Governor James and Governor Miriam Ferguson

Texas was one of the earliest states to elect a female Governor. However, she was the 2nd female elected Governor by mere months. The first was elected in Wyoming,

Nellie Tayloe Ross of Wyoming, who was elected on November 4, 1924 and sworn in on January 5, 1925.. She was preceded in office by her late husband William B. Ross. Wyoming was the first state to provide women's suffrage. Elected on November 3 was Miriam A. Ferguson of Texas whose husband Governor James Edward Ferguson had previously held the office but been impeached and removed from office in 1917. The first female governor elected without being the wife or widow of a past state governor was Ella T. Grasso of Connecticut, elected in 1974 and sworn in on January 8, 1975
- Wikipedia

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Inscription:

James Ferguson, son of a Methodist preacher, and Miriam Wallace, daughter of a wealthy farmer, were Bell County natives. They married in 1899 and later settled with their two daughters in Temple. James, running as “Farmer Jim”, won the Governorship in 1914. His first term saw improvement of rural schools and the prison system, and relief for tenant farmers. In 1917 he began a second term, but within months he was impeached on charges that included mishandling of state funds; convicted by a special session of the 35th Legislature; and removed from office. In 1924 the Texas Supreme Court upheld a law barring him from state office, so Miriam ran for Governor in his place.

Called “Ma” by the press, Miriam campaigned under the slogan “two Governors for the price of one”. She beat the Ku Klux Klan candidate and in her first term (1925-27) supported an anti-mask bill that broke Klan power. Critics attacked her liberal pardoning policy. She defeated Gov. Ross S. Sterling to win her second term (1933-35), in the midst of the depression. After losing the 1940 Democratic primary, the Fergusons retired from long and colorful political careers.

Erected:
1977



Location:
1006 Congress This marker is located in Bicentennial Square with a number of other markers, across the street from the State Capital and is next door to the Old Bakery and Emporium as well as the Governors Mansion.


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