There were two separate family groups by the name of Ferry in Berrien County, Michigan by 1860. Charles T. Ferry who is the subject of this paper, by William Brackett, and Robert Ferry who was born in Ireland. There does not appear to be any relationship between these two families.

According to files found at www.rootsweb.com Ebenezer Ferry was born about 1769 in Vermont and married Mary Bruce of Massachusetts about 1789. About 1790-1800 he moved with his family to Johnson, Vermont. This family moved to Tioga County, Pennsylvania about 1818. There was also a Daniel and Joseph Ferry in this same area of Vermont. Vermont did not become a state until 1791 so if Ebenezer was born in that area it must have been in one of the settlements there. It is likely he was born in what was then Massachusetts. Both New Hampshire and Massachusetts claimed parts of what would become Vermont. Ebenezer’s children were:

Valona Ferry

Permelia Ferry

Louisa Ferry

Fidelia Ferry

Sally Ferry

Chauncey Ferry born 03 Apr 1800 in Massachusetts

Charles T. Ferry born 21 Jun 1807 in Vermont

Note: The biography below indicates that Charles T. Ferry’s mother was Sarah Taylor. If that is true Ebenezer must have remarried. In 1810 Ebenezer Ferry was living in Johnson in Franklin County, Vermont. Between 1820 and 1840 he was living in Charleston Township of Tioga County, Pennsylvania. He is believed to have died there before 1850. There was an Ebenezer Ferry who served in Montgomery’s Regiment of the Pennsylvania Militia as a private during the War of 1812.

Charles T. Ferry was born in Johnson, Lamoille County, Vermont on 21 Jun 1807. Charles Ferry married 1^st Phoebe Slate about 1832. Phoebe was the daughter of Thomas and Prudence (Fitzgerald) Slate. Charles Ferry died in 1891 and Phebe Ferry died in 1870. Charles and Phoebe Ferry’s children were:

Emery F. Ferry born May 1833 in Pennsylvania

Maria Ferry born about 1837 in Pennsylvania

Jane Ferry born about 1841 in Pennsylvania

Chester Ferry born about 1843 in Pennsylvania

Chauncey A. Ferry born about 1847 in Pennsylvania

Louisa Ferry born about 1854 in Pennsylvania

Note: In 1810 Ebenezer Ferry was living in Johnson in Franklin County, Vermont. Perhaps Lamoille County’s boundaries changed after 1810. Today Johnson is in Lamoille County. Charles T. Ferry married 2^nd on 03 Sep 1871 to Rebecca Haltow in Berrien County, Michigan.

The 1850 census of Charleston Township of Tioga County, Pennsylvania includes this family:

Chas. Ferry, age 45 years, Farmer born in Vermont

Phebe Ferry, age 37 years, born in New York

Emory Ferry, age 17 years, born in Pennsylvania

Amanda Matison, age 16 years, born in Pennsylvania

Maria Ferry, age 13 years, born in Pennsylvania

Jany Ferry, age 9 years, born in Pennsylvania

Chester Ferry, age 8 years, born in Pennsylvania

Chauncy Ferry, age 3 years, born in Pennsylvania

Sarah Slate, age 55 years, born in Connecticut

The 1860 census of Oronoko Township of Berrien County, Michigan includes:

Charles Ferry, age 53 years, Farmer, born in Vermont

Phebe Ferry, age 50 years, born in New York

Chester Ferry, age 17 years, born in Pennsylvania

Chancy Ferry, age 13 years, born in Pennsylvania

Emory F. Ferry, age 27 years, Farmer, born in Pennsylvania

Clara L. Ferry, age 19 years, born in Pennsylvania

Note: Clara was Emery’s second wife.

Emery F. Ferry was born in 23 May 1833 in Charleston Township of Tioga County, Pennsylvania. He died on 30 Jan 1916. Emery Ferry married 1^st Samantha Longwell in Pennsylvania, 2^nd Clara Jackson, and 3^rd Martha Hazen in Berrien County, Michigan. His first three wives having passed away he married 4^th Martha A. Thaxton. Emery Ferry served with company K of the 25^th Michigan Infantry during the Civil War. Martha Thaxton was the daughter of William and Martha (Bowers) Thaxton. Martha Thaxton was born on 02 Jul 1885 and died on 02 Feb 1933. Both are buried in the Weesaw Township Cemetery near Glendora, Michigan. Emery and Martha’s children were:

John B. Ferry born 22 May 1871 in Michigan married Maud Hahn

Ella M. Ferry born 06 Feb 1874 in Michigan married George Flowers

Alfred E. Ferry born 27 Aug 1876 in Michigan married Lucy Baldwin

Estella Ferry born about 1878 in Michigan

Maude Ferry 11 Dec 1879 in Michigan married Charlie Phillipi

Charles H. Ferry 29 Jan 1882 in Michigan

George C. Ferry born 10 Dec 1883 in Michigan married Pearl Howard

Nora Ferry born 27 Oct 1886 in Michigan married Charlie Courteville

Mina Ferry born 22 Nov 1889 in Michigan died 09 Jan 1898

Peter Ferry born 12 Dec 1890 in Michigan married Adelia Brackett

Olive Ferry born 28 Feb 1891 in Michigan

Clyde Ferry born 03 Jan 1893 in Michigan married Rebecca …

Clara Ferry born 26 Mar 1898 in Michigan

Etta Ferry born 20 Apr 1898 in Michigan

Gertrude Ferry born about 1900 in Michigan

The 1870 census of Weesaw Township of Berrien County Michigan includes:

Chas Farney, age 66 years, born in Vermont

Pheby Farney, age 65 years, born in New York

Chester Farney, age 26 years, born in Pennsylvania

Chancy Farney, age 23 years, born in Pennsylvania

Emery A. Farney, age 10 years, born in Michigan

and next door

Terry Farney, (Ferry) age 37 years, born in Pennsylvania

Alice Farney, (Ferry) age 17 years, born in Ohio

Note: This is a misspelling of the Ferry name as the ages and place of birth match the

Ferry family. Terry must have been Emery (age 37) but it is not clear who Emery A. and

Alice Ferry were. They may have been his children by previous wives?

The 1880 census of Berrien County, Michigan includes these families:

Living in Buchanan was:

Charles Ferry, age 73 years, Farmer born in Vermont

Rebecca Ferry, age 61 years, born in Ohio

Louisa Holloway, age 26 years, daughter, born in Michigan

Charles Holloway, age 8 years, grandson, born in Michigan

Effie D. Holloway, age 5 years, granddaughter, born in Michigan

Adelbert Holloway, age 1 years old, grandson, born in Michigan

Living in Weesaw Township was:

Emery Ferry, age 56 years, Farmer, born in Michigan

Alma Ferry, age23 years, born in Indiana

John Ferry, age 7 years, born in Michigan

Ella Ferry, age 6 years, born in Michigan

Alfred Ferry, age 4 years, born in Michigan

Estella Ferry, age 2 years, born in Michigan

The 1900 census of Weesaw Township of Berrien County, Michigan includes:

Emery Ferry, age 67, born in Pennsylvania

Martha A. Ferry, age 44 years, born in Indiana

John Ferry, age 29 years, born in Michigan

Ella M. Ferry, age 25 years, Born in Michigan

George Ferry, age 16 years, born in Michigan

Nora Ferry, age 13 years, born in Michigan

Peter Ferry, age 10 years, born in Michigan

Ollie Ferry, age 8 years, born in Michigan

Clyde Ferry, age 6 years, born in Michigan

Etta Ferry, age 2 years, born in Michigan

Chester Ferry, age 57 years, born in Pennsylvania

Mildred Flowers age 7 months, born in Michigan

Note: Martha A. and Alma Ferry are one in the same. Martha’s middle name was Alma. Ella M. Ferry was married to George I. Flowers and Mildred must have been their daughter. This 1900 census indicates Martha Ferry was the mother of 14 children and 9 of them were living in 1900.

The 1910 census of Weesaw Township of Berrien County, Michigan includes:

Emery F. Ferry, age 76 years, Farmer, born in Pennsylvania

Alma M. Ferry age 53 years, wife, born in Michigan

Peter Ferry, age 19 years, son, born in Michigan

Clyde Ferry, age 16 years, son, born in Michigan

Etta Ferry, age 11 years, daughter, born in Michigan

Nora Corteville, age 23 years, daughter, born in Michigan

Clairebelle Corteville, age 2 years, grand daughter, born in Michigan

Ralph L. Phillippi, age 10 years, grandson, born in Michigan

The Portrait and Biographical Record of Berrien and Cass Counties, Michigan, was published in 1893 by the Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Illinois. This work contains a biography of Emery Ferry, which reads: “Emery F. Ferry, a leading agriculturist, cultivating a fine farm located upon section 15, Weesaw Township, Berrien County. Mich., is pleasantly located four miles north and one mile west of Galien, and is widely known as a public-spirited and patriotic citizen, who, bravely serving the Government in its hour of need, contracted a disease, which resulted in the total loss of sight. Born in Tioga, County, Pa., May 22, 1833, our subject has, with the exception of his absence during the Civil War, constantly resided in his present locality since 1858. The father and mother, Charles and Phoebe (Slate) Ferry, were well known in the Quaker State, where they made their home for many years. Charles Ferry was born in Vermont in 1807, and was the son of Ebenezer Ferry, also a native of the Green Mountain State, but of direct English descent. Grandfather Ferry fought with courage in the War of 1812, and was a man of energy and sterling character. Marrying in Vermont, he later in life removed to Pennsylvania, and the father of our subject was a lad of twelve years when, with the paternal grandfather and grandmother, he settled in Tioga County. The veteran of the War of 1812 passed away in the Quaker State, mourned by many friends and relatives. The father attained to adult age and was married in Pennsylvania, and his wife and family emigrated to Berrien County, Mich., in 1858. He survived many years, and died at the home of our subject in 1891. He was a man of strong character and convictions, and was in religious belief a Universalist. The mother preceded her husband to the better land in 1870. She was born in Courtland County, N.Y., and passed away in Berrien County. She was a devout Christian woman and a member of the Wesleyan Church. Her father, the maternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas Slate, was a native of the Empire State and served bravely as a soldier in the War of 1812. The maternal grandmother, Prudence (Fitzgerald) Slate was of Irish descent. The paternal grandmother, Sarah (Taylor) Ferry, a woman of bright intelligence, survived to sixty-five years of age. Mrs. Phoebe (Slate) Ferry was blessed by the birth of three sons and three daughters, of whom five are now living. Our subject, the eldest-born, remained in his Pennsylvania home until twenty-three years old. He received his education in the common schools of the district and attained to manhood an energetic and self-reliant youth. In 1855 he was united in marriage in his native State with Miss Samantha Longwell, a native of Pennsylvania, who survived her marriage only about three years, passing away in 1858. In 1859, Emery F. Ferry a second time entered into marriage relations, wedding Miss Clara Jackson, who died in 1861. In 1864 our subject married Miss Martha Hazen, who died in 1870. In 1871 he married his present wife, Mrs. Alma (Thaxton) Ferry, who is the mother of ten children: John, Ella; wife of William Flowers; Alfred, Maude, Charles H., George, Nora, Mina, Peter and Olive. August 23, 1863, Mr. Ferry enlisted in the Union army, joining Company K, Twenty-fifth Michigan Infantry, serving gallantly until his discharge, December 10, 1864. Our subject actively participated in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, and Knoxville, and was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea. He was later attacked violently with measles, which settled in his eyes, and he is now totally blind, having, in fact, been so ever since the war. After his arrival in Berrien County, Mr. Ferry bought forty acres of timberland, and now has in his homestead one hundred acres, also owning an eight-acre tract elsewhere. An important factor in the progressive interests of his locality, our subject is a member of the Farmers’ Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Fraternally, he is a member of Custer Post No. 208, G.A.R., at Galien, and takes great pleasure in the re-unions and reminiscences of his former comrades upon the field of war. In is political views, he is a stalwart Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Fremont. Mr. Ferry is a liberal-spirited citizen, a friend to educational advancement, and without being especially active in local politics takes a great interest in all the vital questions of the day. His home is the abode of hospitality, and he numbers among his large acquaintance a host of sincere friends and well-wishers.”

Peter Ferry was born on 12 Dec 1890 in Weesaw Township of Berrien County, Michigan and married Adelia Brackett on 17 Nov 1915 in Berrien County, Michigan. Peter Ferry died on 20 Feb 1939. Adelia Ferry was born on 19 Jan 1892 and died on 28 Apr 1965. Their only child was Edgar E. Ferry born in 1918. Peter Ferry has a WWI draft registration card on file. It gives his birth date as 12 Dec 1888.

The Niles Daily star carried an obituary for Peter Ferry on 21 Feb 1939 and it reads: “Peter Ferry Dead at 48; Stricken in Rural Home Monday Buchanan, Feb 21-Peter Ferry, lifelong resident of Berrien county, died in his farm home five miles west of here at 3 o’clock Monday afternoon following a two month illness. He was 48 years old. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o’clock Thursday afternoon in the New Troy Brethren church with the Rev. R. L. Williams officiating. Burial will be in New Troy cemetery. Surviving are the widow, the former Delia Brackett whom Mr. Ferry married in New Troy Nov. 17, 1915; one son Edgar Eugene, Buchanan; three brothers, Clyde and George, New Troy, and A.E. Ferry, Litchfield; also a sister, Mrs. Etta Carteville, Battle Creek. Friends may call at the Swem funeral home.”

The 1920 census of Weesaw Township of Berrien County, Michigan includes:

Peter Ferry, age 30 years, Farmer, born in Michigan

Delia Ferry, age 27 years, born in Michigan

Edgar Ferry, age 1 year and six months, born in Michigan

Note: Peter Ferry’s birth date is recorded as 12 Dec 1890 in his death record and 12 Dec 1888 on his World War One draft registration card.

Edgar E. Ferry was born on 30 Jul 1918 and died on 18 Oct 1998. Edgar never married. Edgar, his father and his mother are all buried in the New Troy Cemetery, Weesaw Township of Berrien County, Michigan.