Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/88

 KERRISS

FERRY

foreign wars; the New York genealogical; nd biographical society; the Long Island historical society; treasurer and counsel of the Society of American authors; member of the Westchester County bar association; attorney -general of the Order of the founders and patriots; secretary of the Sons of the Revolution and a member of several other organizations. He was married, Sept. 4, 1879, to Mary Lannian, daughter of Col. John de Peyster and Marianna Chandler •(Lanman) Douwof Poughkeep.sie. N.Y., and they had three children: Mary Van Rensselaer, Morris Douw and Van "Wj-ck.

FERRISS, Orange, representative, was born in Glens Falls, N.Y., Nov. 26, 1814. He attended the University of Vermont, but was not grad- uated- was admitted to the bar of Warren county, N.Y., in 1840; was surrogate of the county, 1841-45; and judge, 1851-63; he was a representative from the 16th New York district iu the 40th and 41st congresses, 1867-71. Subse- quently he was a judge of the U.S. court of claims and an auditor in the U.S. treasury de- partment. He received the degree of A 51. from the Univei-sity of Vermont in 1868. He died in Glens Falls, N.Y., April 11, 1894. -

FERRY, Elisha Peyre, governor of Washing- ton, was born in Monroe, Mich., Aug. 9, 1825. He attended the common schools, removed to Waukegan, 111., in 1840; was admitted to the bar at Fort Waj-ne, Ind., in 1845 and practised at Waukegan. He was presidential elector in 1852 and 1856; mayor of Waukegan, 1859; member of the Illinois constitutional convention, 1861; state bank commissioner, 1861-63; a member of the staff of Governor Yates, 1861-63; and after the war was appointed one of the direct-tax com- missioners for the state of Tennessee. In 1869 he removed to Washington Territory where he was survej'or-general and in 1872 was appointed gov- ernor by President Grant, holding this office until 1880 when he removed to Seattle. In 1867 he gave up his law practice and liecame president of the Puget Sotmd national bank. On Oct. 1, 1889, he was elected governor of the state of Washington and served until 1893. He died in Seattle, Wash., Oct. 14. 1895.

FERRY, Orris Sandford, senator, was born in Bethel, Conn., Aug. 15, 1823. His father was a hat manufacturer, and intended the son to suc- ceed to the business. A trial proving this course inexpedient, he was prepared for college and was graduated from Yale in 1844. He was admitted to the bar in 1846, and practised in Norwalk. He was made lieutenant-colonel in the state militia in 1847; a judge of probate in 1849, and was elected by the American party a state senator in 1855 and 18.56. He was district attor- ney fol- Fairfield county, 1857-59; an unsuccess-

ful candidate for representative in the 35th and o7th congresses, a representative in the 36th con- gress, and a member of the committee of thirtj'- tliree on the relations of the seceding states. He entered the voltmteer army as colonel of the 5th Connecticut regiment, served with General Banks in Maryland, and on March 17, 1862, was commissioned brigadier-general, serving in Shields's division, and afterward in Peck's. He served throughout the civil war, and in 1866 was elected by the legislature of Connecticut U.S. senator, and was re-elected in 1872 by a coalition of the Democrats and liberal Republicans. He voted against the civil rights bill, for the im- peachment of President Johnson, May 16, 1868, and supported General Grant for the presidency in 1872. He died inXorwalk, Conn., Nov. 21, 1875. FERRY, Thomas White, senator, was born in Mackinac, Mich., Jime 1, 1826; son of the Rev. William Montague and Amanda (White) Ferrj'. His fatlier was born in 1769, graduated at Union college in 1831, was a missionary in Michigan after 1821, establishing a school at Mackinac and afterward engaged m the lumber business at Grand Haven, be coming wealthy and leaving to benevolent objects at his death in 1867, §120,000 Thomas was educated at the public school and engaged in the lumbering business at Grand Haven. He was county clerk; a state representative, 1850-56; state senator in 1856; delegate-at- large to the Republican national convention of 1860; and delegate to the Loyalist's convention, Philadelphia, 1866. He was a representative in the 39tli. 40th and 41st congresses, 1865-71, and re-elected to the 42d congress but did not take his seat, having been elected a U.S. senator to succeed Senator Howard and taking his seat, March 4, 1871. He was chosen president pro tempore of the senate, March 9th and 19th and Dec. 20, 1875, and was acting vice-president of the United States from the death of Vice- President Wilson, Nov. 22, 1875, until March 4, 1877. In the absence of President Grant he pre- sided at the opening of the Centennial exposi- tion at Philadelphia, July 4, 1876. and delivered the address. He also presided at the impeacli- ment trial of Secretary Belknap and at the sixteen joint meetings of congress, and during the electoral count. 1876-77. He was reelected U.S. senator, Jan. 17, 1877, and was president ^jro