Fergusson (Mayor) James
| Type of person | Individual |
|---|
James came to Gawler in 1855 with his parents.
James Fergusson was elected to Gawler Council East ward 1877 to 1878 and then Councillor for North Ward 1901 to 1904.
He was elected Mayor of Gawler from 1905 to 1906.
George E. Loyau "The Gawler Handbook" [G.E.L.] pp166 and 167 "After McKinlay's death it was universally felt that something should be done to perpetuate his memory, and accordingly, meetings were held in Gawler and a Committee was formed to carry out the wish of the people - vis., that a suitable monument should be erected "to commemorate his personal worth and the services rendered by him to the colonies as an explorer." The site selected was at the terminal point of Murray-street, at its junction with Cowan-street, and adjacent to the old burial ground. The Committee chosen to carry out the matter, and who brought it to a successful issue, were as follows:- Chairman, W.F. Wincey, Esq., J.P., Mayor of Gawler; Treasurers, J. Thornley, Esq., J.P., Manager Bank of South Australia, Gawler, Richard Holland, Esq., J.P., Turretfield, near Gawler; Hon. Secretary, John Rudall, Esq., Gawler;
Committee, A.H.F. Bartels, Esq., Mayor of Adelaide, E.M. Bagot, Esq., J.P., Charles Bonney, Esq., J.P., E.S. Burkett, Esq., J.P., W.R. Cave, Esq., John Chambers, Esq. ,J.P., Rev. Canon Coombs, Hon. J. Crozier, M.L.C., Walter Duffield, Esq., J.P., James Dawson, Esq., Samuel Davenport, Esq., J.P., James Fergusson, Esq., Robert Fotheringham, Esq., Thomas Fotheringham, Esq., Rev. James Gordon, Joseph Gilbert, Esq., J.P., F.A.Grant, Esq., J.P., E.L. Grundy, Esq., John Hope, Esq., Thomas Hogarth, Esq., J.P., G.W. Hawkes, Esq., S.M., J.H.Howe, Esq., Joseph Keynes, Esq., J.P., Hon. A.B. Murray, M.L.C., Rev. J.C. McMchael, James Martin, Esq., J.P., John Mitchell, Esq., J.P., H.T. Morris, Esq., J.P., W.F.H. Popham, Esq., M.D., Ross T. Reid, Esq., Henry Scott, Esq., J.P., Dr. Schomburgk, H.C. Swan, Esq., S.M., R.J. Turner, Esq., S.M., and George Warren, Esq., J.P.
FERGUSSON the late James, JP – Bunyip, Friday 22 August 1924
Few Men are blessed with such divergent interests as was the late Mr. James Fergusson, JP, who died peacefully in the Hutchinson hospital, on Saturday morning, after a short illness, at the age of 75 years. It can be truly said that Mr. Fergusson’s life was interwoven with the progress and welfare of Gawler for he began his career in the district at the early age of five years and with the exception of 10 years in the northern area of Gladstone spent his lifehood in Gawler and throughout that long period was associated with practically every movement for the betterment of local surroundings. The young had no fear from his happy, genial nature, his associates regarded him as a man of integrity and uprightness, and visitors found him a fund of knowledge on district happenings and a well-read man of the world. He was the friend of all, the enemy of none, evidently having laid down his principles the words of his beloved national poet Burns.
“Rank is but the guinea stamp.
A man’s a man for a’ that.”
“Fergie” as he was familiarly designated by his friends was one of that splendid body of men whose names are recalled to the present generation by the memories of wonderful achievements accomplished in the interests of prosperity. Gawler has been rich in such treasures, but, alas, few of that gallant band remain, the links gradually becoming wider and wider as time inexorably passes on. We are losing those giants of virility and determination and the few who are left are waiting in the evening of their days to fulfil that spoken by Hamlet: “All that live must die, passing through Nature to Eternity”
Mr. Fergusson was a native of South Australia, being born to Scotch parents (Charles Fergusson & Jessie nee McRostie) at Port Adelaide on 17 July 1848, and five years later came on with his people to Gawler. His early days were spent when the town was very-short on men, an exodus having taken place to the Victorian diggings. Educated at Mr. L S Burton’s school (St George’s Grammar), a name which is household in the history of Gawler.
In 1863, he became associated with “The Bunyip,” assisting the late Mr. Wm Barnet to get out the first issues of the paper, when it was the chronicle of the famous Humbug Society. Although young Mr. Fergusson had keen recollections of those men whose intellect coruscated through the columns of the paper, and the following 60 years he kept in close touch with “The Bunyip,” believing that its progress was for the welfare of the district. Mr. Fergusson did not long remain as “imp” of the office, for with the extension of Mr. James Martin’s works he became a worker in that industry, and in 1879 went forth to other fields to put into practice the teachings he had gleaned. In That year he went to Gladstone to represent the firm. Ten years were spent in the North, and as a resident he exhibited those traits of public life which made him such a strong force to Gawler in the later days.
Mr. Fergusson served on the Gladstone Corporation, and was a member of the Booyoolee School Board of Advice, and, also a visiting justice at the goal. He so endeared himself with the people that when the business centre was closed, and he was returning to Gawler, the residents took the opportunity of tendering him a public banquet and presentation. During his residence in the North he became connected with military life, rising to the rank of captain of the Rifle Volunteer Force, and finally refused elevation to the post of major of the Northern Division.
Back again in Gawler he was appointed foreman of Mr. James Martin’s agricultural works’ and became director of the firm. In all he was associated with the late Mr. James Martin for 35 years. When that company went into liquidation the townspeople felt that such an asset as the agricultural works should not be lost to the community and the Gawler Implement Works were started with Mr. Fergusson as manager and secretary, a post he held until the exigencies of the times demanded that this company, too, should close its books. He ultimately became the liquidator, and finally saw the premises pass forever to the town as a gift from the late Mr. Alfred Sheard as the site for the proposed Memorial Institute. The public appeal in this direction had his support, and he retained the post of treasurer of the fund right up to his death.
To fully review Mr. Fergusson’s association with different local bodies would entail too much effort, for as previously stated, he was a man of divergent interest. Perhaps the greatest energy was centred in the spread of education, a trait common to those men who practically had to educate themselves. He was a Compeer of the late Messrs. E Potter and E H Coombe in the development and advancement of the Gawler School of Mines remaining with the movement through all its progress until finally was instrumental in inducing the Government to take it under control as a State acquisition. Mr. Fergusson gained his reward by being appointed Chairman of the School Council a position he held to the end. At each annual gathering of students, he reiterated the advantages of education and the opportunities given the young, this propaganda having splendid effect in popularizing the institution. The Gawler Institute, too, was another “fair-haired child” of his interests and throughout the years he kept in close touch with the operations of the committee. It was always with the keenest regret he spoke of residents not accepting the privileges offering with great avidity rightly claiming the Institute as the finest educational organization outside the city confines. All the old workers of the town retained an active interest in this institution, an example that could be followed with profit by the rising generation.
Mr. Ferguson could also play his part in social life. In other days he was a staunch supporter of cricket, tennis, and chess; and of late years was a frequenter of the bowling green, with his evenings divided between his home and the Gawler Club. In church work Mr. Fergusson helped to establish St Andrew’s congregation, and later was a close adherent of the Tod Street Methodists. Oddfellows claimed him its fraternity, and he was also a “brother” in the historical Lodge of Fidelity Freemasons. Years ago, when the sons of Caledonia banded together for the purposes of social intercourse and the keeping green of ways and customs of the homeland, Mr. Fergusson was elected as chief of the clan in the local branch. The call of the blood was strong in his veins, and Scotland was his proud boast, yet there ever emanated from his speeches and demeanour the one desire that the best of Scotland’s sons should be emulated in the fair land of the South to which his parents had long previously migrated. Mr. Fergusson, for four years, served his period as a “civic father,” and enjoyed the confidence of the residents by being elected to the Mayoralty for two years in 1905-1906. Previously to that, in 1901, he responded to the wishes of friends to contest the Parliamentary honors of Barossa, but was unsuccessful, being defeated by another townsman, the late Mr. E H Coombe. Other local bodies with which the deceased was connected were the Cottage Homes, the District Trained Nursing Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the Liberal Union, Tourist Association, Agricultural Society and American Mining Engineers. The Show long had his support, first as an interested manufacturer of agricultural implements and machinery when manager of the Implement Co., and throughout as a supporter keen on the development of primary pursuits.
The remains were interred in the Willaston Cemetery on Sunday afternoon, the cortege being the greatest witnessed in many years, testifying to the worth in which the deceased was held. The Rev. G Ingram Pearson (Methodist) read the burial service and Mr. Evan Gwynne read that of the Oddfellows order, and brethren of Freemasonry quiet dropped the sprig of acacia into the open grave as a tribute to their departed brother.
Mr. Fergusson married a Gawler girl in Miss Annells daughter of Mr. John Annells. The family life was fruitful and successful, for apart from the loss of a child in infancy the parents were blessed with five daughters and two sons to reach maturity, the death of the father being the first break. Those who mourn their loss are the widow, Mrs Fergusson, Mrs Frank Gill (Largs Bay), Mrs. A B Crace (Gawler), Misses E., E., and J, Fergusson, Mr. D G Fergusson (Prospect), and Mr. C A Fergusson (Gawler).
Family History
Parents – Charles Fergusson 1822 – 1850 buried Blakiston, SA married 1847 at Walkerville, SA to
Janet (Jessie) McRostie 1826 – 1895 died Laura, SA – remarried 22 March 1853, Adelaide to William Brown.
When the Brown family moved to Gawler Alexander & James were enrolled at St George’s School as Alexander & James Brown.
Son – Alexander Fergusson 1847 born Gumeracha, SA
Son – James Fergusson 1849 born Port Adelaide, died 16 August 1924, Gawler, SA married 25 Jul 1877, Residence John Annells, Gawler to Eliza Ellen Annells born 2 June 1857 at Adelaide (John Annells & Eliza Millard), died 10 June 1938 at Hutchinson Hospital, Gawler. Both James and Eliza are buried in the Willaston Cemetery.
Children of James & Eliza:
Elsie Gawler Fergusson – 1 December 1878, Gawler - died 11 December 1961, Gawler – Buried Willaston Cemetery
Charles Annells Fergusson – 10 February 1881, Gladstone – 29 December 1942, Lyndoch – married 28 May 1913 to Alice Mary Thomas
Douglas Gladstone Fergusson – 13 December 1883, Gladstone – 24 October 1949
Ida Hamilton Fergusson – 7 October 1885, Gladstone – 24 December 1948, Largs Bay
Effie Booyoolee Fergusson – 14 March 1888, Gladstone – 25 December 1963
Jean Millard Fergusson – 2 March 1891, Gawler – 6 Oct 1965 Albury, NSW – married 18 September 1915 to Allan Bowman Crace
Agatha Christmas Fergusson – 19 December 1894, Gawler – 13 September 1895, Gawler
Jessie Eliza Fergusson – 27 October 1900, Gawler – 31 October 1972, Glen Waverley, Victoria – married John Allan Richards
[Researched by National Trust Gawler Branch Volunteers]
.
Click here to view photos of James Fergusson.
[There were articles printed with his name spelt Ferguson - very confusing.]
Related Articles
References
Memories of Fergusson (Mayor) James
Do you remember Fergusson (Mayor) James ? Then Join up and add your memory here.
Support our sponsors!
