The third name circled is Tauno Kallio, Martha's uncle. He was born in 1912 and died in 1931,
just missing family photos before and after his death. so this is the only photo of him on this site.
Never heard cause of death but it was the year this photo was taken (just behind Arnie, 2nd from left).
Another photo same year, unidentified team mates. These guys were all just abit beyond the prime
age for World War II. Not sure how they fared but Floyd had two children and a key position
on the railroad when Pear Harbor happened so he was spared that horror.
On the back: Frank Hill, Floyd, Vick Ayotte. Doesn't say where or the year. Looks like a still from a
movie. Hill, recall, was Nanny's Mother's maiden name. Frank spent his last days in the veteran's facility
in Marquette. He came to Floyd & Martha's 50th... got'em on video. At the time I had no idea, nor
curiosity apparently, where he fit in the family tree.
On the back: Floyd, 1935. Two years before their marriage, age 20. Looks like the same tree
that Martha is standing next to, probably the same photo session.
On the back in Martha's hand: "precious, handsome Floyd! 1940 or 41". Looks like one of those mug shots for a driver's
license or passport. Maybe for the census job he took around that time. Could be "Pretty Boy Floyd".
Probably one of those street photographers took this... when Floyd took that job
with the census bureau in D.C. For a long time I thought he had been in the FBI...
maybe he considered it but they sure concluded city life wasn't for them. Great suit
though. I saw a magazine cover with Roy Rogers on it and thought it was Floyd,
and said so. That little story lived on and he did, in certain moods and light, resemble
the cowboy movie star.
These shots of Floyd in 1937-8, with Russel Paronto in one. This was entertainment, yes, but also hunting for food.
The 415 Craig street house, in front, and the back yard - noted: "3/24/55, Our pride & joy" presumably
the house not the jeep though they liked that too. The other one, "1964 - November, Dusty's Buck! a Big Day!"
Dusty would have been 16 or 17. I painted that fence and it took a long time. James Dean was still alive and
brother Steve would be born the same month, September, the actor was killed in a car crash.
Turning right from the deer shot would be this view, of Floyd's garden, July 1986. He had energy. Here he was,
working full time and crazy shifts on the railroad, doing this garden, keeping up the house, hunting, fishing, trapping.
He retired in 77 I think but kept going, remodeling some rooms, building that log cabin, cutting wood for the
winter, still fishing, hunting etc;
Speaking of the railroad, here's a shot of him on the job. No date but certainly before 77. There was
a run between Little Lake and Gwinn that I rode with him once, a passenger train - but of course
it also hauled freight. Another time we visited a small building along the tracks out toward Big Bay.
It was winter, lotta snow and the guys in there had a good fire going. Someone said, "Give'm a
tick on the ticker." so one of the guys reached for the telegraph and tap-tap-tap. I was impressed.
One of his jeeps. I think that might be Dana in the passenger seat, or Dale Jr. Probably out at his log cabin.
On the back: "1984, Papa at camp." He looks in great shape. That's a pretty beatup pickup. He got a
1885 Ford Ranger after this that he bequeathed to me.
Taken in the workshop he built in the backyard, no date but gotta be November, hunting season. Huge deer.
After Floyd retired he took up a project of single-handedly building a log cabin on some land he bought
southeast of Marquette, actually not far from Chatham. I didn't realize until I saw these photos that he had
accepted some help, maybe just for the roof, trying to get it weathered in before the winter snows? Or
more likely he allowed others to help put on a front extension. All the logs came from his land. He also
got logs milled into boards and stacked those in shelters constructed, of logs of course, from his land.
He told me he made a mistake putting in the floor first. Though it gave him a nice surface to work
from, it invariably got wet. October 79 on the back.
Looks to me like brother Dusty & his son Dana, with maybe Ronnie or Dale Jr.
Papa must have taken the photo. I'm thinking this work is when they put an extension on the front.
Papa just kept going, bringing out a tractor to help him haul wood, building a log garage for the
tractor and one for the wood. He'd bring seasoned wood in as adjunct heating for the Marquette house.
The one below labeled September/October 1990.
November 1979... so this is before the above extension. Martha noted, "Lookit all the wood piled high.
Floyd sure enjoyed being out there, doing his own thing on his own time - being close to God too."
on the back, "1979-80... working so hard! and enjoying every minute." I think that wood stove was
in the Marquette house basement before finding its use here.
Taken in July 1990, only 3 months before his death. In August he complained about stomach pain, thinking he had
inhaled some insecticide. Would that that was all it were. So many on the Ferguson side were hit by Cancer.
His sister Patsy and Murph and Murph's daughter Phyllis before her... suggests a susceptibility in the genes. Who knows?
Floyd Wedlock Ferguson, 1915-1990.
Known affectionatley as Papa once the grandchildren started arriving, his
Mother's maiden name was Marguerette Machesney and her Mother's maiden name was Wedlock.