William Goldtrap FERREE was the first born child of Snowden & Charlotte Goldtrap Ferree. He was one of at least eleven children. He was born in Owensville, Clermont County, Ohio. In 1850 he was living with his family in Wayne, Clermont Co., Ohio. By 1860 he was married to Mary Frances Meek Ferree and they had three children of their own: Louretta, Charlotte & Samuel. His younger brother, David, was also living with them. He and Mary had at least 6 more children: Mary, Belle, Sallie, Ollie, John & Ida. By the time John was born in 1868 William's younger brother, John M.Ferree, had been killed in the Civil War. His son was probably named after him. According to his oldest daughter, Louretta, William did not serve in the Civil War as he was not in the best of health. He cared for the family of one of his brothers who did fight in the Civil War. This brother was probably Richard L. Ferree, as he was married with children when he enlisted in the war. Richard was captured in the battle of Chicamauga in Sept. 1863. He died in Andersonville prison in Sumpter, Georgia in 1864. William had two other brothers who also fought in the war: George W. & John M. Ferree. John was gravely wounded on the same day his brother Richard was captured. As George was carrying John off the battlefield he was shot in the hand. George was the only one of the three brothers who fought in the war to survive.
William was a farmer all his life. He owned 160 acres of timberland near Cincinnati, which he had to clear to farm. He would clear timber and brush all day, and at night while his oldest daughter, Lou, watched the younger children, he and his wife Mary would burn the brush that he had cleared that day.

daughter Louretta Louise Ferree
son Samuel Ferree
daughter Ollie Rose Ferree
daughter Charlotte Ferree

brother David W Ferree