Woodbury County, Iowa Biographies

FERRIS Family Mr. William A. Ferris, age 26 & Miss Sarah M. Gardner, age 24, married on October 5, 1885 in the Circuit Court of Woodbury County. The Record of the Certificate of Marriage was recorded on 10/6/1885. The witness of the marriage is Scott Gardner of of Woodbury, Iowa. (Scott is thought to be Sarah's brother.) William "Albert" Ferris born 1859 in Springfield, Illinois to William C. Ferris (born apprx 1820, New York) & Eliza Dennis (born apprx. 1835 in Tennessee) to Harvy Dennis (born 1803) & Catherine Blair. William "Albert's" parents, William & Eliza were married in 1853, Macoupin, Illinois. William "Albert" is in the 1860 census in Illinois with his parents & 2 brothers: Amos H. & George D. The family does not appear together in any census after the 1860 census in Illinois. In 1880 Census in Kansas, "Albert" & George appear together. Sarah Melinda Gardner born 1860 in Muscatine County, Iowa to Elisha Gardner & MaryAnn Raupe (both parents born in New Jersey) "Albert" & Sarah were farmers, and born to them were 4 children, & 1 adopted child. Children born to "Albert" Ferris & Sarah M. Gardner of Woodbury County Iowa: 1. 1886 - Clarence Harvy Ferris born Willow, Iowa "Clarance Harvy Ferris, son of Albert & Sarah M. Ferris born in Willow, Iowa.....Baptized by A. Judson Seangdell on February 2, 1890 in the Methodist Episcopal Church" (per Bapt. Certificate) 2. 1888 - Hattie Almeta Ferris born Climbing Hill, Iowa 3. 1893 - George L. Ferris born Climbing Hill, Iowa & died at age 1 in 1894 4. 1898 - Chester W. Ferris born Climbing Hill, Iowa & died at age 1 in 1899 5. 1897-1898 adoption of Charlie Ferris (born 1897) in Iowa (parents unknown; thought to be relatives) In 1903, Sarah died of tuberculosis. She was buried in Willow Twp, Woodbury County, Iowa. Buried: Holly Spring, IA with her 2 deceased infants & her parents Elisha Gardner & Mary Ann Raupe. In 1905, the family farm was sold. Albert moved his children, Clarence, Hattie & Charlie to the West Coast. Submitted by Clarence Ferris' granddaughter, Lisa, email: lisamail@verizon.net