Name: John Ferris
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birth Date: abt 1824
Birth Place: England
Death Date: 8 Sep 1890
Age at Death: 66
Place of Death: Tacoma
County of Death Registration: Pierce
Residence: City

John Richard Ferris came to the USA from England, just outside of London when he was 16 years old and lived in New York(family farm was in Junius NY.) with his family.

Michigan was a wilderness when John Richard Ferris and his family arrived. They came from New York in a covered wagon drawn by horses. When they left New York State they intended to settle in the mid-west(Ohio) but on arriving in Michigan thought it wise to rest a few days. Liking what they saw around Forester, Mi. and hearing of an area about two miles toward Lake Huron---went there and decided this place was to be their home. John Richard & Salome and their sons hoed out the area for the house and farm from the thick pine woods which boarded a stream. Originally there was a main house to which other wings were added later. With work of carving out a home, no one wrote to relatives in New York state, who thought all had been killed in one of the Indian massacres. Years later John Richard met one of his New York relatives on a Detroit street and she fainted.

John Richard volunteered for the Civil war but was rejected due to a bad hernia caused by the goring from a bull in earlier years and the loss of half his index finger, pulled off by the bridle of a rearing horse. He felt very badly and when his neighbor offered to go in his place, John accepted. Wanting to be fair John and Salome built an extension on their home where the friends wife and 5 children could stay. They were fed,clothed and housed by John for 5 years until the friend returned.The garden house (outdoor toilet) walls, ceiling and floor meticulously whitewashed. Bath night water was heated on the big stove, baths taken in a galvanized tub off the kitchen.John and Salome owned a span of spirited horses , a two seated buggy and a four seated surrey. They believed in working for the betterment of the community so John built the schoolhouse and was the 1st superintendent. He helped build the church as well. There were 2 great forest fires during their years in Michigan and sometime after the 1871 fire John & Salome and the younger kids move to Tacoma Washington area. In Tacoma John became a very successful tug & Ferry boat builder and Captain.