The Fergusons came to
Michigan from Canada (from Scotland or Ireland
previous to that)
and owned a logging company, which when it went bust (the banks wouldn't, I'm told,
extend the loan due date when early snows prevented moving the logs to market). The family
went back to Canada but George, who they had sent to veterinarian school so he could
caretake the horses, had a trade so stayed. I'm primed to believe this was rather self-serving,
disloyal, but, again, who knows? They are phantoms, here once but now gone. On their
marriage license their "father" is listed as Anthony Ferguson, Fire Department driver, and June
Machesney, with their Mother's maiden names, Ann O'Donnell and June Wedlock. So that's where
Papa's middle name came from, Floyd Wedlock Ferguson. If it is true that George worked for the
fire department (see photo further below) and that is not actually his Father Anthony... well he
went on later to work for the prison as a veterinarian, possibly in the camps rather than the
prison itself, given that they lived in Munising or Chatham... later in Marquette. Thelma, Papa's
sister, called to tell us that he had died, must have been in the early 50s. I answered the phone
and Thelma said, "Tell them Grampa died." and rang off. I tried to announce it in the crowded
kitchen and Nanny impatiently asked what I'd said. I burst out crying and said "Grampa died."
and owned a logging company, which when it went bust (the banks wouldn't, I'm told,
extend the loan due date when early snows prevented moving the logs to market). The family
went back to Canada but George, who they had sent to veterinarian school so he could
caretake the horses, had a trade so stayed. I'm primed to believe this was rather self-serving,
disloyal, but, again, who knows? They are phantoms, here once but now gone. On their
marriage license their "father" is listed as Anthony Ferguson, Fire Department driver, and June
Machesney, with their Mother's maiden names, Ann O'Donnell and June Wedlock. So that's where
Papa's middle name came from, Floyd Wedlock Ferguson. If it is true that George worked for the
fire department (see photo further below) and that is not actually his Father Anthony... well he
went on later to work for the prison as a veterinarian, possibly in the camps rather than the
prison itself, given that they lived in Munising or Chatham... later in Marquette. Thelma, Papa's
sister, called to tell us that he had died, must have been in the early 50s. I answered the phone
and Thelma said, "Tell them Grampa died." and rang off. I tried to announce it in the crowded
kitchen and Nanny impatiently asked what I'd said. I burst out crying and said "Grampa died."
Not sure what the occasion was for the photo below. Maybe folks just got periodic formal portraits done, those
with the means. I've seen her name spelled Margaret McChesney on the backs of photos.
