"The Oregonian's Handbook of the Pacific Northwest." Portland, OR: Oregonian
Publishing Co., 1894.  pg. 386.

E. C. FERGUSON

     The settlement of Snohomish antedates the establishment of most of the
other cities of the Sound country.  The first house was erected on the site of
the present city in 1859 by E. C. Ferguson, the present mayor of Snohomish.  Mr.
Ferguson filed a homestead claim on the site of which the city was subsequently
built.  Shortly after settling here he opened a store and by some little effort
he induced a few people to settle near him, thus early forming the nucleus of
the present flourishing city.  the growth of Snohomish is largely due to the
energy and perseverance of Mr. Ferguson himself, who, during the entire history
of the city, has been prominently identified with its enterprises and public
improvements, and who is today the most prominent citizen of the place whose
welfare he has so materially advanced.
     Mr. Ferguson was a leading spirit in the coterie of adventurous men who
settled in Washington in the early 50's.  The names of these men are linked and
interwoven with the history and development of the western part of Washington.
In 1860 and prior to that year, Mr. Ferguson was interested in building trails
through the dense and impenetrable forests that separated the settlements of the
Puget Sound country.  He was the first man to take a train of pack horses over
the Cascade Mountains.  The route followed by Mr. Ferguson at that time was by
way of Cady Pass, thence down the Wenatchee river to the Columbia and up the
latter stream to Lake Chelan.  Mr. Ferguson has repeatedly represented Snohomish
county in the legislature, and has always been recognized as its leading
citizen.  Every movement tending to promote the interests of Snohomish city and
county has received material support from his hands.
     Mr. Ferguson is now president of the Snohomish Land Company, and he also
holds the same office in the Snohomish National Bank.
 
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Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in May 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.