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HARRY E. FERGUSON, now serving as city treasurer of Altoona, 
and a member of the well-known firm of D. Ferguson & Son, 
general merchants, is a son of Daniel S. and Sarah J. 
(Elway) Ferguson, and was born in the city of Altoona, 
Pennsylvania, February 24, 1863. The Fergusons are of 
Scotch-Irish extraction, the grandfather of the subject of 
this sketch, William Ferguson, having been born in the 
Emerald Isle about 1791. He emigrated to America, settling 
in New Jersey, where he was married, and early in the 
fifties removed to Altoona, this county, where he resided 
until his death in 1863, at the age of seventy-three years. 
He married Mary McKeag, by whom he had a family of eleven 
children, among them being Daniel S. (father), who was born 
in New Jersey, but came to Altoona with his father's family 
in 1850, when the present city was only an insignificant 
village. He has resided here ever since, and during the last 
decade has been engaged in the general merchandise business. 
Previous to this he was in the employ of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company for many years. He is a member of the 
Chestnut Avenue Methodist Episcopal church, a republican in 
politics, and is connected with Altoona Lodge, No. 473, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married Sarah J. Elway, 
and to their union was born a family of four children. She 
was a native of Blair county, this State, and is now in the 
fifty-sixth year of her age, and a devoted member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church of Altoona. Harry E. Ferguson was 
reared in the city of Altoona, and received his education in 
the public schools here and at the Millersville State Normal 
school. After leaving school he accepted a position as clerk 
in a large mercantile establishment in Altoona, where he 
remained until 1882. He then formed a partnership with his 
father, under the style of D. Ferguson & Son, and purchased 
the entire stock of goods from his former employers and 
continued the business of the old firm. He was possessed of 
that enterprise, energy and capacity for details which is 
everywhere requisite for success, and for ten years the firm 
has done a thriving and prosperous business, and now has a 
large trade and carries a fine stock. In politics Mr. 
Ferguson is a stanch republican, giving his party an earnest 
and intelligent support on all leading questions. In 1890 he 
was elected on the republican ticket to the office of city 
treasurer of Altoona, and is now serving in that responsible 
position. He is a member of Mountain Lodge, No. 281, Free 
and Accepted Masons; Mountain Chapter, No. 189, Royal Arch 
Masons; Mountain Council, No. 9, Royal and Select Masons; 
and Mountain Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar. He is also 
a member of Lulu Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of 
Philadelphia, and a thirty-second degree Mason, holding 
membership in the Pittsburg consistory. When only sixteen 
years of age he joined the volunteer fire department of 
Altoona and was an active member for five years, since which 
time he has been an honorary member of that organization, 
and has served as treasurer of the Excelsior Hose company 
during the last eight years. In fraternal circles and with 
the general public, Mr. Ferguson is extremely popular, and 
takes rank among the leading citizens of Blair county. 
Transcribed and submitted to the Blair County, PA, USGenWeb 
Archives by Linda M. Shillinger  LindasTree@AOL.COM