Collection #

M 0723
OM 0087

FERGUSON-WIESE FAMILY
PAPERS, ca. 1830–1991

Collection Information

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Series Contents

Cataloging Information

Processed by

Chris Harter
28 September 1998
Revised 20 November 2001

Manuscript Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269

www.indianahistory.org

COLLECTION INFORMATION

VOLUME OF COLLECTION:	5 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize folder, and 2 boxes and 1 folder of visual material
COLLECTION DATES:	Ca. 1830–1991
PROVENANCE:	Devona Hill, 11814 East Hartland Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46229, 20 January 1998
RESTRICTIONS:	None
COPYRIGHT:
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS:	Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society.
ALTERNATE FORMATS:	None
RELATED HOLDINGS:	RELATED HOLDINGS: Cumberland Reflections (F534.C85 C8 1988)
ACCESSION NUMBER:	1998.0184
NOTES:

Thomas Callaway Ferguson (1831–1920), the son of William and Terresa (House) Ferguson, was born in Wayne County, Indiana. He aided his family on their homestead for most of his younger years, except when he worked on the Wabash and Erie Canal (1851–52). In 1857, Ferguson moved to Hancock County, where he began farming.

He was twice married. His first marriage was to Margaret Pickle (1833–68) in 1859; they had two children, William Carlton (1859–1902) and Carrie Mae (1862–1921). Ferguson's second marriage was to Elizabeth Melinda Collins (1838–88) in 1870; they had four daughters, Clarrisa Jane (1872–1954), Letitia Ann (1874–1966), Mary Gertrude (1875–92), and Maggie Leota (1881–1957). Clarrisa married James W. Furgason (1876–1936) in 1900. Letitia married Edward Wiese (1867–1933) in 1903. Maggie married Milo McCreary (1880–1949) in 1905.

Edward Wiese's sister, Mary Lucinda (1879–1956), married Daniel Thomas Riser (fl. 1887–1936) of Cumberland (Marion County) in 1906. Riser operated a grocery in Cumberland, as well as the Wiese-Riser Bakery. Their daughter, Devona, is the donor of this collection.

Many of the members of this family attended the First Regular Baptist Church of Cumberland. The book, Cumberland Reflections (F534.C85 C8 1988) contains photographs of and information on some family members.

Sources: Material in the collection; Cumberland Reflections.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of material relating to the Ferguson-Wiese family of western Hancock County and Cumberland, Indiana (Marion County). Related families include Collins, Furgason, House, and McCreary. The collection is organized by family. Genealogical information is contained in Box 1 (see below for discussion of visual images in the Ferguson-Pearce Photograph Album).

Ferguson family items include correspondence (1885–1914, n.d.) received by various family members; financial and real estate records (1855–1918); and school records (ca. 1881–89). A copy of Precedents in the Office of a Justice of Peace contains William Ferguson's name written on a flyleaf. The book contained various items laid in, including two account books (ca. 1830–40), receipts, recipes, and legal documents. Another account book (ca. 1854–61) probably belonged to William Ferguson, and contained two letters and two unidentified religious diagrams. Also present is an account book (ca. 1857–71) kept by William's son, Thomas C. Material from Thomas' wallet (which was discarded) includes receipts, recipes, and similar religious diagrams. The Ferguson family material is completed by school records for Letitia Ann and Gertrude Ferguson, a memorial record for Thomas Ferguson, and miscellaneous material, including another religious diagram and a Patrons of Husbandry membership certificate for Thomas.

Material concerning the Wiese family includes correspondence (1891–1991, n.d.), invitations (1896–1949) to weddings and graduation ceremonies, an Irvington School commencement program (1923), and financial and real estate records (1904–36). School records include report cards, diplomas, and a manuscript written by William Wiese. Other items include World War II ration books, a diary kept during a trip to Germany and Switzerland (author unknown), and memorial records. Miscellaneous material includes various church-related items and a sale list, perhaps from a farm auction.

Items relating to other family members include an account book (ca. 1911–36) kept by Daniel T. Riser, a record book for the First Regular Baptist Church of Cumberland, which lists various family members, material relating to the First Baptist Church of Peru, Indiana (Miami Co.), a postmaster appointment for John Collins, and a funeral notice for Mary House and a lock of her hair.

The manuscript portion of this collection is completed by material that could not be linked to individuals or family branches. This includes a legal settlement involving Edward and John Sittle (?); correspondence, funeral notices, recipes, medicine recipes, and copies of a newspaper entitled Royal Road (1882) and a program from a 1936 event, the Indianapolis Preaching Mission.

The collection also contains numerous photographs of family members. Box 1, Folder 2 contains a Bible/photograph album belonging to the Ferguson-Pearce family. The cartes-de-visite and tintypes in the album are stored in cased image and tintype storage. The page number and their placement on each page were noted and their original order was maintained. Many of the individuals pictured were not identified; those that were include William Carlton Ferguson, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Hanby, Molly Pearce, Ed Little, John Little, Sam Little, and Ingram and Mary (Ferguson) Little. A mounted photograph of Martha, Molly, and Washington Pearce was also removed. The cartes-de-visite and tintypes in Daniel T. Riser's photograph album (Box 6, Folder 8) were also removed due to conservation concerns. Page numbers were noted and the original order was maintained. The only individuals identified were William and Mary (Robinson) Fisher.

Boxes 6 and 7 contain the majority of the photographs in this collection. Individuals are listed in the box and folder Listing. Folders of unidentified individuals complete the collection.

series CONTENTS

Series 1: Genealogical Records

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Genealogical––Ferguson, Wiese, Collins, McCreary Families	Box 1, Folder 1
Ferguson-Pearce Family Bible/Photo Album (photographs removed)	Box 1, Folder 2
Ferguson-Pearce Family Bible/Photo Album	Visual Collections: Manuscript photographs
Collins Family Association Chart (1 of 4)	Box 1, Folder 3
Collins Family Association Chart (2 of 4)	Box 1, Folder 4
Collins Family Association Chart (3 of 4)	Box 1, Folder 5
Collins Family Association Chart (4 of 4)	Box 1, Folder 6
Genealogy and Estate Information re: House Family	Box 1, Folder 7
Letitia Ferguson and Edward Wiese Marriage License, 1903	OM 0087

Series 2: Ferguson Family

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Correspondence Received by Ferguson Family, 1885–99	Box 1, Folder 8
Correspondence Received by Ferguson Family, 1900–14, n.d.	Box 1, Folder 9
Thomas C. Ferguson––Cumberland Bank Receipts and Account Book, 1908–18	Box 2, Folder 1
Ferguson Family Tax Receipts, 1855–75	Box 2, Folder 2
Ferguson Family Tax Receipts, 1876–86	Box 2, Folder 3
Ferguson Family Tax Receipts, ca. 1904–10	Box 2, Folder 4
Miscellaneous Tax Receipts, 1861–71	Box 2, Folder 5
Ferguson Family Receipts, ca. 1861–93, and Receipt Book, 1912–13	Box 2, Folder 6
Thomas C. Ferguson––Real Estate Deeds, 1861–77	Box 2, Folder 7
Thomas C. Ferguson––Real Estate Deeds, 1861–77	OM 0087
Thomas C. Ferguson––Notes of Assessment of Real Estate, 1907, 1911	Box 2, Folder 8
Real Estate Deed––John & Elizabeth Whisler and John England, 1862	Box 2, Folder 9
William Ferguson––Precedents in the Office of a Justice of Peace	Box 2, Folder 10
William Ferguson––Accounts Books, ca. 1830–40, laid into Precedents	Box 2, Folder 11
Documents, Receipts, Recipes laid into Precedents	Box 2, Folder 12
William Ferguson (?)––Account Book, ca. 1854–61	Box 2, Folder 13
Items, ca. 1860, laid into Account Book	Box 2, Folder 14
Thomas C. Ferguson––Account Book, ca. 1857–71	Box 3, Folder 1
Thomas C. Ferguson––Material from Wallet	Box 3, Folder 2
Letitia Ann and Gertrude Ferguson––School Records, ca. 1881–89	Box 3, Folder 3
Thomas C. Ferguson––Memorial Record, 1920	Box 3, Folder 4
Ferguson Family––Miscellaneous	Box 3, Folder 5

Series 3: Wiese Family

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Correspondence Received by Wiese Family, 1891–1925	Box 3, Folder 6
Photograph from this folder	Visual Collections: Manuscript photographs, Box 3, Folder 6
Correspondence Received by Wiese Family, 1926–39	Box 3, Folder 7
Correspondence Received by Wiese Family, 1940–41	Box 3, Folder 8
Correspondence Received by Wiese Family, 1942–91, n.d.	Box 3, Folder 9
Photograph from this folder	Visual Collections: Color storage
Invitations Received by Wiese Family, 1896–1906	Box 3, Folder 10
Invitations Received by Wiese Family, 1907–49	Box 3, Folder 11
Irvington School Commencement Program, 1923	Box 3, Folder 12
Wiese Family Tax Receipts, 1905–15	Box 3, Folder 13
Wiese Family Tax Receipts, 1916–20	Box 3, Folder 14
Wiese Family Tax Receipts, 1921–25	Box 3, Folder 15
Wiese Family Tax Receipts, 1926–32	Box 3, Folder 16
Ann Wiese––Quit Claim Deed, 1934	Box 4, Folder 1
Edward Wiese––Cumberland Capital Creamery Stock Certificate, 1904	Box 4, Folder 2
Edward Wiese––Lumber Company Receipt and House Diagram, ca. 1932	Box 4, Folder 3
Wiese Family––Liberty Loan Certificates and War–Savings Certificate Envelopes, ca. 1918	Box 4, Folder 4
Wiese Family Receipts, 1915–36	Box 4, Folder 5
William Wiese––Manuscript from school (?), n.d.	Box 4, Folder 6
Wiese Family School Records, ca. 1915–29	Box 4, Folder 7
Wiese Family School Records, ca. 1915–29	OM 0087
Wiese Family World War II Ration Books	Box 4, Folder 8
Wiese Family (?)––Diary of Trip to Germany and Switzerland	Box 4, Folder 9
Edna Mae Wiese––Memorial Record, 1973	Box 4, Folder 10
Edward Wiese––Memorial Record, 1933	Box 4, Folder 11
Items laid into Edward Wiese Memorial Record	Box 4, Folder 12
Condolence Cards/Correspondence laid into Edward Wiese Memorial Record	Box 4, Folder 13
Letitia Ann Wiese––Memorial Record, 1966	Box 5, Folder 1
Wiese Family––Miscellaneous	Box 5, Folder 2

Series 4: Other Family Members

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Daniel T. Riser––Account Book, ca. 1911–36	Box 5, Folder 3
Items laid into Account Book	Box 5, Folder 4
First Regular Baptist Church (Cumberland, Indiana) Record Book, ca. 1910–12	Box 5, Folder 5
First Baptist Church (Peru, Indiana)––News and Notes, 1880; Directory, 1894–95; Program and Invitations; Covenant	Box 5, Folder 6
John Collins––Postmaster Appointment (Mount Hill, South Carolina), 1933	Box 5, Folder 7
Mary House––Funeral Notice and Lock of Hair, ca. 1864	Box 5, Folder 8
Edward and John Sittle (?)––Legal Settlement, 1889	Box 5, Folder 9

Series 5: Miscellaneous Material

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1869, 1875, 1957, 1968	Box 5, Folder 10
Miscellaneous Funeral Notices (Peru, Indiana), 1877–79	Box 5, Folder 11
Royal Road, 1882; Indianapolis Preaching Mission, 1936	Box 5, Folder 12
Royal Road, 1882; Indianapolis Preaching Mission, 1936	OM 0087
Recipes	Box 5, Folder 13
Medicine Recipes	Box 5, Folder 14

Series 6: Photographs

CONTENTS	CONTAINER
Ferguson/Furgason/Wiese Families	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 1
Photographs from envelope labeled "Our family on the farm", ca. 1915–48; includes Edna and Doris Wiese and Thomas C. Ferguson	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 2
Letitia Ann Ferguson	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 3
Thomas C. Ferguson	Visual Collections: OVA
Daguerreotype––"Grandma Ferguson"	Visual Collections: Cased Image Storage
Furgason Family (James, Clarrisa (Ferguson), Myrtle, Ruth, and Eugene)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 4
Maggie (Ferguson) and Charles McCreary	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 5
Daniel T. Riser Photograph Album	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs (separate boxes)
Daniel T. Riser grocery stand, 1918	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 6
Ann (Hartman) Wiese	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 7
Doris and Edna Mae Wiese tip to Colorado, June 1950 (1 of 2)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 8
Doris and Edna Mae Wiese tip to Colorado, June 1950 (1 of 2)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 9
Edward Wiese (includes two photographs at Schnull & Company, Indianapolis)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 10
Lizzie Wiese	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 11
Collins Family––Tom Collins (and others) panning for gold in Colorado	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 12
Collins Family––Group photographs	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 13
Collins Family––Moses and Nancy (Collins) Bates & Family	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 14
Collins Family––"Doc" Collins, Jennie, John and William Collins (includes William in 79^th Indiana Regiment uniform)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 6, Folder 15
Collins Family––Annie (Letitia Ann) Wiese (?)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 7, Folder 1
Collins Family––Jim and Maggie Ashcroft, Martha (Collins) Morrison, Ed Stoner, and Margaret Wallace	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 7, Folder 2
Collins Family––Collins Family House (?) in Canon City, Colorado	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 7, Folder 3
Collins Family––Unidentified individuals	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 7, Folder 4
Identified individuals––Bailey, Charles Donner, Kate (Harvey) Fowler, Mr. and Mrs. Ira Hanby, Ed Little, John Little, Sam Little, Clara (Wetzel) Lynch, Mattie Merlau (?), Molly Pearce, Marhon (?) Sperry	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 7, Folder 5
Identified individuals––Ida Amos, Josephine Humphrey, Irene Hill, Bertha (Hartman) Luebking (?), Lottie Ruthmeier (?)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 7, Folder 6
Identified tintypes––Thomas C. Ferguson, William Carlton Ferguson, Ira Hanby	Visual Collections: Tintype Storage
Unidentified individuals (1 of 6)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 7, Folder 7
Unidentified individuals (2 of 6)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 7, Folder 8
Unidentified individuals (3 of 6)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 7, Folder 9
Unidentified individuals (4 of 6)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 7, Folder 10
Unidentified individuals (5 of 6)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 7, Folder 11
Unidentified individuals (6 of 6)	Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Box 7, Folder 12
Unidentified tintypes	Visual Collections: Tintype Storage

CATALOGING INFORMATION

For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:

1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog: http://157.91.92.2/

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4. Search for the collection by its basic call number (in this case, M 0723).

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