History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, profusely illustrated with portraits of early pioneers, rare pictures and scenes of olden times, and portraits of representative citizens of today, [Vol. 2]

100

HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY

Light Artillery organized in September, 1859, and later an honorary member of the East Saginaw Rifles. He was also a member of the old Pioneer
Fire Department in 1861.
In all the activities of life he exemplified the character of a generous
and honorable citizen. The geniality which was always haply manifest, he
preserved to the last, meeting the final summons on February 27, 1883, with
fortitude and resignation worthy of his life.
Upon his death the Board of Insurance Underwriters passed this resolution: "That in the death of our esteemed friend and fellow worker the
community loses a citizen of the highest probity, possessed of those personal
qualifications of honor, kindness of heart, and amiability which attached
him to many and true friends. His manly discharge of the duty of those
thousand qualities made him 'a man among men'."
FRANK A. FERGUSON
Frank A. Ferguson, only son of Alexander Ferguson, was born at East
Saginaw, November 20, 1858. His birthplace was a house which stood on
the corner of Jefferson Avenue and German Street (now Germania Avenue),
on the site of the Federal Building. At that time this location was on the
outskirts of the town, and beyond extended the unbroken forest. In boyhood Frank attended the old Hoyt School, which stood on the site of the
present brick building, and afterward at the Central School, and completed
his schooling with his class of 1876. He then found employment with L. P.
Mason in the lumber inspecting business on the river.
The following winter he became associated with his father in the general
insurance business, under the firm name of A. Ferguson & Son, and the
offices were in the Hoyt Block, at the corner of Washington and Genesee
Streets. In October, 1877, the business was removed across the street to a
room facing Genesee Avenue in the Bliss Block which is now known as
the Mason Building. Some years after the firm again changed the location
of its offices to a room in the same building facing on Washington Street,
where they remained until 1894 when the rooms on the second floor, still
occupied by the agency, were secured.
Upon the death of Alexander Ferguson, in 1883, William Wallace was
given employment in the offices and about ten years later was admitted to
partnership with Mr. Ferguson, under the firm name of Ferguson & Wallace
which has continued to the present time. Founded in 1860 by one of Saginaw's pioneer citizens, who did much for the upbuilding of the East Side,
this agency has continued under the same personality and policy of management for a period of fifty-seven years. It is the oldest insurance business in
the Saginaw Valley. In August, 1911, the firm purchased the Henry N.
Geer agency, which was incorporated and is conducted separately under the
management of William F. Wallace, a nephew of Mr. Ferguson.
On April 25, 1882, Mr. Ferguson was married to Miss Maggie L.
Brown, of this city. Four children were born to them -Marie M., who is
Mrs. Harry D. Tunis, of Chicago; Frances I., who is Mrs. Sylvester A.
Sommers, of this city; Marguerite C., who is at home, and Alexander W.,
who died September 29, 1905. Mrs. Ferguson died April 25, 1903, on her
twenty-first wedding anniversary.
Mr. Ferguson was again married on January 3, 1908, to Miss Kathryn
Bloodsworth, of Saginaw. One son, Frank Kenneth, was born to them on
February 9, 1910. For many years the family home has been at 614 Thompson Street.