Woodbridge Nathan Ferris
Encyclopedia
Woodbridge Nathan Ferris (January 6, 1853 March 23, 1928) was an educator from New York
, Illinois
and Michigan
, as well as Democratic statesman and the 28th Governor of Michigan
(1913-1917).
and attended the academies of Spencer, Candor
, and Owego
(see autobiography posted on Ferris State University Webpage. Owego and Oswego are frequently confused.), 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 had 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.
, where in 1884
he 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 alongside 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
.
at the age of seventy-five and is interred at Highland View Cemetery of Big Rapids along with his first wife, Helen, and his 2 sons Carleton and Phelps. He died from complications of pneumonia on March 23, 1928.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and 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"....
, as well as Democratic statesman and the 28th Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
(1913-1917).
Early life in New York, Michigan and Illinois
Ferris was born to John Ferris Jr. and Estella (Reed) Ferris in a log cabin near Spencer, New YorkSpencer (village), New York
Spencer is a village located in the Town of Spencer in Tioga County, New York, USA. The population was 731 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Binghamton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and attended the academies of Spencer, Candor
Candor, New York
Candor is a town in Tioga County, New York, USA. The population was 5,317 at the 2000 census.The Town of Candor has a village named Candor. The town is south of Ithaca, New York.- History :...
, and Owego
Owego (village), New York
Owego is a village in and the county seat of Tioga County, New York, USA. The population was 3,911 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Binghamton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
(see autobiography posted on Ferris State University Webpage. Owego and Oswego are frequently confused.), and the Oswego Normal Training School (now State University of New York at Oswego
State University of New York at Oswego
State University of New York at Oswego, also known as SUNY Oswego and Oswego State, is a public university in the City of Oswego and Town of Oswego, New York, on the shore of Lake Ontario...
) from 1870–1873. He went to the medical department of 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...
from 1873–1874.
In April 1874, Ferris returned to his home state and on December 23 in Fulton
Fulton, Oswego County, New York
Fulton is a small city in Oswego County, New York, United States. The population was 11,855 at the 2000 census. The city is named after Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.The city of Fulton is located in the western part of the county....
he married Helen Frances Gillespie (born September 7, 1853). The couple had 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
Freeport, Illinois
Freeport is a city in and the county seat of Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 26,443 at the 2000 census. The mayor of Freeport is George W...
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
Dixon, Illinois
Dixon is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,733 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,941 at the 2000 census. Named for its founder, John Dixon , it is the county seat of Lee County. Located on the Rock River, Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S...
where he was also co-founder of the Dixon Business College and Academy, 1877-1879. Ferris then became superintendent of schools in Pittsfield, Illinois
Pittsfield, Illinois
Pittsfield is a city in Pike County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,211 at the 2000 census.-History:The city was named after Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It is the county seat of Pike County...
from 1879-1884.
Life and politics in Michigan
Ferris then settled in Big Rapids, MichiganBig Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,849. It is the county seat of Mecosta County. The city is located within Big Rapids Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
, where in 1884
he established the Ferris Industrial School (which became Ferris State University
Ferris State University
Ferris State University is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1884 as the Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from New England who later served as governor of the State of Michigan and finally in the US Senate where...
). 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
Michigan's 11th congressional district
Michigan's 11th congressional district is a United States Congressional District located just northwest of Detroit, consisting of northwestern Wayne and southwestern Oakland counties...
to the 53rd Congress to serve in the U.S. House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, being defeated by John Avery
John Avery (politician)
John Avery was a physician and politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Avery was born in Watertown, New York and moved with his parents to Michigan in 1836. He attended the common schools and entered Grass Lake Academy in Jackson, where he studied medicine for two years...
. In 1904, he was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Michigan against Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Fred M. Warner
Fred M. Warner
Fred Maltby Warner was an American politician. He served as the 26th Governor of Michigan from 1905 to 1911.-Birth in England and early life in Michigan:...
. In 1912, he was a delegate to Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
which nominated Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
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
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
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
Alex Groesbeck
Alexander Joseph Groesbeck was an American politician who served as Attorney General and the 30th Governor of the State of Michigan.-Early life:...
. On August 14, 1921, he married Mary E. McCloud (1882-1954).
In 1922, Ferris was elected to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, supported the establishment of a federal Department of Education
United States Department of Education
The United States Department of Education, also referred to as ED or the ED for Education Department, is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government...
and served alongside 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
John W. Davis
John William Davis was an American politician, diplomat and lawyer. He served as a United States Representative from West Virginia , then as Solicitor General of the United States and US Ambassador to the UK under President Woodrow Wilson...
, who lost to Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
.
Death
Exactly eleven years after his first wife died, Ferris died in office in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
at the age of seventy-five and is interred at Highland View Cemetery of Big Rapids along with his first wife, Helen, and his 2 sons Carleton and Phelps. He died from complications of pneumonia on March 23, 1928.
Additional reading
- Fuller, George, Ed., Messages of the Governors of Michigan, Volume 4 (East Lansing, Michigan: Michigan State University Press) ISBN 0-87013-723-9; ISBN 978-0-87013-723-5.