Ralph Bruce Ferguson
Ralph Bruce Ferguson, proprietor of a farm, in Miami township, on rural mail route No. 5 out of Xenia, was born on a farm in Xenia township on September 18, 1881, son of William H. and Ella Belle (Galloway) Ferguson, both of whom also were born in this county, the former in Miami township, April 22, 1854, and the latter, in the city of Xenia, November 9, 1857, who are now living retired in the village of Yellow Springs.
William H. Ferguson was reared on a farm in Miami township and completed his schooling in Antioch College and in the old college at Xenia. He early became engaged in farming on his own account and after his marriage made his home for a while on a farm in Xenia township, later buying the farm in that same township now operated by his son Ralph, and there resided until his retirement in 1914 and removal to Yellow Springs. He and his wife have three children, the subject of this sketch, the first-born, having a sister, Mary Eleanor, who married Roy McClelland. a farmer living in the vicinity of Xenia, and has three children, and a brother, William Harvey Ferguson, now living in Philadelphia, a chemist in the employ of the DuPont Powder Company, who married Grace Williamson. of this county, and has one child. Reared on the home farm in Xenia township, Ralph B. Ferguson was early trained to farming and has always followed that vocation. Upon completing his schooling he became engaged in farming on his own account and after his marriage in the summer of 1906 established his home on the Elmer Ferguson farm and since his father's retirement in 1914 has been in active management of the home farm, in addition to which he rents an adjoining farm which he also is cultivating, and in addition to his general farming he is engaged in the raising of live stock.
On June 5, 1906, Ralph B. Ferguson was united in marriage to Edna Belle McClelland, who also was born in this county, daughter of Harvey and Laura B. McClelland, the former of whom died in March, 1917, and the latter of whom is living south of Xenia, and to this union seven children have been born, all of whom are living save Howard M., the second in order of birth, who died when three years of age, the others being Edith Elizabeth, Ruth Eleanor, Clarence Leigh, Carl Bruce, James Harvey and Ralph Donald. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are members of the Second United Presbyterian church at Xenia. In his political views Mr. Ferguson is independent of rigid party lines.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918