Dexter M. Ferry
Encyclopedia
Dexter Mason Ferry, Jr. (November 22, 1873, Detroit, Michigan
– 1959, Grosse Pointe, Michigan
) was an American politician from Michigan
.
and Addie Miller Ferry. He attended school in Lawrenceville, New Jersey
, then graduated from high school in Detroit in 1892. After graduation, he entered the University of Michigan
, but a back injury interrupted his studies in his junior year. He continued his studies two years later at Columbia University
, graduating in 1898 with a bachelor of arts degree.
Ferry followed his father as president of D.M. Ferry & Co. He was also president of Standard Accident Insurance Company, vice-president of the Standard Insurance Company, and president of the Michigan Fire & Marine Insurance Co. In addition to these offices, he was a director of the First National Savings Bank of Detroit, the Wayne County Savings Bank, the Securiy Trust Company of Detroit, and Michigan Savings Bank.
.
as a representative from Wayne County
, and served for two terms through 1904. He was president of the Michigan State Board of Education from 1906 through 1912. He was one of the founders of the Provident Loan and Savings Society in 1906, along with Tracy W. McGregor
, J. L. Hudson, and James Ingles, and was a trustee of Grace Hospital
. Like his father, Ferry supported the Detroit Institute of Arts
, and sat on its board for many years, including serving from 1914-1917 as board president.
In 1917, just before the United States joined in World War I
, Ferry joined the Army Quartermaster's Reserve Corps as a captain. He was later ordered to active duty at Fort Sam Houston
and then to the Motor Convoy Service in Chicago
. Ferry was honorably discharged in March 1919 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
In 1950, Ferry commissioned Marcel Breuer
to design a small dormitory, known as Ferry Cooperative House, at Vassar College
; the building was opened in 1951.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
– 1959, Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Grosse Pointe is a suburban city bordering Detroit in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city covers just over one square mile, and had a population of 5,421 at the 2010 census. It is bordered on the west by Grosse Pointe Park, on the north by Detroit, on the east by Grosse Pointe...
) was an American politician from Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Early life
Dexter M. Ferry, Jr. was born on November 22, 1873 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Dexter M. FerryDexter M. Ferry
Dexter Mason Ferry, Jr. was an American politician from Michigan.-Early life:...
and Addie Miller Ferry. He attended school in Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Lawrenceville is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Lawrence Township in Mercer County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP population was 3,887...
, then graduated from high school in Detroit in 1892. After graduation, he entered the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, but a back injury interrupted his studies in his junior year. He continued his studies two years later at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, graduating in 1898 with a bachelor of arts degree.
Business
After completing college, he began working for his father, first as treasurer for the National Pin Company and then, in 1900, at a position at D.M. Ferry & Co. In 1901 he was elected a director of the firm. In 1905 he became a director of the Standard Accident Insurance Company. In 1900, on the death of his father, the younger Ferry was appointed the executor of his estate.Ferry followed his father as president of D.M. Ferry & Co. He was also president of Standard Accident Insurance Company, vice-president of the Standard Insurance Company, and president of the Michigan Fire & Marine Insurance Co. In addition to these offices, he was a director of the First National Savings Bank of Detroit, the Wayne County Savings Bank, the Securiy Trust Company of Detroit, and Michigan Savings Bank.
Personal life
Ferry married Jeannette Hawkins on October 1, 1907. The couple had four children: Dexter, Edith, Jean, and William Hawkins. The Ferrys resided in both Detroit and Grosse Pointe, MichiganGrosse Pointe, Michigan
Grosse Pointe is a suburban city bordering Detroit in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city covers just over one square mile, and had a population of 5,421 at the 2010 census. It is bordered on the west by Grosse Pointe Park, on the north by Detroit, on the east by Grosse Pointe...
.
Public service
In 1901, Ferry was elected to the Michigan State House of RepresentativesMichigan State House of Representatives
The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2000 federal U.S. Census.Members are elected in...
as a representative from Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
, and served for two terms through 1904. He was president of the Michigan State Board of Education from 1906 through 1912. He was one of the founders of the Provident Loan and Savings Society in 1906, along with Tracy W. McGregor
Tracy W. McGregor
Tracy William McGregor was a humanitarian, philanthropist, and Detroit civic leader. He established the McGregor Fund of Michigan in 1925 with a gift of $5,000, one of Michigan's first charitable foundations...
, J. L. Hudson, and James Ingles, and was a trustee of Grace Hospital
Sinai-Grace Hospital
DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital is the largest hospital in the eight hospitals/institutions composing the Detroit Medical Center. Located in northwest Detroit, Sinai-Grace offers a comprehensive heart center, cancer care, gerontology, emergency medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and cosmetic/plastic surgery...
. Like his father, Ferry supported the Detroit Institute of Arts
Detroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts is a renowned art museum in the city of Detroit. In 2003, the DIA ranked as the second largest municipally owned museum in the United States, with an art collection valued at more than one billion dollars...
, and sat on its board for many years, including serving from 1914-1917 as board president.
In 1917, just before the United States joined in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Ferry joined the Army Quartermaster's Reserve Corps as a captain. He was later ordered to active duty at Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston
Fort Sam Houston is a U.S. Army post in San Antonio, Texas.Known colloquially as "Fort Sam," it is named for the first President of the Republic of Texas, Sam Houston....
and then to the Motor Convoy Service in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Ferry was honorably discharged in March 1919 with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
In 1950, Ferry commissioned Marcel Breuer
Marcel Breuer
Marcel Lajos Breuer , was a Hungarian-born modernist, architect and furniture designer of Jewish descent. One of the masters of Modernism, Breuer displayed interest in modular construction and simple forms.- Life and work :Known to his friends and associates as Lajkó, Breuer studied and taught at...
to design a small dormitory, known as Ferry Cooperative House, at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
; the building was opened in 1951.