Fenner Ferguson (April 25, 1814 – October 11, 1859) was an American attorney and politician from the

Nebraska Territory The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Nebraska. The Nebrask ...

. He was most notable for his service as member of the Michigan House of Representatives in 1849, chief justice of

from 1854 to 1857, and

Delegate Delegate or delegates may refer to: * Delegate, New South Wales, a town in Australia * Delegate (CLI), a computer programming technique * Delegate (American politics), a representative in any of various political organizations * Delegate (Unit ...

to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from Nebraska territory (1857-1859).

Biography

Fenner Ferguson was born in Nassau, New York on April 25, 1814, the son of Stephen Ferguson and Dorothy (Palmer) Ferguson. His father Stephen Ferguson owned and operated a farm, and Fenner Ferguson worked on the farm while attending the local schools. After graduating from Nassau Academy and deciding on a career as an attorney, Ferguson studied law at the

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the capital of the U.S. state of New York, also the seat and largest city of Albany County. Albany is on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River, and about north of New York C ...

firm of Coon and Branhall. He was Admission to the bar in 1840 and commenced practice in Albany as a partner in Coon, Branhall, and Ferguson. In 1846, Ferguson moved to

Albion, Michigan Albion is a city in Calhoun County in the south central region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 8,616 at the 2010 census and is part of the Battle Creek Metropolitan Statistical Area. The earliest English ...

, where he continued the practice of law. a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

, he served as master in chancery and district attorney. In 1849, he served in the Michigan House of Representatives. In 1854, President Franklin Pierce appointed Ferguson to serve as chief justice of the

, and Ferguson relocated to Bellevue, Nebraska. While on the bench, he organized the first district and supreme courts of Nebraska, and assisted the first Territorial legislature in drafting the first code of laws enacted for the government of the Territory. He resigned as chief justice in 1857, having been elected as a Democrat to serve as Nebraska Territory's non-voting delegate in the 35th Congress. Ferguson served from March 4, 1857 to March 3, 1859. He was not a candidate for re-nomination in 1858. Ferguson died in Bellevue, Nebraska, on October 11, 1859. He was buried at Bellevue Cemetery in Bellevue.

Family

In 1841, Ferguson married Helena E. Upjohn of

Troy, New York Troy is a city in the U.S. state of New York and the county seat of Rensselaer County. The city is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany ...

. They were the parents of four sons, Arthur N., Alfred G., Stephen W. and Charles F.

References

External links

1814 births 1859 deaths 19th-century American judges 19th-century American lawyers 19th-century American politicians Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from Nebraska Territory Democratic Party members of the Michigan House of Representatives Michigan lawyers Michigan state court judges Nebraska Democrats New York (state) lawyers People from Bellevue, Nebraska People from Rensselaer County, New York People from Seward, Nebraska {{Nebraska-politician-stub