Wife:

Lillian Mae Whyte Ferris (married on 3/30/1892 in Strathroy, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada)

In 1900, he and his wife (Lillian) were boarders with Rufus and Isabella Norris in Chicago. Samuel was then a telegraph operator.

"Samuel Edwards Ferris was born in Seymour, Ind., February 2, 1864, and died at his home in Oak Park, Ill., on November 19, 1924, after a protracted siege of illness. Mr. Ferris is survived by his wife, Lillian, and son, Paul Whyte Ferris; two sisters and eight brothers. He also leaves to mourn his death many friends in all parts of the country. At the time of his death, Mr. Ferris was manager of the cipher code department of the Continental and Commercial National Bank, Chicago. He was a member of the Royal League, the Bloomingdale Masonic Lodge and the First Baptist church of Oak Park. Funeral services at the home were conducted by his pastor, Rev. Carl D. Case. His body was laid to rest in Mishawaka, Ind., the services at the grave being in charge of the Mishawaka Masonic Lodge."

"Many Attend Funeral of the Late S.E. Ferris ~ Many relatives and friends of the late S.E. Ferris, who died Wednesday at his home in Oak Park, Ill., attended services at the city cemetery Friday afternoon after the body had been brought to this city at 3:47 o'clock. The services were under Masonic auspices and Rev. U.S. Davis, of the First Baptist church, South Bend, pronounced the benediction. Those accompanying Mrs. Ferris and her son, Paul W. Ferris, were Mrs. F.W. Chace, of Boulder university, Boulder, Colo.; John D. Rowe, Riverside, Ill.; Mrs. and Mrs. Arthur N. Root, Chicago; Mrs. P.D. Whyte, Oak Park and R. Walton, Oak Park, all of whom were guests of Mrs. and Mrs. T.H. Norman, South Cedar street, and Mr. and Mrs. George Clark, of Three Oaks, Mich."

"Sam E. Ferris is one of those rare persons who doesn't fit into some stereotyped scheme of classification. He is not "this kind of man," or "that kind of man". You may have been working a short distance away from Mr. Ferris for years, but never really have known him. If so, this is your loss. Mr. Ferris is a Hoosier. However, he moved from his birthplace, Seymour, Indiana, in 1877, when thirteen years of age. Fruit growing in Alabama caused the migration. With his father and brothers he traveled there in a covered wagon. For four years Sam helped his father during the day time and studied at night. He studied in such a way that when he was seventeen years of age he had equipped himself to teach school. Learning to read Latin, Greek and French were only part of the self-imposed curriculum. While teaching, he studied telegraphy at night. In the fall of 1887 Ferris, then twenty-three, came to Chicago, where the Pullman building was a skyscraper and most of the street cars were horse-drawn. Working with all his might for the Western Union Telegraph Company kept him busy. In 1898 when the superintendent of the Western Union was asked to recommend a stenographer and telegraph operator for the Commercial National Bank, Sam was the man. He did all the telegraphy for the Bank and he and Dan Norman divided the stenography. In the course of his work for the Bank, Mr. Ferris had a hand in completing the cipher code used in telegraphic communication with several thousand out-of-town customers. He can read coded messages usually without consulting the book. It would be harder to find a greater student. All through his life he has studied and reflected for the sheer love of it. He knows how to study and has kept the habit alive. Often a question is raised for which there is no ready answer. The advice to "ask Sam" is almost a foregone conclusion. This is one of the penalties of knowing about a lot of things. In banking circles, the ability to play a better-than-average game of golf is considered almost a requirement. Mr. Ferris plays such a game ~ far better than average. To him, it is rumored, Mr. Danielson owes much of his recently acquired knowledge of the subject. Mr. Lampert too, and Mr. Craddock have benefited by his teaching. Mr. Ferris' son, twenty-one years of age, is giving promise of great literary ability, and his dad is mighty proud of him."

(source: from publication of the Continental and Commercial Bank, Chicago, IL; about 1922)

"S.E. FERRIS DIES" - Body to Be Brought to Mishawaka Friday-Masonic Funeral - S. E. Ferris, Oak Park, Ill., brother-in-law of Mrs. T. H. Norman, South Cedar street, Mishawaka, died Wednesday, age about 60 years. He leaves his wife and one son, Paul W. Ferris. The body will be brought to Mishawaka arriving to South Bend at 3:47 o'clock Friday afternoon and the funeral procession will go direct from the New York Conrail station to the Mishawaka cemetery where the services will be under Masonic auspices. Mr. Ferris had visited Mishawaka frequently and was quite well known here."

("South Bend Tribune", Indiana, 20 Nov 1924 issue, sec. 2, p. 5)

Occupation: bank clerk

(Continental & Commercial National Bank)

Religious denomination: Baptist

Cause of death: liver cancer

(sources: Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927 Marriages 1892 no 5530-9563)