Page 288 - 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.

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