Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. II, Part 77

Author: Conard, Howard Louis, ed. 1n
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: New York, Louisville [etc.] The Southern history company, Haldeman, Conard & co., proprietors
Number of Pages: 800

USA > Missouri > Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. II > Part 77

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Farris, Robert Perry, clergyman and editor, was born September 6, 1826, in St. Louis. His father was Colonel Robert Patishall Farris, who was born in Massachu- setts, graduated at Harvard College in 1815, and came to St. Louis the year following. There he read law under the preceptorship of Judge William C. Barr, and entering upon the practice of his profession, was the law partner of Thomas H. Benton until that after- ward distinguished statesman was elected to the United States Senate. He was appointed State's attorney for the circuit composed of St. Louis and other counties, and later formed a partnership with Honorable Josiah Spalding, occupying a prominent position at

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the bar for many years. He also served as colonel of a regiment organized for protec- tion against the Indians in the early history of the city. His wife, the mother of Rev. Dr. Farris, was Miss Catherine A. Cross before her marriage, and she was a daughter of Captain Joseph Cross, of the United States Army. She was born in Fort Pitt-now Pittsburg, Pennsylvania-and in 1810, when a babe in arms, was brought to Bellefontaine Barracks, her father having been ordered thither with troops from Fort Pitt. Robert P. Farris was reared in St. Louis and pursued his collegiate studies at St. Louis University and at St. Xavier's College, Cincinnati, Ohio, receiving the degree of bachelor of laws from the last named institution in 1844. He was then admitted to the sophomore class of Yale College, and received his bachelor's degree from that institution in 1847. Re- turning to St. Louis he read law under the preceptorship of Honorable Trusten Polk, afterward Governor of Missouri and United States Senator, but later determined to enter the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. He studied theology under the preceptorship of Rev. Dr. N. L. Rice and at Princeton Theo- logical Seminary, New Jersey, and in 1851 was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of St. Louis. In 1852 he was ordained by the same Presbytery, and thereafter, until 1868, had charge, in turn, of churches in Peoria, Illinois ; St. Charles and St. Louis, Missouri. With others he founded, in 1866, "The Mis- souri Presbyterian," which later became "The Old School Presbyterian," and still later "The St. Louis Presbyterian." He was the first editor of the journal, and continued to serve in that capacity until 1895, when impaired health compelled him to suspend his editorial labors. He was chosen moderator of the (Southern) Presbyterian General Assembly of 1881 by acclamation, and in 1885 was made permanent clerk of the assembly, which posi- tion he still holds. The degree of doctor of divinity was conferred upon him in 1867 by Westminster College. August 3, 1848, Dr. Farris married Miss Eliza Seymour Bowen, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Her progenitors were connected with the United States navy, as were her husband's ancestors with the United States Army. Her great-uncle, Commodore John Downes, was conspicuous in naval his- tory, and another uncle, Captain Albert Downes, was lost at sea with the U. S. S.

"Grampus." Her only brother, Lieutenant R. T. Bowen, went down with the U. S. S. "Levant" in Pacific waters in 1861.

Far West-See "Mormonism."

Father Mathew Temperance So- ciety .- This society, the strongest of many similar ones which grew out of the old Roman Catholic Total Abstinence and Ben- evolent Society, was founded in 1854 by Rev. R. J. Hayes. It has branches all over the State of Missouri and is active and vigorous. The order of Knights of Father Mathew is the offspring of it.

Father Mathew Young Men's To- tal Abstinence Society .- A society or- ganized in St. Louis, June 10, 1870, by Rev. Robert J. Hayes, Thomas Fox, Edward Devoy, James Hagerty, John D. Hagerty and others, to encourage and inculcate temper- ance and to make provision for the families of deceased members. The death benefit feature of the order ultimately proved to be an unsatisfactory arrangement, and the soci- ety disbanded, after having been in existence about twenty years. It was named in honor of Father Mathew, the eminent temperance apostle of the Catholic Church.

Fellowship Committee of Young People's Societies .- An organization formed in St. Louis and at this date, 1898, existing, it is said, nowhere else, which has for its object the promotion of friendly rela- tions and the strengthening of the bonds of Christian fellowship between members of the different Protestant ehurches, and having for one of its aims, also, harmonious action in the general advancement of religious inter- ests. The societies represented in the fel- lowship committee are the Epworth League of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Epworth League of the Episcopal Church, South; the Baptist Young People's Union, the Brother- hood of St. Andrew, and the Christian En- deavor Union. Each society has two rep- resentatives on the committee.

Faucett .- A town in Buchanan County, named in honor of Robert Faucett. It was platted in 1890, when the Chicago Great Western Railroad Company extended its line from St. Joseph to Kansas City. Its pop-

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ulation is 200. It has two general stores, a church, a depot and a large grain elevator.

Fayette .- A city of the fourth class, the county seat of Howard County, situated in the central part of the county, on the Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas Railway, 160 miles from St. Louis. It was settled in 1823, and was first incorporated March 12, 1845. The town is pleasantly situated, laid out about a public square, in which stands the courthouse, a fine structure costing $50,000. On an eleva- tion in the suburbs is Central College, which was chartered in 1855 and opened in 1857, and which occupies buildings that cost up- wards of $150,000. The town is also the seat of Howard-Payne College, established in 1844 as Howard high school, and incorpor- ated in 1859 as Howard Female College. There are an excellent graded public school, Methodist Episcopal South, Christian, Episcopal, Catholic, Methodist Episcopal (colored) and Baptist (colored) Churches in the city. The streets are well graded and shaded, and the city is lighted by electric lights. There are two banks, two first class hotels, three weekly newspapers, the "Demo- cratic Leader," the "Globe" and the "Adver- tiser." There are a building and loan association, a good operahouse, machine shops and about seventy stores, shops and miscellaneous business places. A mineral spring (sulphur water) has gained a wide reputation for its curative properties. The population in 1900 was 2,717.

Federal Soldiers' Home Fund .- A fund composed of all moneys coming into the hands of the treasurer of the board of trustees of the Federal Soldiers' Home at St. James, Missouri, for that institution, from all sources except the State treasury. These moneys are made a special fund for the support, maintenance, improvements and re- pairs of the Federal Soldiers' Home at St. James, in addition to the amount appropri- ated by the General Assembly from the gen- eral revenue fund. The receipts into the fund in 1898 were $2,830.

Fellows, Homer F., was born in Pennsylvania, and divided his time in early life between his father's farm and the com- mon school. When a young man he spent a few years clerking in a store and teaching

school, and finally took one year's work in Wesleyan University at Lima, New York. At the age of twenty-one he came west and located in Iowa, where he was employed by various firms as salesman and manager. In 1853 he went to Plattsburgh, Missouri, as a member of the firm of J. S. Sheller & Co. in the real estate business. One year later he bought out the business, and established offices at Springfield and Warsaw. Being a staunch Republican, and possessing first-class qualifications for the position, he was ap- pointed register of lands for the district of Springfield by President Lincoln. In 1863 Mr. Fellows was appointed lieutenant colonel of the Forty-sixth Missouri Militia. The regiment was mustered into the United States service and served on guard duty during the last invasion of Missouri. After the war Colonel Fellows engaged in various business pursuits at St. Louis, Arlington, Lebanon and Springfield. In 1871 he built the first grain elevator which was ever erected in Spring- field, and finally he became interested in the Springfield Wagon Company, which pros- pered under his management. He has been a public-spirited man, and has done much for the city of Springfield. He has served as a member of the city council, board of educa- tion and mayor. In 1859 he married Miss Martha McElhaney, of Springfield.

Felony .- Under the laws of Missouri, felony is an offense punishable with death or imprisonment in the penitentiary.

Female Academy, St. Joseph .- A school for the education of girls, founded at St. Joseph, in 1865, by Dr. Charles Mar- tin, and still conducted by his daughters.

Femme Osage .- A post office in St. Charles County, on Femme Osage Creek, thirty miles southwest of St. Charles. It is said that one of the early settlers found the body of an Osage squaw in the stream, the incident giving it the name of Femme Osage, meaning Osage woman. This was also the name of the district over which Daniel Boone ruled as commandant, under Spanish author- ity, and this was his favorite hunting ground. The home of his son, Nathan, was standing here in 1890; it was of stone, two stories high, the first of its kind in the district. Here Jon- athan Bryan built the first water mill west

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of the Mississippi River, in 1801. It was of rude construction ; its product was six to ten bushels a day, and the meal needed to be sifted on account of its coarseness. At the same time, a man named McSpaddin made gunpowder by hand, which sold at one dollar a pound.

Fenton. - A beautiful little town on the Meramec River, and also on the Gravois Rock Road, fourteen miles from St. Louis. It was laid out about the beginning of the nineteenth century by Wm. Long, who named it after his maternal family. There is a fine iron bridge across the Meramec River at the place. Nearly all the travel and traffic between St. Louis and Jefferson County passes through Fenton.

Fenwick-Crittenden Duel .- One of the most noted duels in the early days of Missouri was on October 1, 1811, between Thomas T. Crittenden and Dr. Walter Fen- wick, on Moreau's Island, opposite the village of Kaskaskia, Illinois. Fenwick was one of four brothers who were pioneers in Louis- iana Territory. One of the brothers, Ezekiel, who lived in the Bois Brule Bottoms, bore a bad reputation, and was arrested and tried for larceny. Crittenden was a lawyer and a member of a noted Kentucky family. Walter Fenwick was a physician of excellent stand- ing. Trouble between Ezekiel Fenwick and Crittenden, over the latter prosecuting the case of larceny against him, led to a quarrel, with the result that Ezekiel Fenwick, sent by his brother, Walter, a challenge to Critten- den, who refused to meet in the field of honor a "thief" whom he had prosecuted. His re- fusal was taken by the doctor as a personal affront, and he offered himself in his broth- er's place, and was accepted. General Henry Dodge and John Scott were seconds. At the first fire Fenwick fell mortally wounded. Crittenden was unhurt. Dr. Fenwick's grave in the old Catholic cemetery in Ste. Genevieve is marked by a sandstone slab bearing the in- scription : "Dr. Walter Fenwick, born 1775, died October 2, 1811."

Ferguson .- An incorporated city of the fourth class, on the Wabash Railroad, six miles from St. Louis. It takes its name from William B. Ferguson, a large land- holder, who in 1858, gave the ground for a

station to the old North Missouri Railroad, afterward incorporated in the Wabash sys- tem. It is situated in one of the most beau- tiful districts in St. Louis County, and con- tains the country homes of many prominent business men of the city. It has five churches. Population, 1899 (estimated), 2,000.

Ferguson, David K., manufacturer and banker, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, in 1826, and spent the first thirteen years of his life in that city. After obtaining a fair English education in the schools of Pittsburg, he came west and obtained his first employment, as a youth, from the firm of Kingsland, Lightner & Company, of St. Louis, then the proprietors of what was known as the Broadway foundry, one of the largest establishments of its kind in the West. As an employe of this manufactory he laid the foundation of a successful business of his own by obtaining a practical knowledge of all the details of iron manufacture, and at the end of five years, although still not of legal age, he began manufacturing opera- tions on his own account. Associating him- self with Messrs. George, Leroy and Philip Kingsland, he became junior member of the firm of Kingslands & Ferguson. Mr. Fer- guson's partners, like himself, were practical men and all were likewise sagacious, ener- getic and enterprising. The time was au- spicious for the growth of manufacturing in- dustries in St. Louis, and this firm was one of those which did most to demonstrate the fact that the city had great natural advan- tages as a manufacturing center. In the course of time the elder member of the firm withdrew and the original partnership was succeeded by the corporation known as the Kingsland & Ferguson Manufacturing Com- pany. With this corporation Mr. Ferguson continued to be actively identified until 1887, in which year he ceased to be connected with a business he had aided in creating and de- deloping to large proportions, and which had given him so much prominence among Western manufacturers. While connected with this enterprise he was also largely in- terested in the Vulcan Steel Works, of which he was president prior to its absorption by the St. Louis Ore and Steel Company. His extensive manufacturing operations brought him into an intimate relationship with the Garrison Brothers-long conspicuous among

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the citizens of St. Louis for their enterprise and the magnitude of their business interests -and with Oliver Garrison Mr. Ferguson be- came a large shareholder in the Mechanics' Bank. Upon the retirement of Mr. Garrison from the presidency of the bank, in 1879, Mr. Ferguson became his successor and con- tinued at the head of that admirably man- aged and eminently successful banking house until January, 1898. He married Miss Carrie Sherer, daughter of Samuel B. Sherer, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and three daugh- ters have been born of this union, who were named respectively, Carrie, Mamie and Sarah Ferguson. Two of these daughters, Carrie and Mamie Ferguson-the last-named now the wife of A. C. Fowler-are still living in St. Louis. Sarah Ferguson, a charming woman, who became the wife of Thomas R. Collins, of St. Louis, died in 1895.

Ferguson, William, a worthy citizen of Poplar Bluff, and one who has done much to develop the material interests and re- sources of that portion of the State, was born August 21, 1854, in Butler County, Missouri, son of Rev. Nimrod and Nancy (Johnson) Ferguson, the first named of whom was a native of Virginia, and the last named of Butler County, Missouri. Rev. Nimrod Ferguson came to Butler County in his young manhood, and there met and married his wife. For many years he preached in that part of the State as a minister of the Baptist Church, and was also engaged to some extent in farming. He died in 1856. His wife, the mother of William Ferguson, after- ward married Stephen Turner, and died in 1866. The early education of William Fer- guson was much neglected and it was not until he reached manhood that he mastered the English branches, using money which he himself had earned to defray his expenses while attending school. Later, and in the year 1875, he took a commercial course at a St. Louis business college. During the years of his boyhood he engaged in farm work, leaving the farm when he was eighteen years of age to enter the employ of the Iron Moun- tain Railroad Company, which was then being built through Butler County. In 1873 he drove a delivery wagon for a large commis- sion and wholesale house in St. Louis. Dur- ing the time he was thus employed an epidemic of epizootic prevailed among the

horses of the city, and for several months the wagon of which he had charge was drawn by oxen. He returned to Butler County in 1877 and became a salesman in the store of W. F. Neal. Two years later he and his brother Martin, and T. D. Ferguson, opened a store in that city, which was conducted un- der the name of Ferguson & Company. Their enterprise prospered and in a few years they had one of the largest stores in Butler County. They also engaged in the lumber trade and dealt largely in this important com- modity, operating three sawmills. In 1884 the firm changed its named to Ferguson & Wheeler, and William Ferguson is now the senior partner in this concern. At the pres- ent time (1900) they operate three sawmills, located in Missouri and Arkansas, and carry on the lumber business on a large scale. Successful in his merchandizing and manu- facturing operations, Mr. Ferguson has be- come interested also in other enterprises, and he is a director in the Bank of Poplar Bluff, and also in the Poplar Bluff Loan & Building Association. As a man of affairs he is widely known throughout southeastern Missouri, and wherever he is known he is esteemed for his ability, his probity and high character. In political faith he is a Democrat, but he has always been too busy a man to take any active part in politics. He was a charter member of the lodge of Knights of Pythias at Poplar Bluff, and he is also a member of the order of Knights of Honor. In 1880 Mr. Ferguson married Miss Missouri Harriell, who died eight months later. In 1885 he married Miss Alma Proffer, of Stoddard County.

Ferree, Charles M., a resident of Kansas City since 1867, and a man who has been particularly active in the commercial affairs of the West and the development of great industries, was born in' Clermont County, Ohio, March 26, 1836. His father was a native of Kentucky, and on this side of the family the ancestry is traced directly back to the French Huguenots, of whom the first known members of the Ferree family were a conspicuous part. Madame Mary (Warim- buer) Ferree left France, under stress of re- ligious persecution and the yoke of oppres- sion, in 1700. Her husband had been killed, the family treasury had been sadly depleted, the losses were heavy, and the suffering im-

WillFerre

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FERREE.

posed upon her and hers was unbearably severe. After long and eventful wanderings covering nine years, Madame Ferree arrived in America, a new home for the friendless, and here she found friends indeed. While passing through England she had been pre- sented at the court of Queen Anne by Wil- liam Penn, the then holder of the vast stretches of rich land in Pennsylvania, and at the order of the queen, Madame Ferree having made a most favorable impression upon her Majesty, and her sad story having excited the pity of all who heard it, a grant of 2,000 acres of the best land in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, located in the fertile Piqua Valley, was made to her. This is the first authentic record of the presence of the Ferree family in this country, and the story is borne out by the fact that ever since the grant was made to Madame Ferree members of her family have held the land and called it their home. It is still possessed by them, and in Lancaster County there is held every year a reunion of the members of the Ferree family. The published statement of facts concerning the land grant referred to above are now in the possession of the subject of this sketch. John Ferree, who lived on the old homestead in Pennsylvania, was a native of that State. At the age of twenty-four he left Lancaster County and removed to Mays- ville, Kentucky. He had eight sons and four daughters, of whom Moses was the father of Charles M. Ferree. John Ferree left Kentucky when Moses was fifteen years of age and removed to Batavia, Ohio, twelve miles east of Cincinnati. It was there that the subject of this sketch was born. In 1837 his father left Ohio and located on a farm in Rush County, Indiana. Charles M. attended school in that county and lived the life of the average farm lad in that day and neigh- borhood. Later he attended DePauw Uni-' versity, at Greencastle, Indiana, and therefore had superior educational advantages, which were eagerly accepted and improved. From college he returned to the farm, and soon came the call for volunteer soldiers to assist in suppressing the rebellion. Mr. Ferree, then a very young man, raised a company of men, known as Company G, Fifty-second Indiana Infantry. Being rather inexperi- enced he did not take the commission of captain, although he had been the moving spirit in the organization of the company, but

left that responsibility to an older head. The company was with Sherman's Army of the Tennessee during the greater part of the war, and Lieutenant Ferree's first active service was at Fort Donelson. He was a second lieutenant when the muster roll was signed, and left the service a first lieutenant, after serving three years. Major Ross Guffin, a well known resident. of Kansas City, was the first lieutenant of this company at the time of enlistment, and when Major Guffin was pro- moted to the captaincy Lieutenant Ferree took his position as first lieutenant. Mr. Fer- ree is a member of the Loyal Legion, and is proud of such an honor. Before the close of his service in behalf of the Union he was offered a colonelcy, but on account of his youth he hesitated, and finally decided that he should not accept so great a responsibility. He was mustered out of the service in August, 1864, and soon thereafter engaged in the wholesale grocery business at Memphis, Tennessee, under the firm name of Ferree & Andrews. He continued in that until 1867, when he removed to Independence, Missouri. There he remained but a short time, remov- ing in the same year to Kansas City, of which place he has ever since been a prominent and honored resident. He engaged in the busi- ness of buying and selling real estate, and has devoted more or less attention to this line of business ever since. He has not been a realty agent in the common acceptance of the term, but has rather conducted investments in the use of his own capital and the money in- trusted to him by others. In 1884 Mr. Ferree organized the Kansas City Loan & Savings Association, and it was in operation ten years, when its affairs were closed up. In 1888 he organized the Mutual Home & Savings Asso- ciation, an organization that is still in pros- perous existence. In many of his business transactions and important deals Mr. Ferree was closely associated with the distinguished Judge G. W. McCrary, who was a member of President Hayes' cabinet, a noted jurist and one of the most conspicuous men of his time. Mr. Ferree was probably as close to Judge McCrary as any man who ever enjoyed so noble a statesman's friendshipand counsel. In 1892 Mr. Ferree organized the Harrison In- ternational Telephone Company, an immense concern, in which he was associated with such well known capitalists as Senator Stephen B. Elkins, who was counted among his warm

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personal and business friends ; Honorable R. C. Kerens, of St. Louis ; George R. Peck, of Kansas; Patrick Eagan, of New York; Major William Warner, of Kansas City, and other prominent men. Of this company Mr. Ferree was president the first year. The sec- ond year Senator Elkins was president and Mr. Ferree vice president. At the end of two years the affairs of the company were turned over to Chicago capitalists and the projects of the organizers have been faith- fully carried out. Mr. Ferree was one of the promoters of the Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis Railroad, the movement being started in 1868. He served as one of the directors of this great enterprise, in com- pany with such men as John W. Reed, A. A. Tomlinson, Charles E. Kearney and others, the ones named being representative of Kan- sas City interests in the furtherance of the outlined plans. The road was successfully built from Kansas City to Memphis, although the original lines were not faithfully followed. In 1888 Mr. Ferree laid out Ferree Place, a large residence addition in Kansas City, Kan- sas, and sold it successfully. He also built the Commercial Block, the finest office building in Kansas City, Kansas, being asso- ciated in this enterprise with W. A. Bunker, of Kansas City. Under Colonel R. T. Van Horn, United States collector of revenue, Mr. Ferree served as deputy collector during the years, 1878-9 and 1880. As a Republican he has always taken an interest in political affairs, an interest that was very active up to the last three years, but while serving his party faithfully in well-directed efforts toward victory he has never sought reward for him- self. He has always been closely associated with the most influential men of Missouri and other States, and has been a potent factor in the development that has worked such marvelous transformation in Kansas City and her tributary territory. His intimate relations with men of national fame, and his activity in movements of great importance, have made his name familiar throughout the West, and have established for him a sure place in the affection of those with whom he has been in contact, and the esteem of all who are acquainted with the accomplishments that have marked his laudable efforts along wholesale and praiseworthy lines. Mr. Fer- ree was married in September, 1864, to Laura Lavinia Bowdon, daughter of Judge William

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Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. II, Part 77

Author: Conard, Howard Louis, ed. 1n Publication date: 1901 Publisher: New York, Louisville [etc.] The Southern history company, Haldeman, Conard & co., proprietors Number of Pages: 800

Author: Conard, Howard Louis, ed. 1n
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: New York, Louisville [etc.] The Southern history company, Haldeman, Conard & co., proprietors
Number of Pages: 800