J.J. Ferguson, a former resident of Manning died at Spokane, Washington, Monday, February 23, from blood poison caused from eczema. He had gone from his home at Fruita, Colorado, to Spokane, to get relief and also to visit two of his daughters who reside there. He soon became worse and had to have one of his feet amputated which caused his death.

Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson were among the first settlers in Manning and ran the Parlor restaurant for a time but afterward settled on a farm several miles south of Manning and a few years ago moved to Fruita, Colorado, where they have since resided.

James J. Ferguson, was born in Owen County, Indiana, August 30, 1844, moved to Marshall county, Iowa, in 1848, was married to Mary Ellsberry January 8, 1865, eight children were born to them of which four are dead. The living are Wells Ferguson, Ross, Iowa; Martha Norton, Fruita, Colorado; Rosetta Hall and Alma Johnson, Spokane, Washington. He moved to Crawford County in 1874, to Audubon County in 1877, to Nebraska in 1894 and to Colorado in 1895. He joined the Christian Church several years ago but after moving to Colorado he became a member of the Dunkark Church and led a good Christian life. The funeral services were held at Spokane, Washington, conducted by Rev. Spierson after which the remains were laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery at Spokane. Their many friends in this locality join with the bereaved family in their sadness.

March 12, 1903
JAMES J. FERGUSON'S LAST LETTER
WRITTEN FOR PUBLICATION IN THE MANNING MONITOR.
Left Grand Junction Colorado, at 2:05p.m., nothing seen until daylight when we pulled up at Helper. We now pass through desert country very similar to that we left in Grand Valley, marked now and then by small railroad towns. We now glide on through canyon after canyon seemingly surrounded by rough lands covered with rock and bush. Just before arriving at Thistle Junction, we passed a. wreck of yesterday, smoke and debris marked the spot.

We now enter the Utah Valley, dotted with good farms and farm buildings, the herds of cattle that indicate the country in which is located the town of Springoak. The great Utah Lake is also in this valley. Salt Lake City is now reached, the valley lying low, a great part of it at present covered with water. Only stopping a few minutes here, we only get a glimpse of the city. Leaving Salt Lake City, we enter into a fine, but rather poorly improved valley, arriving at Ogden three hours late. Leaving there we soon enter the Bear River country, a very large and fine valley, well stocked with cattle and sheep. Pocatello next reached is a fine appearing city, where one might well pass the seven hours spent in waiting for our train, only for the darkness of the night with some rain. After a long night spent in waiting, we leave Pocatello, running for a distance of 245 miles of almost unbroken desert: When we reach Nampa, which shows some prosperity, we find are some very nice places. We now pass another wreck, another long stretch of desert is passed and we reach Payette of which so much has been said, on leaving Payette we enter into what is seemingly a pretty good farming country; this land is watered by Snake River which is a very nice stream at this point. Now we have a canyon, now Skunk River Valley a large and very rich one, covered with a heavy growth of grass, large stock yards of wild hay, with upwards of twenty-thousand head of cattle, an other canyon for a few miles and Round Valley is reached. On the south edge of this valley is found the famous hot lakes with a fine, large hotel and several other buildings for the accommodation of the great numbers which visit the place.

As we leave this valley LaGrande confronts us, a beautiful village, with many fine buildings, here enter another canyon, the mountains here are not very high or rocky but covered with a nice growth of pines. It is now six o'clock Pacific time and dark so we can not say much more until morning.

We reach Umitalla, Washington at 9 p.m. It is a sandy place on the Columbia River where so many of the fine fish are found that eastern people have. Five and a half hours are spent in waiting here then we take the O. R. & N. for Spokane, Washington, pass through some very fine farming country with extensive wheat fields that are green and nice, striking pine timber again before reaching Spokane. This we reach at 10:45 a.m. and are met by relatives who give us a drive over the city and we view the beautiful Spokane Falls which furnishes one of the best water powers in the world.
J.J. FERGUSON.