Heisterkamp's Annotated Landis Ferree Tree (as of 30 April 2004)
Records indicate that upon settling his father's estate, Isaac bought his father's gunsmith tools, (they spelled it "tewls") for fifty dollars.
Isaac and his half-brother, Colonel Joel Ferree made gunpowder on Peter's Creek until 1810. At that time, Isaac moved to Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on Fifth Street between Market and Wood Street, where he opened a gun shop.
From the Pittsburgh Gazette Newspaper clippings:
February 28, 1809.
GUNPOWDER
The subscribers have on hand, and intend constantly to keep, at their Powder Mill, on Peter's Creek, two miles from Elizabethtown, a supply of their best manufactured Rifle Powder, which they will sell low for cash or short credit. From long experience of this powder, in parts of this western country, and its high repute among our greatest gunners, we flatter our selves with the hope of receiving a part of the public patronage. Joel and Isaac Ferree.
February 28, 1810.
ISAAC FERREE - GUNSMITH
Respectfully informs his friends and the public, that on the first of April next, he will remove to the town of Pittsburgh, (on Fifth Street, between Market and Wood Street), where he intends carrying on the Gunsmith Business in all its different branches. He flatters himself, from his knowledge of the business, and the strict attention he is determined to pay for it, that he will give satisfaction to those who may please to employ him.
He will constantly be supplied with Ferree's best Powder, to supply those who may require it.
April 8, 1812
Isaac Ferree advertised in the Pittsburgh Gazette stating that he had removed from Pittsburgh, and that he had left guns which had been given him to repair at the shop of Aaron Hart, gunsmith.
Isaac worked in his gun shop in Pittsburgh until 1812. On June 20, 1812, he sold his land to John McKown. He next enlisted in the United States Regular Army, and was assigned to the 1st Regular United States Infantry as armorer. In 1818, he was listed as a Recruiting Sergeant at Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio.
Isaac owned land in the Arkansas Territory and in Missouri.
One source reports that Isaac traveled the Ohio and Mississippi rivers between Pittsburgh and New Orleans. This could account for his son, Joel Thornton Ferree, having been born January 15, 1815, at Corydon, Harrison County, Indiana. Corydon is about fifteen miles from the Ohio River.
Isaac was working at his trade as armorer in the Army at Baton Rouge, Louisiana., when he died of a malignant fever. His grandson called it "The Cholera Epidemic." He had his family with him at the time of his death. Two of his boys, Joel Thornton Ferree and George Spencer Ferree, followed their father's gunsmithing trade.
Smoke Ferree CD - November 2004
Sold his land in 1812 and enlisted in the U. S. Regular Army as an armorer, was posted at Corydon, Harrison County, Indiana. He died of a malignant fever in the service in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His wife Hannah requested that Sergeant D. W. Cains, 1st infantry, take care of her two boys in the event of her death.
