Bygone Clan “midgy bytes”

By Jaap Verduijn on July 18th, 2009
Daniel MacGregor Ferguson: b 1841(or 42); d 26/11/12. A sculptor and wood carver of ability and repute, training at The Glasgow School of Art. Among prizes won, the International Gold Medal for Sculptors in 1870 was the most prestigous, but he also received the Walter Macfarlane prize for best figure modelled from life, and a prize for drawing from the cast the same year. The photo taken in Balquhidder shows the kenspeckled figure in balmoral, kilt, and badger sporran, an artistic gentleman of character. He designed the railings around Rob Roy’s grave in the churchyard there in 1890.

 
Daniel MacGregor Ferguson sent this post card to Robert Fergusson of Muirlaggan farm in 1905, it was posted in The Outer Hebrides. Gaelic translation please to the Hon. Secretary of the Clan Fergus(s)on Society who is a descendent of the farmer, and now currently resident owner of the farm. There might be a prize!
The Clan post card was also sent by him, posted 29/12/04 and wishes the recipient “A happy New Year – Your faithful friend D. MacGregor Ferguson”. The clan details on the card are quite interesting, and the addressee is the same as before.
 

The graveyard photograph shows a commanding head stone, that of his father Daniel Ferguson who died in 1888, demonstrating “young” Daniel’s fine workmanship as shown on the relief of the head. The graveyard is in the lee of Stirling Castle.

Are there any more “midgy bytes” out there? Please send them to us for publication!