Andrew Ferguson

Andrew Ferguson - Born in 1820 in Sligo County, Ireland. Around 1845, when he was 25 years, Ireland suffered a potato famine and since this was the main diet of the people of the coastal area where they lived, many left for the United States, and Andrew and his 4 brothers did also. They made the trip by sailing vessel which took many days and was very rough. Upon arriving in New York they made their way to Erie Co., Penn. and from there the 4 brothers went separate ways. Around 1846 Andrew made his way by boat on Lake Erie to Toledo, Ohio, where he met and married Mary Mitchell Parker on Sept. 3, 1847, widow of Joseph Parker and mother of 4 children. In 1850 they went by river boat down the Maumee River to the canal and by canal boat to Liberty Township, Henry Co., Ohio area where they settled on a farm and remained until Andrew's death. Andrew and Mary became the parents of 8 children, making 12 with Mary's 4: William Parker, Harriet Parker, George Parker, Joseph Parker, Acenith Ferguson Slee, Mary Ferguson, Ester Ferguson Young, Arleta Ferguson (no. 1), Francis Ferguson, Arleta Ferguson Mizner (no. 2), Alva Ferguson, and Ellmus Ferguson. Andrew died on Oct. 15, 1865, at 45 years of age and is buried in the old cemetery at Liberty Center, Ohio, on Ct. Rd. 8.