Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/87

 FERRIER

FERRIS

FERRIER, Edsall, educator, was born in War- wick, N.Y., Oct. 80, 1S31; son of Joseph and Hannali (Edsall) Ferrier; grandson t)f Robert Ferrier; and of Huguenot ancestry. He was graduated at Lafayette in 1854, Latin salutato- rian, and received his A.M. degree in course. He pursued his theological course at Princeton, 1854-57, and was ordained. May 10, 1858, by the presbyter}' of Hudson. He was pastor at Amity, N.Y., 1858-60; at Florida, N.Y., 18G0-65; pro- fessor of English language and literature at Wash- ington and Jefferson college, 1865-66; Graeff pro- fessor of English language and vice-president, Pennsylvania college. Gettysbui'g. 18C6-T2; and pastor at Mauch C'lumk, Pa.. 1873-83. He was president of the alumni association of Lafayette college, and received from that institution the degree of D.D. in 1881. In 1893 he accepted the chair of Hebrew at Lafayette college, and in 1897 the chair of logic and moral philosophy in the same institution, holding also the chair of Hebrew.

FERRIS, Isaac, educator, was born in New York city, Oct. 9, 1798; son of John and Sarah (Watkins) Ferris; grandson of Gilbert and Sarah (Fowler) Ferris; and a descendant of Jeffrey Ferris. He was graduated from Columbia with the first honors in 1816. his college course having been interrupted by a year's service in the war of 1812. He was instructor in Latin at Albany

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academy, 1816-17; attended tin.- A^suciate theo- logical seminary. New York city, 1817-18; and the seminary of the Reformed Dutcli church, New Brunswick, N.J., 1818-20. He was or- dained to the Reformed Dutch ministr}' in 1820 and was pastor at New Brunswick. N.J.. 1821-24, at Albany, N.Y., 1824-36, and in New York city, 1836-53. He was organizer of the Rutgers female institute. New Y''ork city, its first president. 1839- 56, and was subsequently connected with the Ferris institute. In 1852 he became chancellor of the University of the city of New York, hold- ing also the chair of moral philosophy and the evidences of revealed religion. He resigned in 1870 and was elected chancellor emeritus. He

was a corporate member of the American board of commissioners for foreign mi.ssions, 1830-32; the organizer and corresponding secretary and later president of the Board of foreign missions of the Reformed Dutcli churcli; chairman of the distributing committee of the American Bible society, 1847-73; a founder of the Y.M.C. association of New Y'ork city in 1852; president of the New Y'ork Sunday-school union, 1837-73; and a member of the New York historical society. He was tlirice married: first in 1820 to Catharine A., daughter of Richard Burchan. secondly, in 1839, to Sarah J., daughter of John Crygier; and tliirdly, in is.50, to Letitia, daughter of Abraham G. Storm. He received the degree of D.D. from Union in 1833 and that of LL.D. from Cohmibia in 1853. His published writings include Dumestic Christian Education (1835); Ec- clesiastical Characteristics of the Beformed Protestant Dutch Church (1848); and numerous sermons and addresses. He died at Ro.seUe, N. J., June 16, 1873.

FERRIS, John Mason, editor, was born in Albany. NY.. Jan. 17, 1825; son of the Rev. Isaac and Catharine Ann (Burchan) Ferris. He was graduated from the University of the city of New York in 1843; attended the theological sem- inary at New Brunswick, N.J., 1846-49, and was ordained a minister in the Reformed Dutch church in 1849. He was pastor at Tarrytown, N.Y., 1851-54; at Chicago, 111., 1854-62, and at Grand Rapids, Mich., 1862-65. He was a profes- sor in the Western theological seminary of the Reformed church in America, at Holland, Mich., 1864-65, cori'esponding secretary of the Board of foreign missions of the Reformed Dutch church. New Y^ork city, 186.5-83; and treasurer of the board, 1886. In 1881 he became editor of the Christian Intelligencer. He was married first in 1850 to Mary E., daughter of Micliael Schoon- maker. and secondly, in 1871, to Anna M., daugh- ■ter of Judge G. L. RIartense. Rutgers conferred upon Iiim the degi-ee of D.D. in 1867.

FERRIS, Morris Patterson, lawyer, was born in New York city. Oct. 3. 1855; son of Isaac and Letitia (Storm) Ferris and grandson of Jolm and Sarah (Watkins) Ferris. His father was chan- cellor of the University of the city of New Y'ork, 1852-70. The son entered the University in the class of 1874, and was graduated from the law department in 1876. He practised his pro- fession in New Y'ork citj- and also engaged in literary work on the lines of historical and gene- alogical researcli. He was elected president of the Y''onkers historical and library association; secretary of the New Y'ork state historical asso- ciation; registrar of the Society of the war of 1812; Sons of the Revolution; a member of the Society of colonial wars; the American historical association; the Huguenot society, the Order of