My Genealogy Hound

MRS. ESTHER M. FURGESON. The subject is considered as one of the pioneer settlers of Jasper county, and came to this southwest country with her father, William Scott, in 1836, a native of Virginia, who died in 1855. Mrs. Furgeson was born in Tennessee, July 2, 1820. She was married to John Furgeson before the war. Their children are Mary and Phelps. Her father, Mr. Scott, entered a large tract of land, but it has been divided up among the family, and now Mrs. Furgeson has a fine tract of 360 acres, and holds a government patent on the land. In these early times Sarcoxie was the nearest post-office and trading point, and Boonville the post for supplies. She remembers well the incidents of the battle of Carthage. Before the war she owned five slaves; one of them, Alfred Scott, has an interesting history. The writer of this article had the pleasure of meeting this colored boy, who said a cord was put around his neck to force him to make a confession of the whereabouts of bushwhackers belonging to the Federal force. Cocked revolvers, strangulation, and threats failed to make him divulge. He was left on the public square at Carthage for dead. A comrade, Cranshaw, ran himself to death from fright. Alfred wandered down into Texas and remained until the close of the war, when he sought his old mistress, with whom he now lives, and enjoys all the privileges of a son. It is hardly necessary to add that Alfred Scott was named after the family name of her father, Mr. Scott. He is a smart, intelligent, coal black negro, but he cannot read or write. He says his mother lives in Whiteborough, Texas. Mrs. Furgeson is still a comparatively strong woman and has seen much of the havoc of war and the trials of pioneer life.