Background R.A. Ferguson bought a lot of land in Hill County, Texas and elsewhere.  He needed it as he was a stockman and also providing for a large family.  In 1887, he purchase 13 acres near his home (deed recorded in 1890).  This was abandoned land.  Notice that the chain carriers were JW Ferguson and RM Ferguson, his sons. I attached the link to the pdf of these documents below.  In the field notes, they use the word “vacancy” a lot.  I haven’t seen that word used in other surveys.  Was this land scraps between other parcels of land that belonged to no one? The Documents 13 acres land RA…

Background I am thrilled that the Gaston Gazette published these stories about R.A. Ferguson.  However, I am not certain about the dates and all the details.  For example, in one of their articles, they have him heading to the gold fields of California before gold was discovered.  In another, they say he went with one companion when we know that he went with his uncle, Squire Jim Ferguson, Squire Jim’s son, and another cousin.  Still, the articles provide insight into what happened.  We need to piece all the facts and details together from all the articles if we are to have a clear picture of R.A.’s adventures. The Article Excerpt…

Background Following his death in March 1910, an article illustrating Robert Andrew Ferguson’s life appeared in the Gaston Gazette.  Some of the dates and timeline are incorrect, I believe, if you compare them to other documents we have.  Over all it is an amazing tribute fitting for an amazing life. The Article Published in the Gaston Gazette, Gaston, NC on Tuesday, April 12, 1910 NOT A COMMON MAN. Late R.A. Ferguson, Gaston County Man Who Recently Died in Texas, Was a Hero from His Youth – Caught Monkeys in South America and Mined Gold in California- Sketch of an Interesting Career. Some weeks ago the Gazette published an account of…

Background R.A. Ferguson is kind of a big deal in our family.  I suppose that this is because he lived a larger-than-life sort of life.  Robert Andrew Ferguson was a cowboy in Texas before and after the Civil War.  He went on horse and cattle drives and is reported to have had more horses under brand than any man in the world.  His was the C-5 brand and we are all just a little bit proud of him for his accomplishments.  Lately, I have found documents that paint a clearer picture of him.  R.A. (Uncle Bob to many) had beautiful penmanship.  He was a good friend.  Grandpa Ferguson liked to…

  Confederate Conscription in Hill County, Texas Robert Andrew Ferguson enlisted in the Confederate Army in Hillsboro, Texas in March 1862 along with his brothers-in-law.  Again, a physical description is provided and it amazes me that they enlisted “for the duration of the war”.  Wow. I want to believe that these men were honorable.  After all, they are my family.  “For the duration of the war” seems like a huge commitment and quiet a brave thing the do.  But, and there is always a but, looking back, commitment to the Confederacy isn’t a politically correct place to be.  History is always more complicated than it first appears and as I…