Thompson Benton (T.B.) Ferguson and his service as governor of Oklahoma Territory shines as an example to those seeking political office. There are important decisions in the August 25 primary and general election Nov. 3. For Blaine County voters, the choice of Oklahoma State Senator and more locally County Commissioner are important choices, as well as statewide offices. Those seeking office would do well to study the leadership and call to civic duty exemplified by T.B. Ferguson, and later Elva Ferguson.
Following the dismissal of Governor William M. Jenkins, Ferguson was appointed as governor of Oklahoma Territory by Theodore Roosevelt. He served from Dec. 1901 to January 1906, four years and six weeks, longer than any other territorial governor. In “Oklahoma’s Governors: 1890-1907 Territorial Years” edited by Leroy H Fischer, the chapter on T.B. Ferguson by Jerry L. Gill states “Ferguson’s administration was in many ways the most successful and progressive of all the territorial governors. His influence on the early history of Oklahoma was especially important, since he served during a pivotal period bridging the territorial era and statehood. More importantly, he was governor of Oklahoma Territory during its last two legislative sessions” Gill writes “Soon after Ferguson’s arrival in Watonga he became a leader in the newly organized Blaine County Republican Party and was elected to serve on the powerful Republican territorial committee. In 1896, he was appointed postmaster in Watonga by President William McKinley as a reward for his party work. In 1900, Ferguson managed Dennis T. Flynn’s successful reelection campaign for territorial delegate to Congress, and thereby helped secure his (Ferguson’s) election as chairman of the Republican territorial committee. In spite of Ferguson’s success in party politics, he confided to a friend that he had “never had an inclination to hold a public office” but rather “liked the newspaper field, where one is at liberty to do as he can and say what he pleases.
Ironically, a sequence of unforeseen events, beginning with President McKinley’s assassination in 1901, culminated in Ferguson becoming the highest office holder in Oklahoma Territory.
This month, I plan to explore some of the accomplishments of T. B. Ferguson as governor.