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 York 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.
Read more about this topic: Woodbridge Nathan Ferris
Famous quotes containing the words early life, early, life and/or illinois:
“Many a woman shudders ... at the terrible eclipse of those intellectual powers which in early life seemed prophetic of usefulness and happiness, hence the army of martyrs among our married and unmarried women who, not having cultivated a taste for science, art or literature, form a corps of nervous patients who make fortunes for agreeable physicians ...”
—Sarah M. Grimke (1792–1873)
“Well, it’s early yet!”
—Robert Pirosh, U.S. screenwriter, George Seaton, George Oppenheimer, and Sam Wood. Dr. Hugo Z. Hackenbush (Groucho Marx)
“Young men of the fairest promise, who begin life upon our shores, inflated by the mountain winds, shined upon by all the stars of God, find the earth below not in unison with these,—but are hindered from action by the disgust which the principles on which business is managed inspire, and turn drudges, or die of disgust,—some of them suicides.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“An Illinois woman has invented a portable house which can be carried about in a cart or expressed to the seashore. It has also folding furniture and a complete camping outfit.”
—Lydia Hoyt Farmer (1842–1903)