Ferguson Features

TB Ferguson 'Honest Tom' was born March 17, 1857, near De Moines Iowa. The following year his family moved to Emporia, Kansas. His mother died in 1860 and his father enlisted in the Union Army at the beginning of the Civil War. He was raised by his older sister.

His early education was at country schools. He started teaching school to finance his education at Emporia State Normal College (A Normal school or college is an institution created to train teachers) where he graduated in 1884. Two years later he changed occupations and became a Methodist minister.

A year after he graduated college, he married Elva Shartel. In October 1892 they came to Watonga, after the April land run. In 1901 he was appointed to be the 6th Territorial Governor of Oklahoma by President Theodore Roosevelt. As governor, he reduced deficit spending but increased funding for education. An experienced educator, he improved the quality of education at all levels from elementary to college through legislation and set qualifications for teachers.

Elva Ferguson 'Eve' also taught school before marrying TB. Education was important to her. She established and opened the Watonga Public Library in 1906. She belonged to the Mother's Self Culture Club, the Watonga chapter of the Oklahoma State Federation of Women's Clubs. Their motto was 'Kindliness and Helpfulness'. Women's clubs helped start many initiatives such as kindergartens. The Federation supported the 1906 campaign for compulsory school attendance resulting in the compulsory education bill that passed in 1907.

In honor of the Fergusons’ strong focus on education and community service, we are holding a drawing at the museum at our Back To School event at noon on August 19.

The drawing is open to students aged 5-11 years of age and will be for one boy's styled 20-inch bicycle and helmet, and one girl's styled 20-inch bicycle and helmet. To enter, students may come to the Ferguson Museum and enter once per day on a Friday or Saturday through August 19 by noon.

The Watonga Eagles Band will be there for the event, and we will serve light food and beverages. Free tours of the museum and jail will be available, and make sure you see our special Back to School exhibit. Hope you will stop on by between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.