Miriam A. Ferguson Birthplace
Sparks, Bell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
A five-room log cabin on this land was the home of Miriam A. Wallace (1875-1961) from her birth until her marriage to James E. Ferguson in 1899. After her husband had been twice elected governor, Mrs. Ferguson became the first woman elected governor of any state. She served two terms, from 1925 to 1927 and from 1933 to 1935. The property was inherited by Mrs. Ferguson and about 1917 was mortgaged to support her husband's political career. The home was destroyed by fire in 1926. (1967)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In a five-room log cabin on this Bell County land, Miriam Amanda Wallace was born in 1875 and lived until she married James E. Ferguson in 1899. After her husband twice won the Texas governorship, "Ma" Ferguson stepped forward herself and in 1924 became the first woman elected governor of any state, serving terms in the 1920s and 1930s. The old homeplace, mortgaged to fund the family's political fortunes, burned in 1926.
Why it matters
As one of the first women elected governor in the nation, Miriam Ferguson marked a milestone in American women's political leadership just after suffrage.
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Related people
- · Miriam A. Ferguson
- · James E. Ferguson
Themes & tags
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