J.M. FERGUSON
From the Renfrew Mercury
10 July 1925
Mr. J.M. Ferguson, unlike the majority of men appearing in The Mercury during the past six months as “Men of Affairs” has not served the public as a member of the Town Council, or as a school trustee, neither has he been an Agricultural Society worker, nor a Board of Health enthusiast. His home, his church and his store have been his main concerns. He has kept out of public service in the channels mentioned, not through lack of public spirit, but because feeling that there are candidates aplenty for public office and that a lack of men at the different boards is seldom or never known.
The opening up of his new place of business a few days ago marks a new era in a career which beginning in the fall of 1903, has been one of constant advancements. Though his store is the only one of its kind in town, and the first of its kind in Eastern Ontario, he has not been without competition, that competition coming from business places carrying various kinds of dry goods. A factor contributing to the success of the Ferguson establishment is the “store news” which it every week has before the public. This is one of different factors, but far from being the least important, Mr. Ferguson has among his treasures a copy of his first advertisement and which appeared in “The Mercury” simultaneously with the opening of “The Ladies Emporium.”
J.M. Ferguson was born in the Township of Admaston and received his primary education in No. 2 school of the municipality. He then spent a year in Renfrew Collegiate Institute, his studies there including the commercial course. Having had from childhood a desire for mercantile life, he took a position in a general store in Renfrew, remaining there eleven years commencing as delivery boy and ending as head clerk. At the end of that period though receiving as much in the way of salary as any other clerk in town at the time, he resolved to start into business on his own account. His capital amounted to only $500, but he had plenty of optimism, and found that wholesale houses had confidence in him through the favorable report of those house’s representatives. He bought a $1,000 stock of ladies ready to wear goods and put in $500 worth of store fixtures, and success was his from the start; for up to the present time, 22 Junes later, he has never ever failed to take his discounts where discounts were allowed. The business was built on confidence, also in telling the truth in advertisements. While patronage did not grow in leaps and bounds, it increased steadily and securely.
For the first five years Mr. Ferguson occupied the smaller store in the Handford block. Business growing too large to be taken care of properly there, he moved into the Fraser block which he carried for over sixteen years up to a week or so ago, when he fitted up and moved into the spacious store where he now meets the public. Mr. Ferguson’s ambition having always been to own the store in which he did business, he in 1919 purchased from Mr. Alex Fraser the store he occupied and the one adjoining. He put a new front on his own designing in the store which he has just left, he having a hobby for that sort of thing. He also designed his present store front and the store’s interior.
In the matter of recreation Mr. Ferguson is fond of fishing and motoring. Some of his motor trips carry him hundreds of miles away. At home in the summer season he takes pride in a well-kept lawn and something nice in flowers.
For a bigger and better Renfrew Mr. Ferguson thinks merchants and other business men here should harmonize more, also get together often seeking a way to lighten each other’s difficulties; for after all, though opposing each other in business each is his brother’s keeper and in unity there is strength. Such a spirit prevailing would, he feels assured make for a busier and better town.