Harvey Butler Fergusson
Encyclopedia
Harvey Butler Fergusson (September 9, 1848 - June 10, 1915) was a Delegate from the Territory of New Mexico and a U.S. Representative
from New Mexico
.
Born near Pickensville, Alabama
, Fergusson attended the public schools in the state. He was graduated from Washington and Lee University
, Lexington, Virginia
, in 1873 and from the law department of that university in 1874. He taught in the Shenandoah Valley Academy
, Winchester, Virginia
. He was admitted to the bar
in 1875 and commenced the practice of law in Wheeling, West Virginia
.
He moved to White Oaks, New Mexico
, in 1882, and to Albuquerque, New Mexico
, in 1883. There he engaged in the practice of law and served as special United States attorney
in 1893 and 1894. He also served as member of the Democratic National Committee
1896-1904.
Fergusson was elected as a Democrat
a Delegate to the Fifty-fifth
Congress (March 4, 1897-March 3, 1899). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1898 to the Fifty-sixth
Congress and for election in 1902 to the Fifty-eighth
Congress. Upon the admission of New Mexico as a State into the Union, Fergusson was elected to the Sixty-second
Congress. He was reelected to the Sixty-third
Congress and served from January 8, 1912, to March 3, 1915. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1914 to the Sixty-fourth
Congress. He died in Albuquerque.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
Born near Pickensville, Alabama
Pickensville, Alabama
Pickensville is a town in Pickens County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 662.-Geography:Pickensville is located at ....
, Fergusson attended the public schools in the state. He was graduated from Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
, Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
, in 1873 and from the law department of that university in 1874. He taught in the Shenandoah Valley Academy
Shenandoah Valley Academy
Shenandoah Valley Academy is a private, co-educational, boarding, high school in New Market, Virginia, United States. It has both boarding and day school programs. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist...
, Winchester, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
. He was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1875 and commenced the practice of law in Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
He moved to White Oaks, New Mexico
White Oaks, New Mexico
White Oaks is a ghost town in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States. Located on the outskirts of the Lincoln National Forest, it became a boomtown in 1879 following the discovery of gold and coal in the nearby Jicarilla Mountains.-History:...
, in 1882, and to Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, in 1883. There he engaged in the practice of law and served as special United States attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
in 1893 and 1894. He also served as member of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
1896-1904.
Fergusson was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
a Delegate to the Fifty-fifth
55th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:* Republican: 206 * Democratic: 124* Populist: 22* Silver Republican: 3* Silver: 1* Independent Republican: 1TOTAL members: 357-Leadership:-Senate:* President: Garret Hobart * President pro tempore: William P...
Congress (March 4, 1897-March 3, 1899). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1898 to the Fifty-sixth
56th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Garret Hobart , until November 21, 1899 , vacant thereafter.* President pro tempore: William P. Frye * Democratic Caucus Chairman: James K. Jones...
Congress and for election in 1902 to the Fifty-eighth
58th United States Congress
- House of Representatives :* Republican : 209 * Democratic : 176* Silver Republican : 1TOTAL members: 386-Senate:* President: Vacant* President pro tempore: William P. Frye -Members:...
Congress. Upon the admission of New Mexico as a State into the Union, Fergusson was elected to the Sixty-second
62nd United States Congress
- House of Representatives :* Democratic : 230 * Republican : 162* Socialist : 1* Independent : 1TOTAL members: 394-Senate:* President: James S...
Congress. He was reelected to the Sixty-third
63rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives:*Democratic : 291 *Republican : 134*Progressive : 9*Independent : 1TOTAL members: 435-Senate:*President of the Senate: Thomas R. Marshall*President pro tempore: James P. Clarke-Senate:...
Congress and served from January 8, 1912, to March 3, 1915. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1914 to the Sixty-fourth
64th United States Congress
The Sixty-fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from March 4, 1915 to March 4, 1917, during the third and fourth...
Congress. He died in Albuquerque.