WILLIAM (A) FERGUSON
William Ferguson, a jeweler of Rat Portage, was born at Collingwood, Ontario, June 4, 1867, and in both the lineal and collateral lines is of Scotch descent. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Binning) Ferguson, both natives of Scotland. They became early residents of Collingwood, where the father engaged in the milling business until his death. The mother still survives and is yet a resident of Collingwood.
At the usual age William Ferguson entered the public schools of that place and passed through successive grades until he completed his education in the high school. Throughout his entire business career he has been connected with the jewelry trade, being first employed in that line by C.W. Colman of Toronto, with whom he remained for two years. He afterward worked at the business in different places until 1891, when he came to Rat Portage and for seven years was in the employ of his brother, D. T. Ferguson. At the end of that time he established business on his own account and now carries a fine line of jewelry of all grades in order to meet the general trade. His patronage has constantly grown, as he has put forth earnest effort to please his patrons, who have recognized also his unfaltering adherence to a high standard of commercial ethics.
In 1900 Mr. Ferguson was married to Miss May Arnold of Rat Portage, and they have two children: Clarence and Stewart. Mr. Ferguson belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to the Presbyterian Church, while in politics he is independent, caring nothing for political preferment for himself, as he has desired rather to give undivided attention to the business in which he is making substantial progress.
(From History of Ontario)
In late 1910, within a couple of months of the birth of Robert Arnold Ferguson, William and family moved west to settle in Edmonton, Alberta. William established himself as a jeweler and purveyor of fine gold and diamonds, travelling into the "coal branch" offering his wares as investment to the coal miners of Alberta.
William is often referred to as "William A. Ferguson", however family tradition indicates he was not blessed with a middle name, but rather felt that signing documents as "William Ferguson" only, lacked some peonage. As a result he chose to use "A" as his middle initial, a tribute to his loving wife's maiden name, Arnold.
The family moved to a homestead at the outbreak of World War I, William fearing that being located in a major urban area (Edmonton) was unsafe. William became one of the very first "suburbanite commuters", driving, between his shop in Edmonton and his homestead near Veggerville, Alberta. Unfortunately this weekly commute cost him his life, in 1920, in one of Alberta's earliest motorized vehicle accidents. William was survived by his wife, May (nee Arnold) and three sons, Clarence (aka Slim), Stuart (aka Tooie) and Robert.
(Personal knowledge, Robert Stuart Ferguson, Grandson)