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Elizabeth McEwen Ferguson

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Birth	:	3 Jul 1851 Mahaska County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	24 Mar 1951 Ellensburg, Kittitas County, Washington, USA
Burial	:	IOOF Cemetery, Ellensburg, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate	:	47.0111008, -120.5188980
Description	:	Elizabeth is in the middle row, sitting to the right of James who is the man with the beard. ------------------- MRS. ELIZABETH FERGUSON MARKS 96TH BIRTHDAY AT INFORMAL PARTY Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson, oldest living pioneer of Ellensburg, celebrated her 96th birthday anniversary on Wednesday, July 23, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lottie Harris, where relatives and Freind called to extend their best wishes during the afternoon and evening. Mrs. Ferguson was presented with a large birthday cake and many beautiful flowers and gifts in honor of the occasion. Mrs. Harris was assisted by Mrs. Bessie Phelps, Mrs.... Read More	Elizabeth is in the middle row, sitting to the right of James who is the man with the beard. ------------------- MRS. ELIZABETH FERGUSON MARKS 96TH BIRTHDAY AT INFORMAL PARTY Mrs. Elizabeth Ferguson, oldest living pioneer of Ellensburg, celebrated her 96th birthday anniversary on Wednesday, July 23, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lottie Harris, where relatives and Freind called to extend their best wishes during the afternoon and evening. Mrs. Ferguson was presented with a large birthday cake and many beautiful flowers and gifts in honor of the occasion. Mrs. Harris was assisted by Mrs. Bessie Phelps, Mrs. Gladys Sisk and Mrs. Ella Roberts in serving the birthday cake with ice cream to the guests. Born in 1851 in Fremont, Iowa, Mrs. Ferguson made the long and arduous trek across the plains in a train of 150 wagons with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John H. McEwen. The family stopped in Walla Walla for a year and the next year continued west to the coast helping make trail over the Naches Pass. The McEwens made their home in Shelton, Wash., until 1871 when they came back across the mountains to stake their claim here on July 4, 1871. Elizabeth McEwen by then was married to James Ferguson--going to Victoria, B. C., for her wedding and honeymoon [they were first cousins] and her husband accompanied her parents to this valley to establish his home on a ranch about five miles east of town. After a cabin had been built he returned to Shelton and the next year in 1892 accompanied Mrs. Ferguson, who rode horseback with her two small children with her, over Soulier Pass to the valley, where she had resided for 75 years. They brought with them 150 head of stock to equip their ranch. Too much has happened in the long years of her eventful life to recall it all, Mrs. Ferguson says, but she remembers that when she came to "Robber's Roost' there was nothing here but sage brush and a few families in cabins built along the creek banks. She lived the typical life of a pioneer wife and mother, rearing her ten children, seven of whom are living, and watched the growth of the little settlement of 1872 grow into the present modern city of about 7,500 population. The Indian scare, the big fire of 1889, the coming of the railroads and irrigation, automobiles and airplanes, electricity and household appliances to lighten the work of women, have all been highlights of her life along with the personal happenings to her family and friends, she recalls the years spent here. Guests calling during the day to wish Mrs. Ferguson "Happy Birthday" included Mr. and Mrs. Ray Mordhorts and two daughters, Jim Ferguson, Mrs. Pearl Gates, Mrs. E. R. Russell, Mrs. C. W. Nicholson, Mrs. Louise Montgomery, Mrs. Sarah McEwen, Ellen Roberts, Bessie Ferguson Phelps, Lillie Ferguson Morrison, Addie Ferguson Minnielly, Mrs. Donna Wheaton, Gladys Sisk, George Ferguson, Martha Jordon, Win. Dixon, Elizabeth Erickson, Leta Smith, Clareta Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Harmon, Mrs. Mattie Deaton, Laura Wheeler, Lola Pedersen and her daughters, Karoline and Katherine Pedersen, Cora B. McEwen, Clare Schnebly, Mrs. William Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. Urban Uebelacker, Mrs. Tillie Hayes, and Miss Lorine Hayes. ------------------------ OBIT: Only four months short of attaining her 100th birthday, Mrs. Elizabeth (Grandma) Ferguson, who was the oldest pioneer woman living in the Kittitas valley, died this morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lottie Ferguson Harris, at 302 E. Fourth street here. She died at 2:10 a.m. She was a daughter of a pioneer family, as well as being a pioneer herself. She came across the plains in 1860 with her family, making the six-month trip when a girl 9 years old. Grandma Ferguson was born Elizabeth McEwen in July, 1851 at Fremont, Iowa. She married the late James Ferguson in 1868 at Victoria, B.C. and came to this valley in 1872, a year after their parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. McEwen and Mr. and Mrs. James Ferguson. When Mrs. Ferguson arrived in the valley, smokes of nine family dwellings could be seen on a clear day. The Ferguson and McEwen families crossed the plains by way of Salt Lake City in the same wagon train and stayed together when the caravan broke up near Walla Walla, where they stopped for a year or so then went to Shelton to live until 1871 when they moved to the Kittitas valley. Mrs. Ferguson remained at Shelton with her two children and her brother, William McEwen, when the families moved here, staying behind to take care of the stock accumulated from the time of the families' arrival in WA in 1860. In the spring of 1872, Mrs. Ferguson's husband came to Shelton for her and they crossed over Snoqualmie Pass. She made the trip on horseback carrying one child on her lap, the other behind her. When the party came to Lake Keechelus, the trail was found covered by high water from the lake. A raft was constructed to transport the wagons while cattle and horses were driven around the hills. Robber's Roost, the valley's first store, was the only building in Ellensburg when Mrs. Ferguson arrived here. Like most early day pioneers, Mrs. Ferguson worked both in the home and on the ranch, helping with the haying and other jobs usually considered men's work. She held the plow which cut the ditch from Nanum Creek to the home ranch about 4 miles east of Ellensburg. One of her sons helped with the horses. The ditch is still in use. For the past five years, Grandma Ferguson has lived with her daughter, Mrs. Harris. Of her 10 children, others surviving are: three sons, James H. Ferguson, Kent; George H. and Ben Ferguson, Ellensburg; two daughters, Mrs. Lillie Morrison, Kittitas and Mrs. Bessie Phelps, Ellensburg. Mrs. Ferguson is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Laura Wheeler of Ellensburg, 12 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Honeycutt-Evenson Chapel, the Rev. Dan Rueb officiating. Interment will be in the IOOF Cemetery.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Elizabeth McEwen Ferguson's memorial?
Elizabeth McEwen Ferguson's memorial is located at: IOOF Cemetery, Ellensburg, Kittitas County, USA.
When did Elizabeth McEwen Ferguson death?
Elizabeth McEwen Ferguson death on 24 Mar 1951 in Ellensburg, Kittitas County, Washington, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Elizabeth McEwen Ferguson's memorial?
Latitude: 47.0111008
Longitude: -120.5188980

Family Members:

Parent

John Hager McEwen

(1832 - 1913)

Jerusah Amelia Morrow McEwen

(1834 - 1898)

Spouse

James F. Ferguson

(1839 - 1917)

Siblings

James William McEwen

(1853 - 1915)

Harvey McEwen

(1856 - 1937)

Laura Ellen McEwen Wheeler

(1866 - 1955)

Etta Dore McEwen Gore

(1873 - 1936)

Children

Margaret Olive Ferguson Montgomery

(1868 - 1930)

John Mc Ferguson

(1870 - 1927)

James Harvey Ferguson

(1876 - 1969)

Lottie Rose Ettie Ferguson Harris

(1878 - 1964)

Addie Ellen Ferguson Minielly

(1880 - 1949)

George Holly Ferguson

(1882 - 1974)

Lillie Dell Ferguson Morrison

(1885 - 1960)

Benjamin Franklin Ferguson

(1886 - 1979)

Bessie Lee Ferguson Phelps

(1889 - 1976)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. IOOF Cemetery
Ellensburg, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0111008, -120.5188980

2. Holy Cross Cemetery
Ellensburg, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0101000, -120.5669000

3. Old German Baptist Brethren Church Cemetery
Ellensburg, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9279000, -120.4746000

4. High Valley Memorial Park
Ellensburg, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0144540, -120.6521270

5. Thorp Cemetery
Thorp, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0502000, -120.6727000

6. Thorp-Splawn Pioneer Cemetery
Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0800000, -120.7249000

7. Wymer Cemetery
Wymer, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8267433, -120.4617911

8. Swauk Prairie Cemetery
Cle Elum, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.2019005, -120.7431030

9. Wenas Cemetery
Selah, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7743988, -120.6243973

10. Naches Cemetery
Naches, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7299530, -120.6896990

11. Selah Pioneer Cemetery
Selah, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6720000, -120.5140000

12. Greenwood Historic Cemetery
South Cle Elum, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.1751000, -120.9647700

13. Laurel Hill Memorial Park
Cle Elum, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.1967010, -120.9591980

14. Stemilt Hill Cemetery
Wenatchee, Chelan County, USA
Coordinate: 47.3330994, -120.2596970

15. Peterson Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9216995, -121.0421982

16. Nelson Pioneer Cemetery
Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6404310, -120.5831510

17. Cowiche Natchez Cemetery
Cowiche, Yakima County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6490840, -120.6885330

18. Ingalls Creek Cemetery
Peshastin, Chelan County, USA
Coordinate: 47.3827780, -120.6533340

19. Pat King Burial Site
Wenatchee, Chelan County, USA
Coordinate: 47.3846940, -120.6553890

20. Roslyn Memorial Gardens
Roslyn, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.2198000, -120.9977000

21. Lithuanian Cemetery
Roslyn, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.2195000, -120.9985000

22. New City Cemetery
Roslyn, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.2198000, -120.9986500

23. Croatian Cemetery #2
Roslyn, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.2194224, -120.9990299

24. Moose Cemetery
Roslyn, Kittitas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.2196500, -120.9992000