Alston Ferguson

The following bio was taken from page 198 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Gloria Riley

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Alston Ferguson and his brother Joseph rode into East Texas from the Cole County, Missouri area in 1834. They were born in Tennessee to John and Phillis. Most of the Fergusons moved from the Kentucky-Tennessee to Missouri and are listed as early settlers of that state. Later Isaac, John and James Ferguson came to Texas. All had land grants and Alston had a Spanish land grant in the Brunet Colony in what is now Cherokee Co. Alston bought or traded land in several counties. In the 1840's he had two tracts of land about three miles northeast of Mt. Enterprise, shown in 1870 as being Shelby County.

The Ferguson were soldiers and law enforcement officers. Alston served with the Texas Rangers at different times under Caption Costley and Captain Jordan and once under his brother, Joseph, who was a Ranger Captain. he served as a Minute Man under David Gage during the Texas Revolution.

Most of the Fergusons were Ancient York Mason, and Alston, along with his son in law, Harrison Festoon, are shown the Mount Enterprise Lodge in the 1850's. Isaac was one of the first members of the Henderson Clinton Lodge. Also, Isaac was the first Rusk County coroner, and his brother Alston was his security.

Alston's first wife is unknown, but at least two or three of his older children are by another other than Mary. His children were: Phillis, who married Henry Hilton (from Maryland); William: Joseph: Irena, who married Berry Green; Comfort, who married Harrison Fenton: Alston, who married Sarah Turner; Mary, who married J.J. Hughes: John: and Elizabeth, who married a Barbee. Two of Alston's grandsons by the Hiltons were twins, Nathan B. and Isaac Hilton.

The Fergusons have left many trails. There is a record of Alston's being arrested by the Republic of Texas for an "affray," but he was found "not guilty." Also there is a detailed description of a brown horse that strayed into his pasture. It was valued at $50.00, which was a good price in those days. There are deeds to land, one being to Comfort Fenton, his daughter, which is probably the same Fenton land near Cushing. On this land is the Fenton Cemetery that is still used. Harrison and Comfort are buried there.

Alston and his brothers helped in the creation of a republic and then of a state. Submitted by Myrle Clary.