Lisa's Home Page:Information about Ida Clara Smith
Ida Clara Smith (b. July 19, 1856, d. May 24, 1942)
Notes for Ida Clara Smith:
Obituaries;
The Saguache Crescent
"From 2 to 82"
An item brot to the Crescent this week relates a story of Mrs. Ida C. Ferguson, 82, former Saguache county resident. Her son, Jesse Ferguson, lives in Saguache at the present time. Mrs. Ida C. Ferguson, 82, of Bellvue, Colorado has 60 living descendants and could be the principal figure in four five-generation pictures since she has four great great grandchildren. This is the story of a woman who has 60 living descendants, a woman who had a county named after her, a woman who came to Colorado in 1860 by ox train, a woman who became the mother of 8 children in 7 years, a woman who drove a cattle train from old Mexico to Pueblo, Colorado holding her twin babies in her arms and the reins of a covered wagon team in her hands. It is the story of Mrs. Ida C. Ferguson, 82, born and bred of the stock of pioneers.
This staunch woman, the pride of her 6 living children, her 26 grandchildren, her 24 great grandchildren and her 4 great great grandchildren, was born July 19, 1856 in Iowa before the county lines were drawn. Because she was the first white child born in the county that was later drawn around the area of her birthplace it took her name, and thus she was born in Ida Grove in Ida county Iowa. A monument commemorating this event was erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution at her birthplace in 1929.
"To Denver in 1860"
The little girl for whom a town and a county was named did not stay long in her birthplace. In 1860, traveling with her parents and a siser, she came by ox train, overland to Cherry creek, where Denver is now. A milk cow was tied to the back of the covered wagon, and what milk the family did not drink was put into an earthen ware churn in the morning and by noon it had changed to butter from the rocking of the wagon over the rough prairie country. The wagon train carried a 20 gallon keg which was filled whenever it was possible to find water.
So hungry for green vegetables was the family when they arrived in Denver, Mrs. Ferguson said, that her mother, Mrs. Edwin Smith, went out and gathered nettles and cooked them as one would cook spinach. The pioneering mother died in 1863 leaving the husband with 3 small children.
"Back to Minnesota"
From Pueblo, where the family had settled the father turned back with his little brood, going by wagon again to Minnesota where they stayed until the children were a little older, then the family returned, in 1870 by train to Denver, and by stage coach to Pueblo. In 1872 Ida Smith was married to James H. Warrant who died in 1879, leaving her with 8 small children including 3 sets of twins. With them and her husband she had gone on many wagon train trips with cattle from Pueblo to Mexico. After his death which occured on the trail she returned driving the train, and nursing her eight months old twins. In 1884 the young widow married Frank Ferguson. Two children were born in Pueblo then they came to the San Luis Valley near Saguache where two more children were born. The two oldest children of the pioneer woman now live in Bellvue. Mrs. Margaret Davidson with whom she makes her home and John "Billie" Warrant. One of the younger children, Jesse Ferguson, lives in Saguache. From her father who died in 1895 in the San Luis Valley she heard many stories of pioneering times including the time his foot was frozen and had to be amputated without anesthetic.
Another obituary:
IDA FERGUSON, POWDERHORN PIONEER DIES AT AGE OF 85
Mrs. Ida Ferguson, pioneer of the Powderhorn Valley, who was well known in Gunnison county, died May 24, 1942 at the age of 85 at her home in Bellvue, Colo. Mrs. Ferguson was born Ida Clara Smith on July 19, 1856 at Ida Grove, Iowa. In 1872 she became the bride of James Henry Warrant, who passed away in 1879. Two of the 8 children born of this survive Mrs. Ferguson. She remarried in 1883, becoming the wife of B.F. Ferguson. The Fergusons had 4 children. He died in 1929 at Cathedral. During her lifetime, Mrs. Ferguson made her home at various places in Colorado, including Huefano, Mirage, Cathedral and Bellvue. Mrs. Ferguson is survived by 2 daughters, Mrs. Margaret E. Davidson of Bellvue, and Mrs. F. A. Harrison of Heppner, Ore.; four sons, John Marion Warrant, Bellevue; F.L. Ferguson, Norwood; Jesse E. Ferguson, Poncha Springs; Raymond E. Ferguson, Gunnison; 18 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 7 great great grandchildren.
More About Ida Clara Smith:
Burial: May 1942
More About Ida Clara Smith and James Henry Warrant:
Marriage: 1872, Pueblo, CO.
More About Ida Clara Smith and Frank Ferguson:
Marriage: 1884
Children of Ida Clara Smith and James Henry Warrant are:
- +Margaret Warrant, b., Pueblo, CO, Pueblo County, d. date unknown.
- John (Billie) Warrant, b., Pueblo, CO, Pueblo County, d. date unknown.
Children of Ida Clara Smith and Frank Ferguson are:
- Jesse Ferguson, d. date unknown.
- Fay Ferguson, d. date unknown.
- F.L. Ferguson, d. date unknown.
- Raymond E. Ferguson, d. date unknown.