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THE LETTER
FAMILY TREE
ANCIENT HISTORY
My Version of their Story
 
Walter Chester Ferguson, Sr.
Ferguson Clan
For more information on this clan, contact Marylou Anderson
EMAIL
www.ferguson-clan.com
Walter Ferguson, Sr. Continued. . .
From a very early age Walter Ferguson had
worked at many different jobs. He had been
involved in mining. He had participated in
the last of the open range roundups of the
1890s. He had extensive experience breaking
horses. One winter he broke more than 200
head of saddle and
draft horses.
He also put up a lot of hay and liked to
tell his children and grand children about his 1913 job.
At the place where they were haying
there were 13 hired men , 13 teams, 13
milk cows and 13 laying hens. They finished
haying in 13 days.
But Walter was basically a cattleman. He
had always had cattle and well before his
marriage to Julia Willadsen on January 14,1914 he was
concentrating almost solely
on the ranching
buisness.
In November 1914 Walter and Julia Ferguson
had their first child, Mark. But their joy
was short lived. Their son lived only six
months. In February, 1917 their second son
Martin was born. His birth was followed in July 1918
by that of their first daughter.
Martha.
In 1920 Eva May was born.
Only 6 weeks after her birth the baby
died from a brain hemorrhage.
A year later the lease on the Gilchrist place
was up. In 1918 Walter had bought Bert
Berguson's ranch and it was to that place
located on what is now known as the Crystal Lake
Road, that he moved his family in 1923. This
became known as the Home Place.
On February 23, 1924 Walter and Julia had
their sixth child, Walter, Jr.
In February 1926, their 7th and last child, Charles was born.
He died at age two from a ruptured appendix.
As the children grew older they were all working on the ranch.
In the course of the next 50 years Walter Ferguson
built up a 23,000 acre ranch.
During the 1930s, 1940's and 1950's he bought
several area ranches including the
Statler, Pickle (pronounced PeCal), Kinnamon,
VanTassell, Haygood and McGee ranches.
Along the way, Walter changed from a steer
operation to the then more profitable
cow-calf operation.
In 1937 he switched from Hereford to
Angus cattle. He had had to deal
with the problems associated with sun-burned
udders and knew he could avoid that with
the Angus cattle.
Martin and Walt, Jr. Stayed in the buisness,
Martin was more interested in the haying
and Walt enjoyed everything, especially working
with cattle and horses.
the ranch eventually became a corporation,
Walter Ferguson and Sons.
Martha married John Henry Salsbury
and moved to Cheyenne.
Although Walter Ferguson, Sr. had started
with little more than a fourth grade education,
he earned the respect of many people in the
cattle buisness. His ranching techniques were
widely reported in publications such as the
American Angus Journal, Wyoming
Stockman Farmer and Colorado Rancher
and Farmer. He was much honored by both
the Omaha and Denver Livestock Commissions
for having shipped to them and topped the market
for more than 50 years running.
He was an organizer and president of both the
Wyoming Angus Association
and the Old Timers Association.
He was a lifetime member of the
Wyoming Stockgrowers
He was a charter member of the
Southeastern Angus Association.
Julia had not enjoyed good health for many
years, and in 1940 she dies of pneumonia.
Bergetta had by now taken over keeping
house for her dad.
In 1943, Walter, Jr. married John Henry's sister,
Dorothy Eileen Salsbury and moved
into a log cabin on the ranch.
Bergetta married a Scotsman, George Wilson,
who worked on the ranch his whole life.
Walter had suffered many injuries,
including, to mention just a few;
being dragged by a team of horses,
and a year later, being run over by a wagon.
At age 79 he had his back broken when
he was knocked into the air by an
injured bull. He amazed his doctor
by walking alone six months later.
In fact, he returned to work on the ranch
and remained actively involved in
ranching until his death in 1863 at the age of 84.
To read about Walter, Jr., start with this link.
Walter C Ferguson, Jr.
There are several other links to the life of
Walter,Jr. As well as a beautiful song
written and sung by his grandson, Mark Anderson.
HOME
FAMILY TREE
ANCIENT HISTORY<
Other related stories and those
told by Willaim Mathew and
Martha McKerly Ferguson's
children and grandchildren:
Article in American Angus Journal
More Articles about the
Ferguson/Anderson Legacy
WALT, JR
DOROTHY
MORE PHOTOS
MORE PHOTOS
MY PARENTS
FERGUSON RANCH
WREN ARTICLE
Article in WREN
LT Livestock Hobby Farm
Photos of the ladies
Pappa & Gramma
Anderson LT Livestock
FERGUSON CLAN HISTORY
LINKS TO HISTORY
Have a great day!
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