Dates

• Existence: 1828 - 1863

Biography

James Ferguson (1828-1863) was a sheriff and military officer for the Nauvoo Legion in Utah.

James Ferguson was born in Belfast, Ireland, on 23 February 1828 to Francis (Frank) Ferguson and Mary Patrick. He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Liverpool England in 1842. James emigrated to the United States and in 1846 he made his way to Utah. He enlisted in the Mormon Batalion as Historian and Sergeant Major. He married Lucy Nutting at San Francisco (Yerba Buena), California, and they had five children.

In Utah, James was appointed by Brigham Young as the first Sheriff of the Great Salt Lake County. He was also the commander in the Utah Expedition to Fort Bridger and Green River in 1853. James was commissioned as lieutenant general of the Nauvoo Legion (territorial militia), and fought in a battle with Native Americans at Fort Utah (now Provo, Utah). In March 1854, he was named Adjutant General of the Nauvoo Legion. James was Brigham Young's personal bodyguard and served as the Territorial Attorney General.

James was also a noted Shakespeare actor in Salt Lake. He served a mission for the Church to England in 1854 and helped create opportunities for the handcart emigration on his return to Utah in 1856. After the Utah War of 1857-1858, he practiced law and continued his acting. James Ferguson and his partners started the "Mountaineer" newspaper around 1859. He died at age 35 on 30 August 1863 at Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citation:

A bright, rising star, 2000: title page (James Ferguson; Sergeant Major, Mormon Battalion; Adjutant General, Nauvoo Legion) page 5 (born February 23, 1828 in Belfast, Ireland to Francis Ferguson and Mary Patrick) page 14 (first sheriff of Great Salt Lake County) page 22 (died August 30, 1863 in Salt Lake City, Utah)

Find-a-Grave.com, via WWW, Aug. 18, 2020 (James Ferguson (1828-1863); born in Belfast, Ireland, on 23 February 1828 to Francis (Frank) Ferguson and Mary Patrick; baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Liverpool England in 1842; emigrated to the United States and in 1846 he made his way to Utah; enlisted in the Mormon Batalion as Historian and Sergeant Major; married Lucy Nutting at San Francisco (Yerba Buena), California, and they had five children; appointed by Brigham Young as the first Sheriff of the Great Salt Lake County; commander in the Utah Expedition to Fort Bridger and Green River in 1853; commissioned as lieutenant general of the Nauvoo Legion (territorial militia); fought in a battle with Native Americans at Fort Utah; Brigham Young's personal bodyguard and served as the Territorial Attorney General; a noted Shakespeare actor in Salt Lake; served a mission for the Church to England in 1854 and helped create opportunities for the handcart emigration on his return to Utah in 1856; after the Utah War of 1857-1858, he practiced law and continued his acting; he and his partners started the "Mountaineer" newspaper around 1859; died at age 35 on 30 August 1863 at Salt Lake City, Utah)

UPB files, Aug. 18, 2020 (In March 1854, he was named Adjutant General of the Nauvoo Legion)

Found in 3 Collections and/or Records: