Emory C. Ferguson

Emory Canda Ferguson (March 5, 1833 – October 7, 1911) was an early pioneer of Washington state who helped create Snohomish County from Island County in 1861. Along with Edson F. Cady, he was a founder of Snohomish, which would become the county seat from 1862 until 1896. Over his life, Ferguson served as county commissioner, postmaster, a Washington state legislator, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, Snohomish City Council President, justice of the peace, and mayor of Snohomish, as well as realtor, saloon keeper, and store owner. He was involved in many early plans to make Snohomish prominent, including a ferry for military use across the Snohomish River and a trail through the Cascade Mountains to reach a gold rush, few of which were successful. Upon his death, Ferguson was eulogized as the "Father of Snohomish."

Searches for gold Ferguson elected to travel to San Francisco via the Isthmus of Panama, a quick but harrowing route. He would soon leave this endeavor as well, leaving in 1858 for the Fraser River during the Fraser River gold rush. He took a steamer north to Puget Sound, followed by a stop in Whatcom to prepare for the final portion of his journey to British Columbia, departing Whatcom on July 12, 1858. The ballots were forwarded to the Island County seat of Coupeville. There is no record that these votes were ever received or counted, and ultimately nothing was done. Following the unsuccessful vote, a group of twenty citizens rallied under the leadership of Ferguson. Efforts were made to organize a petition to send to Olympia, but before it could even be assembled the territorial legislature moved to grant Snohomish County its independence. An act was passed on January 14, 1861 creating Snohomish County from Island County. The act also named Ferguson as one of three county commissioners. Ferguson personally stored county records in his small home. He handled approximately three letters a month, so to save money Ferguson arranged a deal with the post office in Mukilteo. Whoever happened to be heading up the Snohomish River would bring Ferguson mail, and whoever happened to be heading downstream would deliver mail to the Mukilteo office and on to its destination. Because of this frugal if not timely practice, Ferguson achieved a surplus of 27 cents at the end of the quarter and remitted it to Washington, D.C. Thereafter the government decided to cover the expense of moving mail from Mukileo and Snohomish.

In 1864 Ferguson opened the Blue Eagle saloon after being licensed to operate the establishment. Having little time to actively wait as bartender, so he simply put change in the register and prominently displayed the price list for drinks. Ferguson would later claim to have never lost a dime operating this way. In February 1871, he had completed the requirements of his homestead and filed to officially form Snohomish the following June. Over the next two decades, Ferguson would take on further responsibilities in addition to being postmaster, including state legislator, Speaker of the State House of Representatives, and Snohomish City Council President as well as mayor of Snohomish. His late years were devoted to private business.

Ferguson died on October 7, 1911, and is buried in the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery in Snohomish, Washington.

Personal life Before meeting his future wife, Ferguson lived with an Indian woman who gave birth to a girl. While serving on the state legislature in Olympia, Washington, Ferguson met Lucretia Morgan. In 1868 they married. Following the marriage, Ferguson transferred the ownership of the Blue Eagle Saloon to his brother and assumed the life of a family man. With Lucretia, Ferguson would have four children named Ivie, Ethel, Sylvia, and Emory Cecil.