturned anywhere along the highway of life whereby he might legitimately advance himself. His influence has always been on the side of progress, improvement and advancement. He is a dependable man under any condition and in any emergency. His quietude of deportment, his easy dignity, his frankness and cordiality of address, with the total absence of anything sinister or anything to conceal, foretoken a man who is ready to meet any obligation of life with the confidence and courage that come of conscious personal ability, right conception of things and an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.
Springfield is his native city, his birth having occurred June 23, 1870. His parents are John R. and Virginia C. (Smith) Ferguson. The former, a native of Missouri was born in February, 1842, and soon after the Civil war settled in Springfield, where he still makes his home. He engaged in the drug business for a number of years, afterward filled the office of circuit clerk for eight years and was recorder of deeds for four years, during which period his son, Ernest, acted as his deputy. He made an excellent record in official circles, his course being characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty and capability in meeting the demands of the business connected with the office. For three years he served his country as a soldier in the Union army and has at all times been actuated by a public-spirited devotion to the general good. He enlisted at Louisiana, Pike county, Missouri, March 29, 1862, and was mustered into service as a private of Company E, Third Regiment of Cavalry, Missouri State Militia, for three years, on the 8th of April, 1862. The following year he was promoted to the rank of corporal and in 1864 became sergeant. He continued with his command until mustered out, April 14, 1865, at Macon City, Missouri, on the expiration of his term of enlistment. While the Third Regiment was not sent to the front, it did arduous and dangerous duty in Missouri and northern Arkansas. Mr. Ferguson was almost constantly in a saddle from the spring of 1862 until the winter of 1864-5, pursuing and fighting the bushwhackers, guerrillas and outlaws who infested the territory in large numbers, especially in the central, southwestern and southeastern portion of this state, using every opportunity to ambush and bushwhack the Third Regiment, ignoring all rules of civilized warfare. In the summer and autumn of 1864 no prisoners were taken by either side. Mr. Ferguson participated in the engagements at Kirksville, Missouri, in August, 1862, and in the fight near Patterson, Missouri, in the spring of 1863. He was also in the severe engagement in September, 1864, at Goslings Lane, Boone county, Missouri, where he was in command of the advanced guard, which was formed of a detachment from his regiment for protecting a wagon train of army supplies. The attack was made on the wagon train and guard by the notorious guerrilla band of three hundred of the most desperate and cruel guerrillas, commanded by the equally desperate Bill Anderson, a noted guerrilla chief, who burned the wagon train and killed without mercy the teamsters and soldiers who were unable to escape. As Mr. Ferguson says, service at the front under the rules of civilized warfare was a much less dangerous and arduous service than that which he experienced. He has been equally true and loyal to his country in times of peace and is regarded as one of the most public-spirited men of Greene county. His wife is a daughter of Captain Jared E. Smith, a native of Tennessee.
In the public schools of Springfield Ernest N. Ferguson pursued his early education and afterward attended a business college there. On leaving school he entered the office of the circuit clerk and subsequently was in the recorder's office, being so employed for about five years. His identification with financial interests dates from the 19th of May, 1890, when he entered upon a position in the Springfield Savings Bank, becoming bookkeeper. There he remained until February, 1906, when he became secretary and treasurer of the Springfield Trust Company, with which he was thus associated for eighteen months. He next became vice-president of the National Exchange Bank and after ten months went to the State Savings Bank as cashier. Eventually he was elected its president and continued as such until September, 1913, when the bank was consolidated with the Holland Banking Company, of which Mr. Ferguson is now cashier. During his administration of the affairs of the State Savings Bank the deposits were increased from sixty thousand dollars to more than a million and a quarter and when, with his assistance, the consolidation with the Holland Banking Company took place, the new institution became the strongest in this part of the state. His long and varied experience in different clerical and official positions has given him intimate and comprehensive knowledge of the banking business in all of its phases and enables him to speak with authority upon many of the complex problems of banking. The spirit of enterprise actuates him in all that he undertakes and he has the ability to unify seemingly diverse elements and coordinate forces into a harmonious and resultant whole. One of the older bankers of Springfield, who years ago employed Mr. Ferguson in a humble position said of him: "He always had the faculty of making and holding friends and still never allowed friendship to affect his judgment in business transactions. He is looked upon as one of the county's leading men, but has not nearly reached his place he eventually will take in financial circles." He is very forceful, displays keen sagacity and almost immediately makes up his mind when any proposition is brought before him.
On the 24th of April, 1894, at Springfield, Mr. Ferguson was united in marriage to Miss Margaret B. Pinkerton, a daughter of Rev. J. P. Pinkerton, and their children are James P., Katherine, Ernest N. and Margaret B.
Mr. Ferguson has been a member of Company F, Second Regiment, Missouri National Guard, with which he served for two years, holding the rank of second lieutenant. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he is identified with several fraternal and social organizations. He is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a Red Man, Royal Arcanum and Modern Woodmen. He also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is identified with the Springfield Club, the Young Men's Business Club, the Country Club and, the James River Club--associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and of his recreation. In manner he is modest and unassuming, but he has friends among all classes of people. He is a member of the South Street Christian church and has been its treasurer since 1894. Through his energy and personal assistance the affairs of the church have been put on a sound financial basis and he deserves great credit for his efforts in that direction. He is also a trustee of Drury College and is the local treasurer of the Pythian Home. His activities outside of business are perhaps most pronounced in the church and in its teachings are found the motive springs of his life in all of his relations with his fellowman. His ideals are high and he grasps eagerly every opportunity for raising himself to their level.
[1890-1893]
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