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(4471) SARAH OLMSTED, b. Nov. 26, 1779; d. at Galesburg, Ill., Sept. 6, 1845; m. Mar. 15, 1798, Sylvanus Ferris, of Norway, Herkimer County, N. Y.; b. Mar., 1773; d. June 13, 1861.
5304, Sylvanus Western +.
5305, Nathan Olmsted +.
5306, Sally Maria; b. Nov. 18, 1803; d. infancy.
5307, Timothy Harvey +.
5308, William Mead +.
5309, Henry +.
5310, Laura; b. 1811; d. 1831.
5311, Harriet Newell +.
5312, George Washington Gale +.
The Ferris family were of Connecticut origin, but moved over the line into Salem, Westchester County, N. Y. at an early date. Sylvanus Ferris came to Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1797, in a two-wheeled vehicle. Mrs. Ferris was a model woman for pioneer life. Her husband was clear-headed and sagacious, and possessed a high order of business talent. Success seemed to attend all his ventures. His large family was carefully reared and well educated for the time in which they lived. The parents were staunch Presbyterians, and inculcated habits of industry, economy and morality. Mr. Ferris moved to Russia, Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1830. In 1834, he became interested in a scheme to purchase lands, found a colony and build a College in the Mississippi Valley, whither the tide of emigration was then turning. The original mover in the project was Rev. George W. Gale, a Presbyterian clergyman, and cousin of Mrs. Ferris. A company was formed, stock subscribed, and a committee appointed to purchase lands. Ferris was one of this committee In 1835 he made an extended tour through the unsettled portion of Illinois. The location selected was Knox County. This choice of land was fortunate, and some 15,000 acres were secured at government price. Mr. Ferris became a man of wealth. He gave in his will $100,000 to the Home Missionary Society of his Church, and a like sum to the American Bible Society. His last vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln.
— From the Norway, Herkimer County, Tidings.
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(5307) (Col.) TIMOTHY HARVEY FERRIS, New York City. b. Oct., 1805; d. June 20, 1891; m. Eliza Ann Salisbury; b. June 19, 1809; d. Oct. 14, 1906; dau. of Nathaniel and Joanna (Wilson) Ferris, of Norway, Herkimer County, N. Y.
From the date of his majority. Col. Ferris took an important part in public affairs. As an arbitrator and referee he was sought after by very many persons and his judgment met with approbation. He early took an important part in organizing the militia of the State, and entered its service in the 12th Regt., New York Riflemen, before he was 21 years of age. He was commissioned Adjutant of that Regt. June 25, 1829; became Major Dec. 31, 1834, and Lieut. Col., Oct. 1, 1836. He received his final commission as Lieut, of the Regt. The first of these commissions was signed by E. T. Throop, Lieut. Gov, of the State, and the three others by Gov. William L. Marcy.
6860, Sally Maria +.
6861, James Harvey +.
6862, Harriet Newell; b. Nov. 10, 1835; d. Dec. 12, 1900; m. (1) Sept., 1869, Alexander Grey, of Rome, N. Y.; d. 1889; son of Noah and Betsey (Resigue) Grey; (2) May, 1901, Clinton A. Moon, of Newport, N. Y.; d. 1902; son of Abner and Emily (Millington) Moon; (3) Hiram Ralston, of Martinsburg, N. Y.
6863, Frances Matilda +.
6864, Charles Sylvanus +.
6865, Stella Eliza +.
6866, Franklyn Stanton +.
