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Per "Hardesty's West Virgina Counties, Vol. 7", pages 162-

William Ferguson was listed among the first settlers of Trouts Hill (County seat of Wayne) in 1842. Others included Samuel Wellman, Jesse Adkins, Burwell Ferguson, Milton Ferguson, Jacob Adkins and Hugh Bowen. William erected the first hotel there in 1842.

Wayne County News
Wayne, West Virginia
November 27, 1919
Stoneway district, which lies in the eastern portion of this
county, was named in the memory of Stonewall Jackson. It is
believed that John Bias was the first settler within the limits
of Stonewall. He built his cabin at the mouth of Lick Creek in
1802. His first neighbor was David Bartram who came a year
later. And by the year 1807 several pioneer cabins were built.
Among the earliest comers were Berry Adkins, Thomas Napier,
William Lambert, Jesse Adkins, John Ferguson, Thomas Moore,
Eldridge Smith, Wm. Thompson, Wm. Ferguson, Absalom Queen,
Walter Queen, John Withrow, John Osburn, Sr.,
Ambrose and Wm. Watts. Many of the descendants of these
pioneers still live in Stonewall district.

William was on a 'tithable' in Tazewell County from 1800 through 1804. William was noted to be a person of fiery spirit. In May, 1803, he was fined 83 cents for swearing (Tazewell County Order Book #1, page 98). In the same book, page 106, he was presented, along with Edward McDonald, for fighting on May 12th. In the same book, page 158, he is noted as being fined 10 cents by a jury in October 1804.

Upon leaving Tazewell in 1804, he is next recorded in 1809 for purchasing 265 acres from Edmund McGinnis in Kanawha County. William was the administrator of his father, Samuel Ferguson's, estate (Cabell County Deed Book 2, page 314). On 12/22/1828, the court ordered that William be allowed 10% on all money arising on the hiring of the Negroes from his father's estate (Order book 3, page 148). In March, 1828, William was appointed commissioner of the special election at Frederick Moore's house, located at the Forks of Sandy (Cabell County Order Book 3, page 94). William was elected constable of the County and took an oath 9/23/1833 (Cabell County Book 3, page 411). He was also election officer at the voting place located at Kelly Ferguson's in 1834 (Book 3, pg.434). (Extracts of the Records of the County Court of Cabell County transcribed by Rudenz Douthat)

William and Sarah were members of the first church formed in the Union District of Wayne County, located at the Forks of Twelve Pole. Known as the Primitive Baptist Church, it had been formed in 1818 and the Pastor was Goodwin Lycans. In the Cabell County Grantor and Grantee Books you can find the following:

DATE FROM LAND AMOUNT

1824 James Watson Twelve Pole 145 acres
1827 James Watson Twelve Pole 550 acres


Gave To:

John Osborne 17 acres 1827
Milton Ferguson 265 acres 1833
Joseph Dean 100 acres 1835
Jameson Ferguson 150 acres 1835
Hiram Pauley 100 acres 1834
Lewis Ferguson 100 acres 1839
Milton Ferguson 25 acres 1841
Edmund Osborne 100 acres 1841
Lewis Ferguson 100 acres 1841

William lived to the age of 70 but suffered the loss of 3 children before he died. His widow lived to see the fourth one die. His Will was written 6 days before he died, and was proven September of that year (recorded in Will Book 1, page 58). He included, in his will, the payment of $6 to J. Blankenship to cover the cost of his coffin.

William's Family Bible was passed down to his daughter, Betsy Ferguson Dean, at the time of his death. The late Herman P. Dean had possession of the old Bible until his death. Herman's cousin, Hester Osborne Crabtree is now in possession of the pages with the family records.

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