An Illustrated History of Central Oregon, Western Historical Publishing Company, Spokane, WA. 1905, page 329. ELMER E. FERGUSON, M.D., one of Oregon's leading physicians, is handling a large practice in The Dalles in connection with Dr. Reuter, who is also mentioned in this work. He was born in Missouri, on December 3, 1869, the son of James M. and Mary M. (Marquis) Ferguson, natives of Missouri and Indiana, respectively. The father's ancestors came of strong Scotch blood and were among the earliest settlers in Jamestown, Virginia. They have been a prominent and leading family in America since the days of colonial times. The parents now dwell in Pendleton, Oregon. The mother's father was a preacher of the United Brethren denomination and died in Indiana. Our subject studied in the graded schools in Missouri until 1878, when he came west with the family and completed the high school course in Pendleton. After that he graduated from the commercial college and the same year matriculated in the Willamette University. After completing his course there he entered the Rush Medical College in Chicago and graduated with distinction in 1897. Then he returned home and after a visit spent considerable time in traveling to different portions of the globe. He was as far north as the Arctic circle and finally went to New York and took an extended post graduate course in the Polyclinic of New York city. He returned to Oregon and established himself in practice in The Dalles. Here, in 1900, Dr. Ferguson married Dr. Belle Rinehart and together they continued in practice. Their wedding occurred on February 24, 1900, and the following fall they began the erection of a hospital, which was completed in the spring. They operated it together one year and then Dr. Reuter was taken into partnership. He was an old room and classmate of Dr. Ferguson and they had studied together for years. Since his coming here he has been actively engaged in practice with our subject and they are considered physicians of great ability and skill. The hospital mentioned is one of the best equipped institutions in the west. It is built according to the latest approved plans and having been recently erected has had the advantage of every point known to medical science in the entire world. The appliances are the best and most perfect made and The Dalles is to be congratulated in securing a modern institution like this. Dr. Ferguson has one brother, William S., and three sisters, Ida Peringer, Laura Lieuallen, and Mrs. May Adams. One child has been born to Dr. and Mrs. Ferguson, Ruth, on November 12, 1901. Dr. Ferguson is a member of the I.O.O.F., of the Elks, of the W.W., of the M.W.A., and of the K.O.T.M. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2005 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.