Buried in Elk City’s Oak Hill Cemetery is the grave of a woman whose past is centered around the deaths of 53 Union soldiers during the Civil War.

Her name was Martha Ferguson, and she died in Elk City in 1901. However, some 35 years before death, she lived in Kentucky with her husband, Champ Ferguson. It was Mr. Ferguson who had a deep hatred toward the Union cause — so much so that he became a cold-blooded serial killer. He was arrested and convicted of killing 53 Unionists, and he eventually was hanged for his murderous deeds.

Professor Brian McKnight of Angelo State University wrote a story about the life of Martha Ferguson. You’ll enjoy reading it on page A5 of the July 17th Montgomery County Chronicle.

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