The Friends of the Ferguson will host homemade ice cream and toppings from 11-3 p.m. Saturday, July 1 on the porch of the TB Ferguson Home. There will also be board games and the chance to take a turn at cranking the ice cream. Small children may sit on a blanket on top of the churn as it is cranked. Come appreciate all the TB Ferguson Home and Museum has to offer. Bring your out-of- town guests for an enjoyable, old fashioned, educational time.
One of the important components of the development of both Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory was the establishment of legal systems for criminal activities by non-native Americans. In Indian Territory, Judge Isaac Parker held court in Ft. Smith, Ark. from 1875 to 1896 for matters concerning criminals in Indian Territory. Many marshals served under the judge, risking their lives to apprehend accused who were hiding in Indian Territory. Judge Parker’s court found many men guilty, with 160 sentenced to death. Of those, 79 were executed, generally by hanging. Several movies, various museums and statues, and podcasts are dedicated to Judge Parker and the marshals who served under him.
On the Oklahoma Territory side, William C. Grimes was appointed U.S. Marshal in 1890. “In setting up a territorywide law enforcement system, he employed 50 to 100 deputies at any one time, including legendary lawmen Heck Thomas, Chris Madsen and Bill Tilghman.
In the course of his career as marshal, which lasted until 1893, he set up a record keeping system and contracted for courtrooms
and jails around the territory, basically establishing a sound mechanism for the enforcement of federal law.
On May 12, 1901, he became territorial secretary under Gov. William M. Jenkins. Grimes continued to hold the secretary's office, serving in the administration of Gov. Thompson Benton (TB) Ferguson until January 1906.
It seems likely the 1893 jail of Watonga/Blaine County which sits on the grounds of the Ferguson Home resulted from Marshal Grimes’ work. Roy Espy, site director of the home and museum, said records of those held in the jail have been found.
Information in this Ferguson Feature has been drawn from online sources, including Wikipedia.