Son of Alexander and Mary "Polly" (McNutt) Ferguson. Married 29 Jan 1839 in Knoxville, Knox Co., TN to Nancy Rudder. Two children were born to this union: Casander Narcesses and Robert Alexander Ferguson. Nancy died in 1843. Married 25 Apr 1849 in the Cedar Creek Associated Reform Church, Monmouth, Warren Co., IL to Martha Caroline Giles. Nine children were born to this union: John Seward, Mary Lavina, Leonades, Sarah Florence, Leota Prim, Josephine E., Ulysses S Grant, Sherman Tecumseh and Winona Emeline Ferguson.
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At the online website listing his death record(s) [http://www.sos.mo.gov/archives/resources/birthdeath/dresults.asp?selCDeath=Worth&txtNDeath=furg], the two entries conflict on certain details. Each record lists his age as 71 at the time of his death, however, which also appears to be incorrect.
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An online transcription of cemetery tombstones for Fletchall Cemetery lists his death date as 7 Aug 1886, but an age of 74Y 7M. Calculating backward, this would imply a birth date of 7 Jan 1812. It is more likely that there is a transcription error in his death date and a probable miscalculation of his age, which should probably have been 72Y 7M.
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Biography courtesy Grace Anguscile (Ferguson) Steiger, from "The John Miller Ferguson Family History" (1976):

John Miller Ferguson was born 17 January 1814, in Knox County, near Knoxville, Tennessee of Scotch-Irish lineage. He was the son of Alexander Ferguson and Mary nee McNutt.

John Miller Ferguson married first Nancy Rudder on the 29th of January 1839 in Knox County, Tennessee. To this union, two children were born: Casander Ferguson, born 26 March 1841, and Robert Alexander Ferguson, born 2 August 1842. Both children were born in the Knoxville, Tennessee area.

John Miller Ferguson married the second time, Martha Caroline Giles on the 25th of April 1849 at Monmouth, Illinois. The Rev. J. C. Porter, pastor of Cedar Creek Associated Reform Church on Monmouth officiated the ceremony. In 1856, they moved to Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa. In 1862, they located south of Mormontown, now Blockton, Taylor County, Iowa. In the autumn of 1863, they moved across the state line into Worth County, Missouri.

Being a lawyer by profession, he was soon elected Probate Judge of the county. In those days, many county officials resided on their farm and at certain stated times, went to Grant City, the county seat, to perform their official duties. He served in that capacity for several terms. In the meantime, the family located three miles northeast of Grant City, Missouri. Judge Ferguson died in his home on 17 August 1886. He was laid to rest in the Ferguson plot in Fletchall Cemetery, in northern Missouri. A Ferguson stone (upright) marks the graves of John and Martha. The third side of the stone lists their unmarried daughter, Sarah, who had preceded them in death.
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WILL OF J. M. FERGUSON, DECEASED

Know all men by these presents that I, J. M. Ferguson, being of proper age and sound of mind, do hereby by these presents make this my last will and testament to wit: I give and bequeath to my son Sherman T. Ferguson one set of old harness that he is at this (time) using and one nearly new wagon and one large 16 inch stirring plow together with an old wire cultivator and also the old sled on the premises, and my real estate all being under mortgage I hereby appoint constitute and empower my Executor to make a private sale of all my real estate at the earliest opportunity and to pay all my just and honest debts as soon as possible and pay over all the residue of my estate to my companion and wife Martha C. Ferguson to be disposed of as she may deem proper. The Executor is herby authorized to retain what compensation he may deem right of the time and trouble and expense in carrying out the provisions of this will. My Executor is hereby authorized to collect all my personal effects to every name and nature, horses, cattle, farm implements and traps of all kinds together sometime during the month of September and offer them at public sale. My household and kitchen goods and furniture I hold no claim on the same, they belong to the women, and I hereby constitute and appoint my son J. S. Ferguson my sole Executor to carry to the letter and spirit the provisions of this my last will and Testament.

In Witness Whereof I have affixed my hand and seal, In
presence of witnesses, done this 11th day of June A.D. 1886
(signed)
J. M. Ferguson
David R. Moutbray
George Lambert

Filed for record recorded Oct. 23rd A.D. 1886

-- Charles L. Wheeler, Clerk of the Probate Court
Recorded - Probate Court, Grant City, Mo.
Book No. 1 Record of Wills, Worth County, Page 3
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Wilbur A Shafer continued: "John Miller Ferguson was in the gold rush to California. I have always hoped that sometime I might get away and go to Placer County, California and research the records concerning the gold rush. I am sure that there is [sic] some historical facts to be found regarding the claims, etc. in those counties where the gold was being mined. I understand that our great Grandfather Ferguson went to California overland, probably via the Santa Fe Trail."

Wilbur wrote thus to his brother John: "I remember Mother saying great grandmother Ferguson never knew where he was, but she would know he was back when she heard him whistling before he arrived at the house. He was a man who whistled tunes a lot when he was out-of-doors. I remember Mother talking about her grandfather (who) went to California during the gold rush."
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THE GOLD RUSH STORY

There is a story that I (Grace Steiger) heard from a couple of different individuals in our family, that John Miller Ferguson left home to seek gold. He was gone from home so long that his family did not know if he was dead or alive. After about two years John returned home. When he returned home, his children did not remember him.

While I admit I have not the facts to go on, I don't think that John would leave a new bride - Martha Caroline Giles - whom he married April 25, 1849 at the church in Little York, Illinois, to join the "Gold Rush to California." (Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill, California on Jan 24, 1848, and this started the rush to California.) The births of their children that followed this marriage do not allow for an extended period of time away from home.

Instead he could have searched for gold in the eastern region of the United States along the Appalachian Mountains. His native state of Tennessee contained gold. Let me quote from Universal Standard Encyclopedia volume 23 - page 8353: "Mining is an important industry in the State of Tennessee and the principal mineral is coal... Other minerals are zinc, copper, silver, gold, cement rock, marble, phosphate and manganese ore."