Judge Ferguson Of Henderson Gulch

Another pioneer of Henderson Gulch was Judge R.M. Ferguson, who was a resident of New Chicago when he died December 23, 1908 at the Sisters’ Hospital in Deer Lodge. The judge was 79 years of age and died of dropsy and heart disease. He had resided at the McPhail Hotel. His old time friend Col. G.W. Morse had accompanied the Judge to the hospital the day before. He walked from the station up to the hospital so everyone was surprised when he died the very next day. 

A native of Scotland, the judge came with his father to Canada in 1844. As an adult he came to Montana and located in Henderson Gulch over 40 years prior to his death (in the 1860’s). Mr. Ferguson opened a black smith shop and worked there until the placers ran out. Shortly after setting up the blacksmith business, he was elected as the Justice of the Peace and according to his obituary was successfully elected every term since that time. But I found a reference January 8, 1897 in the Mail stating :”New Chicago is now without a court of justice or peace officer as R.M. Ferguson’s term of office as justice and J.A. Carnegie as constable expired on Monday of this week, without anyone elected to take their places.” Obviously the populous got busy and appointed or re-elected their Justice of the Peace. 

The New Northwest frequently made mention of Judge Ferguson being in Deer lodge and noted he was appointed as an election Judge at McPhail’s hotel along with Archie McPhail and Peter Fowler in the October 5th paper and that he was paid $6.00 for performing as election Judge in December 1888. In 1887 they stated the Judge had returned from his Silver Bow Mines and would be in New Chicago for the winter in October. In 1896, Dr. James M. Sligh named Judge Ferguson as Public administrator and he was unanimously approved according to the Philipsburg Mail of March 1. 

In August (1896), William Smith, from Ohio had returned to visit Judge Ferguson. He was in partnership with the Judge, R.D. McRae and L.J. Hendrickson in placer mining Henderson Gulch until fifteen years before. Smith recently rented out his Ohio ranch and was planning on doing some prospecting in the valley. 

When the mining camp closed Judge Ferguson moved to New Chicago and set up his black smith business there. The Judge performed many marriages, but did not chose one for himself. There were no living relatives in America at the time of his death. He was a charter member of the Flint Creek Lodge No. 11 A. F. & A. M. and many members received their teachings from him. 

The Judge had lived at home and then at the McPhail Hotel where Mrs. McPhail took excellent care of him until a day prior to his death. The remains were brought by train from Deer Lodge to his home in New Chicago where the burial service took place under the auspices of the Ruby Lodge in Drummond under the direction of the Flint Creek Lodge. His body was then taken to the Methodist Church where Rev. Fulford performed a Christian service. Internment was in the Valley cemetery with Masonic Honors. At the time of his death the Judge was the longest serving Justice of the Peace in Western Montana.