ELI FERRIS:

“Eli Ferris staked a claim to land on the Black Cat in Kossuth Co. IA in 1858. (the southeast quarter of section 14) just south of the McComb claim, and bached in the same cabin with Jonathan Callender whose claim was in that vicinity. Ferris used to tell how they killed a wild goose, and after cooking it for three weeks, had to throw it away because it was so tough. He soon left the county and went east, and did not return for several years.”
Source: "History of Kossuth County IA" pg. 86-87.

(The book that the above quote is from was published in 1913. I copied the pages at the library, but I don’t remember the author’s name. I’ll get the author’s name next time I go to the library.)

When Eli Ferris left his claim, he went to Stark Co. ILL where he married Nancy Jane Fitch on December 01, 1858. (Stark Co. Ill. Marriage Records) Eli and Nancy apparently immediately went to PA, since their first child, Isaac Jasper Ferris was b. in June of 1859. (oops, only 6 months after they were married)

My theory is that Eli was in Stark Co. ILL, and met Nancy Fitch prior to staking his claim in IA. (There was an Edwin Ferris in Stark Co. ILL at that time who was b. in PA. Edwin was probably a relative of Eli Ferris, possibly a brother. Maybe Eli received word that Nancy was "with child" so he quit his claim to go to ILL to marry her. Since Nancy was pregnant at the time of their marriage, they probably were reluctant to return to the wilderness where Eli's claim was. Staying in ILL may have caused a scandal, since Nancy's baby would have come "early". They probably left right after the marriage for PA on the premise of introducing Nancy to Eli's family, who would not have necessarily known the exact date of their marriage. Soon after Isaac Ferris was born, the Civil War began. I believe Eli and Nancy decided to remain in PA until after the war was over. (Their 3 oldest children were born in PA between 1859 and 1863.) They were in IA by 1868 when Fredonia Ferris, their 4th child, was born)

I have searched every single Ferris in PA in 1860, and have not found Eli and Nancy. Either they were missed on the census, or they were with a family of a different last name.

January 27, 1871 Eli Ferris received 2 land grants in Kossuth Co. IA
February 27, 1885 Eli Ferris sold land to a Mr. Taylor in Kossuth Co. IA
October 12, 1886 Eli Ferris purchased land from a Savory in Kossuth Co. IA
February 04, 1887 Eli Ferris sold land to a Mr. Dow in Kossuth Co. IA

Below is the last census entry I've been able to find Eli Ferris on.

(1885 Iowa State Census)
Given: Eli
Surname: Ferris
Township Number: 96
Range: 29
Section: 14
Location: SW SE
Age: 65
Sex: M
Marital Status: M
Birth State: PA
Entitled to Vote: X
Line Number: 20
Dwelling Number: 5
Family Number: 5
Page Number: 308
State: IA
County: Kossuth
Township Name: Union
Family History Film: 1021498
Volume: 216

Listed in the above household, living with Eli Ferris were his wife Nancy J. Ferris, son Martin Ferris, son James Ferris, son Bert Ferris, daughter Jennie (Fredonia Jennett Ferris) son (Isaac) Jasper Ferris, daughter-in-law Alice Ferris. Oddly, Isaac J. Ferris's son Lewis Ferris is not listed, although he was born in Jan.1884.

I don’t know where or when Eli Ferris died. The last evidence I have of him living is the land sale in 1887. Nancy Jane (Fitch) Ferris, Eli’s wife, was still living in 1920. She is listed on the 1920 census living with their son James M. Ferris in Scott Co. IA.

ISAAC JASPER FERRIS:

I’m hoping that you have some little “family lore” tidbits about Isaac Jasper Ferris that you can share. Our grandfathers were both pretty young when he died, so there’s not a lot of info (on my end at least) but there is some. He apparently went by his middle name, when I was told what my great grandfather’s name was they called him Jasper Ferris. He was also listed as Jasper Ferris in the 1885 Iowa State Census.

I only recently found the 1885 Iowa census. A copy of the info for Jasper Ferris is below. Notice that it lists an “Infirmity” for him. It states that he was crippled, with a withered leg. I suspect it may not have been his leg that was the problem. My grandfather, Lewis Ferris had scoliosis (curvature of the spine) Lewis’s scoliosis was primarily in his upper spine, which caused him to have a “hump” on his back. When scoliosis is in the lower spine, it causes the pelvis to be tipped, so the person walks with one leg bent, which may have been the reason the census taker listed him as having a withered leg. (although this is conjecture, it could have been a bad leg) I’m also attaching a picture of Isaac Jasper Ferris and Alice Rose (Merriam) Ferris that I think supports my theory. Notice the unevenness of his shoulders, and the way his left shoe seems to be worn to the side.

Given: Jasper
Surname: Ferris
Township Number: 96
Range: 29
Section: 14
Location: SW SE
Age: 25
Sex: M
Marital Status: M
Birth State: PA
Subject to Military Duty: X
Entitled to Vote: X
Infirmities: Crippled, withered leg
Line Number: 22
Dwelling Number: 5
Family Number: 5
Page Number: 308
State: IA
County: Kossuth
Township Name: Union
Family History Film: 1021498
Volume: 216

I’m very interested to know if you have any idea how Isaac Jasper Ferris died. My aunt told me that when she was a little girl, she was told that he died from swallowing a penny. This didn’t make much sense to me, since an adult shouldn’t have any problem passing a penny, but who knows. I have a theory about this, but it is strictly speculation. My aunt was very young when she was told the “swallowed a penny” story. Nails are measured in “pennies”, for example, 2 penny nail, 3 penny nail, etc. I wonder if she could have been told he swallowed a 2 penny nail, and being a little girl, remembered it as just a penny? Swallowing a nail would have much more serious consequences than swallowing a penny. This nail theory is just a wild guess, no evidence to support it at all.

I have his death date as Jan. 20, 1894 but this is from someone else’s data, I have not confirmed that date with a death certificate yet.

Here’s what I know of Isaac Jasper Ferris’s travels:

Born in PA, he was in Kossuth Co. IA by 1868 where his sister Fredonia was born. I believe he remained in Kossuth Co. IA until at least 1882 when he married Alice Rose Merriam on Jan. 1, 1882 in Algona, Kossuth Co. IA. Eli Ferris witnessed their marriage license.

Jasper and Alice Ferris were in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co. Iowa in Jan 1884, when my grandfather, Lewis Robert Ferris was born.

I had thought the family went from Pottawattamie Co IA to Nebraska until I found the 1885 Iowa census. Apparently Jasper and Alice went back to Kossuth Co. IA after Lewis Ferris was born, since they are listed living with Eli and Nancy Ferris in 1885.

Jasper and Alice Ferris were in Nebraska by 1888, when their second son, Ezra Ferris was born. Your grandfather Arthur, and his younger sister Pearl Ferris were also born in Nebraska, Pearl in 1893. Jasper Ferris died Jan. 20, 1894, about 6 months after Pearl was born. Most likely, he died in Nebraska. I don’t know what county in Nebraska Ezra, Arthur and Pearl were born in, but it could be Loup Co. Alice was there after Jasper Ferris died. Do you happen to know where in NE your grandfather was born?

Here’s something else to mull over….Since we now know that Jasper and Alice were living with his parents, Eli and Nancy Ferris in 1885, and in 1887 Eli Ferris sold his land in Kossuth Co. IA, did Eli and Nancy go to Nebraska with Jasper and Alice? If so, Nebraska may be the place to look for a death record for Eli Ferris too. I know that Nancy J. (Fitch) Ferris was in Nebraska in 1910. She received a federal land patent July 5, 1910 in Loup Co. NE. Since it was in Nancy’s name, I assume she was a widow by then.

By 1920, Nancy was living in Scott Co. IA with her son James M. Ferris. (1920 census)

ALICE ROSE MERRIAM:

Alice was married, and widowed 4 times. After Jasper Ferris died, she married George Kruger on May 11, 1895 in Loup Co. NE . They had a son, George Kruger, b. Feb. 24, 1896 in NE. George Kruger Sr. died around 1897, and on April 3, 1898 Alice married Adelbert Newman in Loup Co. NE. They had Adelbert Newman Jr,, b.May, 1900 in NE.

On the 1900 Federal Census, Adelbert and Alice R. Newman are listed in Loup Co. NE with all 6 children.

(UPDATE. Since I began writing this outline, I have found an index of marriage records for Loup Co. NE. On it I have found the marriage of Alice to George Kruger May 11, 1895 and her marriage to A. Delbert Newman, April 3, 1898. I also found what is probably Isaacs sister, listed as Jennie F. Ferris. I plan to order these records from the county clerk the address of the index is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~neloup/MarLicIndex.htm)

I have not been able to find Alice on any census after 1900, although I know positively that she died in 1942 in Greene Co. MO. At the time of her death, her name was Alice Rose Clark. I don’t know when or where she married Mr. Clark, but it was after the children were grown. She was a widow again at the time of her death. Alice Rose Clark is buried in East Lawn Cemetery, Springfield, Greene Co. MO.

Apparently there is a book titled “Merriam Genealogy in England and America” that includes our Alice Rose Merriam. I have not seen it yet, but plan to look for it at the library next time I go. I don’t consider published genealogys as “gospel” unless they also include documented proof of relationships. I’ve seen some pretty bad ones, for example the Tillman book of Reynolds genealogy is a compete mess when it comes to the Greene Co. TN Reynolds, I spent 3 years trying to straighten out that mess with another Reynolds researcher and the Reynolds Family Assn. However, the info in the Merriam book about Alice looks pretty accurate considering what I know to be fact. Below is a message posted by Kit Cutting on the Merriam Gen Forum message board that includes an excerpt from the Merriam book.

Hi Ralph, I know this message is old but I thought I would answer it. According to Merriam Genealogy in England and America by Charles Pope; Homer Talma Merriam 9 (Stephen R. 8, Amasa7,William6,William5,Johm4,William3, Joseph2, William1)
Born at Coventry Ohio., March 16, 1823; married June 30, 1844, in Olmstead Ohio, Nancy Carpenter; she died Jan 13 1881.
Removed to Whiteside County. Ill.; in 1869 to a place near Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa; in 1886 to Bon Homme, S.D. and in 1887 to harrison Neb.
Children:
1. Edgar Elisha, b. May 7 1846; m. Sept 5 1876, Nellie Wolf. He d. Aug 15 1893
2. Benjamin Wallace, b. Aug 11, 1848, m. (1) Jan. 1874 Louisa J Hopkins, who died in 1880. He m. (2)in 1883-----. Was in the employ of C.B.&Q.R.R.; resided Milledgeville,Ill.
3.James. b.Jan 14 1859;m. Nov 5, 1899, Ethel Garretson. Inherited his father's palce in Algona,IA
4. Alice Rosalinda,b.Dec 5 1859;m. (1) Jasper Ferris. He d. Jan 20 1894; she m. (2) George Kruger, who d. 1897; she m. (3)----Newman.
5. Ada Eliephine, b Nov.1, 1863
6.Aurilla Damaris b. Jan 8 1865; m. Jan 2 1891, Frank Smith, of Harriston, Neb. later of Deadwood, Colo.
That is all I have. You can get the book at some Librarys or www.bullbrier.com....Kit Cutting

I can confirm most of the info about Alice. The birth date is accurate, as well as husbands (with the exception there is no Clark husband, but that marriage was probably after 1920). This is also the first time I have seen her middle name as “Rosalinda”.

I can also confirm Alice’s sister Ada. I have seen a picture that my aunt had of Ada Merriam. My aunt said that Ada never married, and worked as a school teacher. I had suspected Edgar Merriam was Alice’s brother, I found him on the 1880 Kossuth Co. IA census not far from our Ferris’s.

As I mentioned, I plan to follow up on the info from the book, and try to document it. If it is accurate, this line ties Alice to the Merriams of “Merriam’s Corner”, where one of the first major battles of the Revolutionary War was fought. The house at Merriam’s Corner is still there, it’s almost 300 years old and part of the “Minute Man National Historical Park” in Concord Mass.

OUR GRANDFATHERS GENERATION:

LEWIS ROBERT FERRIS:

My grandfather, b. Jan 10, 1884 in Iowa and grew up in Nebraska. He was 10 years old when his father died.

I uncovered a “secret” about Lewis Ferris in 1995. While looking for a copy of his and my grandmothers Marriage Certificate, I came across an earlier one for Lewis Ferris and an Elizabeth Coin. I don’t think anyone in my family knew about this first marriage, at least none of his children knew of it. Lewis and Elizabeth Coin were married on Nov 11, 1916 in Greene Co. MO. They were apparently separated by 1920, since Lewis is listed living with his sister Pearl and her family on the 1920 Federal Census. Before I found out about the marriage to Elizabeth Coin, I had noticed that the 1920 census listed Lewis Ferris as “married”. I had thought at the time that it was either a mistake, or that possibly he and my grandmother were secretly married but had not told her parents. Lewis Ferris and Elizabeth Coin were divorced on May 13, 1921 in Greene Co. MO. Lewis is listed as the “injured” party in the divorce.

The very next day, May 14, 1921 Lewis Ferris married Effie Geneva Wright. (my grandmother)

Lewis and Effie’s children were:

Maudie Edna Ferris b. Feb 2, 1922 in MO, d. Jan. 22, 2000 in KS. MO
Frank James Ferris b. Feb. 2, 1922 in MO. (Maudies’ twin)
Raymond Gene Ferris b. Feb. 21, 1925 in MO, d. M. 10, 1995 in Los Angeles Ca. (My father)

Lewis Ferris farmed, and also worked as a lead miner in OK.
After Effie (Wright) Ferris died, Feb. 10, 1961, in Springfield MO Lewis came to live with our family in Los Angeles CA. He lived with us until his death Sept. 15, 1963 in Los Angeles CA. Lewis and Effie Ferris are buried in Green Lawn Cemetery, Springfield MO.

Lewis and all of the Ferris’s that I knew, including my father and his brother and sister, were very small. Lewis was only about 5’ tall when I knew him (although he may have “shrunk” a little, since he was 65 when I was born) Lewis’s sister Pearl was smaller that he was. My father, at 5’3” was the tallest in his family.

EZRA J. FERRIS:

Born Dec. 1888 in NE. I have very little information about Ezra Ferris. He apparently died young, but I haven’t been able to find out where or when yet. Family “lore” about Ezra is that he was struck by lighting while repairing a barbed wire fence.

ARTHUR FERRIS:

Born Dec. 1890 in NE. I have almost no information on your Grandfather. I have not been able to find him on census records after 1900. I did find an Arthur Ferris in McLean ND that is the right age, and was born in NE, but he lists both parents as born in IA on both the 1920 and 1930 census. I suspect this might be him because, some of the children have names like other members of the Ferris family (daughters named Rose and Pearl)

I would be interested in any information you can give me about your grandfather and his family.

One of the stories that I have heard about the Ferris family was that one of my grandfather’s brothers or uncles was a wrestler. If it was a brother, your grandfather is the only candidate, since I know it was not George Kruger or Adelbert Newman, and I don’t think it could have been Ezra. Was it Arthur?

PEARL VIDA FERRIS:

Born July 1893 in NE. Isaac Jasper Ferris died when she was about 6 months old.

Pearl married Clarence Kolb about 1907. Clarence’s parents were from Germany. When I was a child, I was told Pearl’s last name was Coleclature, I had thought that this was Clarence's last name until I found the family on the 1920 census where they are listed as Clarence and Pearl Kold. I recently responded to a message I found on one of the genealogy message boards from someone researching Pearl Ferris, and she has the last name as Kolb, and apparently Kolb is the name that their descends went by. I had thought that Kold/Kolb were shortened versions of Coleclature, but have recently found out from a descendant of Pearl that she divorced Clarence and married a Coleclature.

The children of Pearl and Clarence that I know of were all born after 1909. Since I don’t know them, and there is a possibility that they are still living, I won’t list their names here, since I may be posting this message on my web page, but there were 3 boys and one girl, all born in MO.

Clarence and Pearl divorced, but I don’t know when. It would have been before 1956-58.

It was about that time that Pearl stayed with my family in Los Angeles for a couple of months. She was relocating to Southern CA. and stayed with us until she got a job and a place of her own. I was 7-9 years old at the time, but if memory serves, she moved to Long Beach, and I think she worked on Catalina Island, and took a ferry to work everyday. After a couple of years, Pearl moved out of CA, I think she went back to MO.I don’t know when or where Pearl died.

GEORGE KRUGER:

Born Feb 24, 1896 in NE, died Nov. 1977 in Hot Springs, Fall River SD. I met George Kruger once. He came to visit about the time that Pearl Ferris was living in Long Beach. I believe he was a sheriff or Chief of Police in SD.

ADELBERT NEWMAN:

Born May 1900 in NE, died about 1975 in Greene Co. MO.

Our family used to visit our relatives in MO almost every summer. We stayed at my grandparents house, or at my aunt Maudie’s house. “Uncle Dell” and his family lived nearby, and my brothers and sisters and I usually ended up spending at least one night at the Newmans. Two of their children were about our age. They had 3 children, 2 girls and one boy.

I hope this information is useful to you. Hope to hear from you soon.

“Cousin” Jeanie (Ferris) Libby