Woodbridge Nathan Ferris

Infobox Governor
name= Woodbridge Nathan Ferris


caption=
order= 28th
office= Governor of Michigan
term_start= January 1, 1913
term_end= January 1, 1917
lieutenant= 1.John Q. Ross2.Luren D. Dickinson
predecessor= Chase Osborn
successor= Albert Sleeper
order2 = United States Senator
from Michigan
term_start2 = March 4, 1923
term_end2 = March 23, 1928
predecessor2 = Charles E. Townsend
successor2 = Arthur H. Vandenberg
birth_date= January 6, 1853
birth_place= Spencer, New York
death_date= March 23, 1928
death_place= Washington, D.C.
spouse= 1. Helen Frances Gillespie2. Mary Ethel McLoud
party=Democratic
religion= Unitarian

Woodbridge Nathan Ferris (January 6, 1853–March 23, 1928) was an educator from New York, Illinois and Michigan, as well as Democratic statesman and Governor (1913-1916).

Early life in New York, Michigan and Illinois

Ferris was born of John Ferris, Jr. and Estella (Reed) Ferris in a log cabin near Spencer, New York and attended the academies of Spencer, Candor, and Oswego, and the Oswego Normal Training School (now State University of New York at Oswego) from 1870–1873. He went to the medical department of the University of Michigan from 1873–1874.

In April 1874, Ferris returned to his home state and on December 23 in Fulton he married Helen Frances Gillespie (born September 7, 1853). The couple would have three sons; Carleton Gillespie (1876- 1961), Clifford Wendell (1881, died just after three months), and Phelps Fitch (1889-1935). Ferris, taught at Spencer Academy from 1874-1875.

He then moved to Freeport, Illinois and became principal of the Freeport Business College and Academy from 1875-1876 and then principal of the Normal Department of the Rock River University, 1876-77. Then he taught in Dixon, Illinois where he was also co-founder of the Dixon Business College and Academy, 1877-1879. Ferris then became superintendent of schools in Pittsfield, Illinois from 1879-1884.

Life and politics in Michigan

Ferris then settled in Big Rapids, Michigan, where in 1884he established the Ferris Industrial School (which became Ferris State University). There he received the nickname The Big Rapids Schoolmaster, and served as president until his death. He was also president of the Big Rapids Savings Bank.

In 1892, he was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate from the 11th district to the 53rd Congress to serve in the U.S. House, being defeated by John Avery. In 1904, he was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Michigan against Republican Fred M. Warner. In 1912, he was a delegate to Democratic National Convention which nominated Woodrow Wilson for U.S. President.

Ferris was elected Governor of Michigan in 1912, becoming the first Democratic governor of that state in twenty years, and served from 1913–1917. During his tenure, a farm colony for epileptics was established, as well as the Central Michigan Tuberculosis Sanatorium, and the bitter Copper Country Strike of 1913-1914 occurred. In 1916, he was again a delegate to Democratic National Convention which nominated President Woodrow Wilson for re-election. He also received the nickname, Good Gray Governor. On March 23, 1917, less than three months after leaving office, his wife Helen died after 43 years of marriage.

In 1920, he was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor, being defeated by Alex Groesbeck. On August 14, 1921, he married Mary E. McCloud (1882-1954).

In 1922, Ferris was elected to the United States Senate, supported the establishment of a federal Department of Education and served along side Republican James Couzens beginning March 4, 1923. In 1924, he was again a delegate to Democratic National Convention which nominated for U.S. President John W. Davis, who lost to Calvin Coolidge.

Death

Exactly eleven years after his first wife died, Ferris died in office in Washington, D.C. at the age of seventy-five and is interred at Highland View Cemetery of Big Rapids.

ee also

* Toledo War

External links

*CongBio|F000092|name=FERRIS, Woodbridge Nathan|inline=1
* [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=1dd9e8569a313010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD National Governors Association]
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/ferris.html#R9M0IWNYQ Political Graveyard]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Ferris&GSfn=Woodbridge&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=5512125& Find a Grave]
* [http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/ferrisfaq/woodbridge/homepage.htm Autobiography at Ferris State University]
* [http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/news/founder/quick.htm Biography at Ferris State University]