Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1909 — A Peasant Boy Philosopher. [ARTICLE]

A Peasant Boy Philosopher.

Very remarkable was the boyhood of the celebrated James Ferguson, who was born at Keith, in Banffshire, Scotland, in 1710. His father, who was a day laborer, taught him to read and write and sent him to school for three months at Keith. At the age of eight h| constructed a clock of wood that kept remarkably good time and afterward made a wooden watch with a whalebone spring. He began to earn his first money by cleaning and mending clocks in the neighborhood. His astronomical pursuits commenced soon afterward, his father having sent him to a neighboring farmer, who employed him in watching his sheep. While thus occupied he amused himself at night by watching the stars and during the day in making models. In 1747 he published his book on the phenom ena of the harvest moon, and this was followed by other astronomical works. His books received the approval of the Royal society, before which he frequently appeared. ,