Page 297 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Elisha P. Ferry

1878-1879

Most Worshipful Brother Elisha Peyre Ferry was born in Monroe
County in the Michigan Territory, near Detroit to Peter Ferry and
Clarissa Peyre-Ferry. The family would move to the small town of
Waukegan, Illinois, where Peter served as a judge. Elisha graduated
early from high school, and then from Fort Wayne Law School,
Indiana, passing the bar examination at just twenty. He then
practiced successfully as a lawyer in Waukegan for the next twenty-
three years, marrying Sarah Brown Kellog (1827–1912), with whom
he had five children: Eliza (1851–1935), James (1853–1914),
Lincoln (1860–1911), Julia (1864–1894), and Pierre (1868–1932).
Elisha Ferry was a charter member of Harmony Lodge No. 18, serving as the first Senior Deacon.
He was elected Senior Warden in 1872, and Worshipful Master in 1873, 1874, 1875. He would be
advanced through the chairs once more when he was again elected Junior Warden in 1876, and
Senior Warden in 1877. For several years he was the leading representative of his Lodge in the
Grand Lodge. He occupied the position of Grand Orator for two years, and during several annual
sessions took an active part in Grand Lodge on important committees, especially that of
Jurisprudence. Brother Ferry was elected Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of
the Territory of Washington in 1878 as well as being re-elected as Worshipful Master of Harmony
Lodge, No. 18, for the same year.

Important official business as Governor of the Territory required the presence of our Grand Master
to be in Eastern Washington during his Annual Communication.

In addition he was a founding member of the Seattle Scottish Rite.

Ferry became the Presidential Elector of Illinois in 1852, and then the first mayor of Waukegan in
1859, winning by a big majority. In 1862 he was a delegate at the Illinois State Constitutional
Convention.
During the American Civil War, Ferry joined the Union Army, helping to organize the Illinois
regiment, and making friends with Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln – important connections
for the rising politician.

In 1869 President Grant appointed Ferry to the position of Surveyor General of the rapidly
developing Washington Territory, and Ferry and his family moved to Olympia. In 1872 Grant
appointed him as Territorial Governor, and then, after the end of his four-year term, reappointed
him to the same position. Both as Surveyor and Governor, he was closely involved with the
building of the Northern Pacific Railway, and took a personal hand in planning the extension from
Tacoma to Olympia.