April 2008 (5) JAMES - Ferris of Knox County IL
FERRIS' OF KNOX COUNTY, ILLINOIS
Also see the separate paper from They Broke the Prairie.
GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDPARENTS
(5.1.1.5.4) SYLVANUS (SILVANUS) FERRIS (Photo) born March 5, 1773 Greenwich, Connecticut and died June 13, 1861 Galesburg, Knox, IL. He removed with his parents from Greenwich to S. Salem (Lewisboro), Westchester Co NY 1782; married 1st March 15, 1798 Sarah ‘Sally’ Maria Olmsted born 1779 (of Sharon CT) and died September 6, 1845 Galesburg IL. (her parents were Hezekiah and Sarah (Gale) [daughter of G.W.Gale] Olmstead - See Separate Paper on the Olmsteds) in Connecticut and they immediately moved to Norway, Herkimer, NY and purchased 100 acres of unimproved land and built their farm cabin there on the edge of what was then the Adirondack wilderness where for nearly 40 years they engaged successfully in dairy farming. Another source says “Sylvanus came to Dairy Hill about 2 miles west of Norway village in 1798 and bought 110 acres of land at $6.00 per acre – the avails of his potash soon paid for the land, other farms were bought and in 1824, he was the owner of about 400 acres.” “He must have been an enterprising business man, in addition to his potash industry, be bought and sold country produce, and was a partner with Robert Nesbit in the butter and cheese trade for many years.” One source says they had seven sons and 3 daughters; only six sons and 3 daughters are shown below. Silvanus was a dairy farmer and cheese maker in New York (See Separate Paper on Herkimer County). [There was a Justice of the Peace, ‘Squire’ Silvanus Ferris who performed numerous marriages in Norway between 1808-1820 - don't know if this is the same Silvanus, but am not aware of any other Silvanus in Norway, Herkimer Co at that time - Jim] [There was also a Private Silvanus Ferris in Captain Jared Smith's Company, September 14, 1811 - again, don't know if this is the same gentleman - Jim] Silvanus and his wife were Presbyterians of the staunch type and inculcated those principles in the lives of their children. To the Presbyterian Church, he was always loyal and generous with his money. In 1813 when the Norway Presbyterian Church was built he gave $150.00; later he built a chapel on the state road east of Norway. In Russia he erected the chapel for the Presbyterians that stood so near the old Russia Union Church; was always a trustee of the Russia Union Church. Silvanus was one of the founders of Knox College, Illinois. (See They Broke the Prairie.) “In 1836, he with his five sons, sold out their holding of 700 acres on Dairy Hill, the highest, bleakest, and most uncomfortable place in Norway, about six months of the year.” Silvanus and Sally came to Knox Co in the spring of 1837. He was not a large, robust man, (photograph) but was of medium height, perhaps 5'9" and very quiet, not a great talker. Silvanus's siblings that accompanied them in 1837 were Gideon, James, Hannah, Sarah, and Mary E. The Ferris’ passed the winter of 1837-38 at Log City and probably remained there during the summers of 1838-39, and possibly until some time during the year of 1840, when comfortable frame homes were being rapidly constructed in Galesburg; moved into their frame house at the corner of Tompkins and Cherry Streets, diagonally across from the site of Knox Seminary, now known as Whiting Hall - where he lived for the remainder of his life. (This is the corner where St Mary’s Hospital was for many, many years in Galesburg.) He continued the tradition of giving his sons a section of land after they had married, except he gave, G.W.G, his youngest, 720 acres; apparently his son Nathan O. paid him for his section. (See diagram, at the end of this chapter, of Galesburg Township and the land owned by the Ferris’, a total of 4,565 acres - Jim – incredible!) [According to the Illinois Archives - Land Purchases, Sylvanus bought over 10,000 acres in 1835.] According to family tradition, he was connected with the underground railroad, hiding slaves in the church belfry and his own home by day, and helping them on their way north by night by concealing them in loads of straw. Silvanus took an active interest in the affairs of Knox College and was a member of the Board of Trustees for 21 years (1837-58) until at the age of 85 he resigned. The motion to accept his resignation was amended so as to order a committee to prepare a resolution expressing the sentiments of the Board. The resolution follows: “Mr. Silvanus Ferris having tendered to this Board the resignation of his seat as member thereof, and the same having been accepted, it is hereby declared as the sense of the Board of Trustees of Knox College, and as a matter of history proper to be spread upon the records of their proceedings, that they recognize in their late associate, one of the earliest, most substantial and most faithful friends of the enterprise which resulted in the founding of Knox College, and that to his liberality and devoted labors the Institution is largely indebted for its present financial prosperity. Entertaining these views, this Board does hereby express their high regard for Mr. Ferris, and an earnest hope that health, peace, and happiness may attend his declining years”. (2007-The Knox College President’s Circle of giving societies includes the Sylvanus Ferris Society for giving $50,000 or more.) Sally died September 6, 1845; both buried Hope Cemetery, Galesburg IL (see tombstone photo). After Sally's death, Silvanus married October 27, 1846 Mrs. Sarah Warner (Stevens) Hitchcock, a widow who had joined the Galesburg settlement some time before with her seven children. He took the sons and daughters of Mrs. Hitchcock into his heart and home and treated them as his own and she did likewise with his. She was loved by his grandchildren as though she was their own. She died August 1, 1881 and is also buried at Hope Cemetery. [Jim - see separate papers at the end of this chapter on The Ferris Family.]; and born to Silvanus and Sally were:
(5.1.1.5.4.1) SILVANUS WESTERN FERRIS (Photographs), oldest son of Silvanus, born June 30, 1799 Norway, Herkimer, NY and died September 30,1887 Galesburg, Knox, IL; buried with his wife at Hope Cemetery, Galesburg; born in the first rude log cabin which his father had erected on his farm; S.W. grew up in Norway and in May 1821, married Aurinda Sophronia Doty [dau of Danforth Doty of Norway NY] born 1795 and died September 10, 1883 Galesburg; S.W. built a house, barns and a cider mill and engaged in dairying, then sold his farm to Peleg Wilcox, Jr. When his father, Silvanus, became interested in the Rev. Dr. George W. Gale's project for the founding of a college on the western prairies, S.W. followed his leadership and accompanied him on his first expedition to Illinois in September, 1835, when Silvanus went out as a member of the Purchasing Committee to buy the lands recommended by the original Exploration Committee, and was a member of the little group that staked out the site for Knox College at Galesburg in October, 1835. S.W. was unable, however, to accompany his parents to Illinois when they finally moved there in the early summer of 1837 (1838?), doubtless because of the necessity of his remaining behind to settle up his own and some of his father's business affairs. Exactly when S.W. migrated with his family to Illinois is uncertain, but it seems probable that he did so in the fall of 1837, and it may be that he and his brother Nathan Olmstead and the latter's family traveled together, for the latter also probably went in the fall of that year, having written on July 31, 1837, to his brother William Mead, who had accompanied the father in June, that he intended to start the first week in September. S.W. lived on the farm northwest of Galesburg given to him by his father, and was more or less active in the affairs of the community throughout his life. He made at least one trip of some duration away from home, when, in 1877, he visited Washington, apparently, in part at least, for the purpose of attempting to collect a debt, and was in the capital when President Hayes was inaugurated. He wrote a letter to his brother at Galesburg, which reflects his state of mind about several things - the inauguration, his anticipation that his stepmother was not long for this world (with respect to which, however, she deceived the family by living 20 more years, since she did not die until 1881.), the fact that for some undisclosed reason he had become peeved at his brother Timothy Harvey, back in Herkimer Co NY. (See Letters at the end of this Paper.); S.W. and Aurinda buried Hope Cemetery, Galesburg; and born to them were:
(5.1.1.5.4.1.1) CAROLINA (CAROLINE) ELIZA FERRIS born March 24, 1822 Norway NY and died March 7, 1904; buried Hope Cemetery, Galesburg IL, with his husband. From the Monmouth Review, March 9, 1904: “For the second time within six days, death made a visitation to the Gale family circle last night and at the hour of 9 claimed for his own the spirit of Mrs. Caroline Ferris Gale. The end came at the family home, 340 North Broad Street and removed one of Galesburg's oldest and most widely known and respected residents. She was one whose every acquaintance was a friend and the announcement of her taking off created great and genuine sorrow wherever it was made. Caroline Ferris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sylvanus Western Ferris born March 24, 1823 in Norway, New York. She made her home in that city until 1838 when with her parents she moved to Galesburg. Her education had been gained in a girl’s school in the East. Upon her return to Galesburg, she met W. Selden Gale and they married October 6, 1845. Since that time Galesburg has always been her home.” She married August 10, 1845 (October 1, 1845?) in Knox Co IL, William Selden Gale born February 15,1822 Adams, Jefferson, NY and died September 1, 1900 and they had eight children. Caroline attended Knox College 1841-42. William was the son of George Washington Gale, D.D., the founder of Galesburg, Illinois; his mother Harriet was the daughter of Hon. Charles Selden and Abigail (Jones). [Note: Harriet was a cousin of Mary Mead, the mother of Silvanus Ferris. Charles Selden graduated from Yale 1777 and in the presence of General Washington, from whom he received, with others of his class, a commission on graduation day, and entered the Army.] William attended school in New York prior to 14 years of age, when he came to Galesburg in 1836 with his father, and read Law in Galesburg as early as 1842, with the Honorable James Knox, and was admitted to the Bar in 1845. He continued to practice, however, only five or six years, as his attention was occupied with other business. He was one of the organizers of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad; in fact, was the originator of the idea. Mr. Gale took an active part in political matters, was a member of the first board of supervisors, and served with that group for many years. In 1850, the News-Letter was started by Mr. Gale, Mr. Lanphere and Dr. Bunce; taking the place of the Intelligencer, the local newspaper. He was the Galesburg Postmaster 1849-53; from 1853-95 with the exception of five years, was Supervisor of Galesburg Township of Knox County; Representative State General Assembly 1870-72. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1869, and on the City Council from 1871-82, 1891-95; and a delegate to the National Republican Convention in 1880; member of the State Revenue Commission, 1885-86; Trustee of the Illinois Western Hospital for the Insane, 1895-97; and Presidential Elector, 1872. In 1853 he was nominated for County Judge during his absence from home; he did not desire the office, made no canvass and was defeated. He was a trustee of Knox College from 1861 until his death. William finished his years attending to his large farming interests in Knox and Warren Counties. In 1859, there were five hundred acres of meadow in timothy on the Gale farm. Additional information on Mr. Gale is available in the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County, 1899; both buried Hope Cemetery, Galesburg; and born to Caroline and William were:
(5.1.1.5.4.1.1.1) WILLIAM SELDEN GALE, JR., born June 8, 1846 Galesburg and died December 5, 1912; buried Hope Cemetery, Galesburg; attended Knox College 1857-58, 1859-64 but did not graduate; never married; listed as city alderman and member board of supervisors; resided 312 N. Broad in the 1892-93 Galesburg City directory
(5.1.1.5.4.1.1.2) GEORGE WASHINGTON GALE III born August 16, 1848 Galesburg and died October 4, 1938 Campbell CA; attended Knox College 1857-64 but did not graduate; a trustee of Knox College 1900-1937; farmer; married 1st September 4, 1872 Frances Candee (1850-1904) born LaFayette IN [dau of Isaac Newton & Elizabeth (Greene) Candee], and married 2d November 1, 1906 Georgiana Smith (1864-1925); Frances attended Knox College 1863-64; George and both wives buried Hope Cemetery, Galesburg; and born to George and Frances were:
(5.1.1.5.4.1.1.2.1) GEORGE CANDEE GALE (Photo) born July 12, 1873 Galesburg and died September 1, 1927; buried Hope Cemetery, Galesburg; boyhood was spent on the family farm; attended the Galesburg public schools including one year in the High School; two years in Knox Academy admitted him to Knox College 1887-93, graduating with the Class of 1893, with first honors, receiving a B.A.; M.A. from Knox 1895; honorary LL.D, 1923; on the Knox faculty 1900-01; received his LL.B, New York Law School 1896; admitted to the Bar of Wisconsin May 1895 and Illinois 1896; a lawyer and a tax expert and a member of the Illinois Constitutional Convention; practiced law and was associated with Mr. Wilfred Arnold; married September 6, 1900 Irma Reel (1873-1964)(buried at Hope Cemetery) of Milwaukee WI who is listed as being a special student at Knox 1918-24; there was an Irma Gale listed as a history teacher at Galesburg High School – not sure if same person. During WWI, George was County Chairman first YMCA Fund and United War Work campaigns; City Chairman second Red Cross Membership and second Red Cross War Fund campaigns; Vice-President War Service League; Four-Minute Man; member Executive committee second, third, and fourth Liberty Loans; and associate member Legal Advisory Fund. Born to them were: