The William Arthur Ferguson Story

Quickly compiled to see what I 'knew' about my cousin Bill. Unfortunately, because he was born in 1935 it is harder to gather lot of information, for privacy reasons. His obituary was a source of most of the flesh on the bones provided by the original documents.

A fitting day to remember someone who served.

William “Bill” Ferguson was born to Norman C. and Helen Sherman Ferguson in Westchester County, New York on June 3rd, 1935. By April 1, 1940, Bill was living with his parents at 157 Hunter Street in Mount Pleasant, Westchester, New York, which the parents indicate they were living at the same location in 1935. They own their home, valued at $6,500 in 1940.

Helen and baby William Arthur

Norman and son William Arthur

According to the 1940 Census, Bills parents had a diverse level of education; Norman had four years of college, but Helen only an education to 8th grade. I would surmise based on what I know about the rest of the Sherman-Kirkpatrick family that that information is incorrect about Helen.

At the time of Bill’s early development, Helen is staying at home with him and his father is making $2,800 a year working as a teacher in the Public School System.

By 1944 the Ferguson family had moved to 55 Sagamore Street in Glens Falls, New York.

Bill at age 12

Bill graduated from Queensbury High School in Queensbury, New York. Bill was probably in the class of 1953.

By 1959, the Fergusons had moved around the corner to 170 Sanford Street in Glens Falls. Though Bill is listed as living there, the directory also indicates that he is serving his country with the Navy.

From 1944 on, Norman is listed as working at the Glens Falls Insurance building either as the building manager or the building superintendent.

After returning from the Navy, Bill worked as a stone mason and then later as a bartender.

Bill’s father died in 1993, at the age of 93, when Bill was roughly 58 years old.

His mother passed when she was very old, at 104 years old, in 2005.

Bill was known to his many friends as "Fergie" and they remembered his devotion to his parents, his kindness to his friends, his interest in all things and his love of conversation on a wide range of subjects.

Bill died of cancer on February 17, 2010 in Glens Falls, New York. He had been being treated at the Veterans Hospital in Albany. “He never complained and brightened the lives of friends and the hospital staff with his wonderful spirit and his ability to go forward, in spite of the overwhelming medical challenges he faced every day.”

Tombstone photograph taken by Donald Martell, from Findagrave