Walter Ferguson (politician)

Walter Ferguson (1886 – 1936) was an American politician, newspaper owner, and banker who served in the Oklahoma Senate between 1917 and 1919.

Walter Ferguson
Member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 7th district
In office 1917–1919
Preceded by	A.C. Beeman
Succeeded by	Joe Sherman
Personal details
Born	1886 Sedan, Kansas
Died	1936 (aged 49 or 50) Oklahoma City
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Lucia Loomis
Parents	Thompson Benton Ferguson (father) Elva Shartel Ferguson (mother)
Relatives	John Wilford Shartel (uncle)

Born to Thompson Benton Ferguson and Elva Shartel Ferguson in Sedan, Kansas, Ferguson accompanied his parents on multiple land runs in Oklahoma Territory before their family settled in Watonga, Oklahoma. He attended school during the height of his father's political career and later married Lucia Loomis. The couple founded a newspaper together and Ferguson was later elected to the Oklahoma Senate. He later sold his paper, Cherokee Republican, and became a banker.

Biography

Walter Ferguson was born to Thompson Benton Ferguson and Elva Shartel Ferguson in Sedan, Kansas in 1886. He went to Oklahoma Territory with his parents on multiple land runs, eventually settling in Watonga, Oklahoma. When his father became Governor of Oklahoma Territory, Ferguson was sent to Wentworth Military Academy where he graduated in 1906. That year he went on to the University of Oklahoma and became a founding member and first president of Kappa Alpha, the school's first fraternity. In 1908, he left school and married Lucia Loomis and the couple bought the Cherokee Republican.^[1] He served in the 6th Oklahoma Legislature between 1917 and 1919 as a Republican representing the 7th district. He succeed A.C. Beeman and preceded Joe Sherman in office.^[2] In 1920 he sold the Cherokee Republican and moved to Oklahoma City and worked in advertising at a bank. In 1927 he was hired as the vice-president of the Exchange National Bank of Tulsa. He had three children: Benton, Ruth, and Tom.^[1] He died in 1936.^[3]

References

1. Benton (January 1933). "Walter Ferguson, '07". The Sooner Magazine. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
2. "State Senate Since Statehood" (PDF). oksenate.gov. Oklahoma Senate. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
3. Reese, Linda W. "Ferguson, Lucia Loomis (1887–1962)". okhistory.org. Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Retrieved 30 November 2023.