1881 personal census, Colchester South Twp, Essex Co., ON, LDS 1881 census household record:
Ferriss Isaac, M, Married, 85, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist, Farmer;
Lucy, F, Married, 78, born Ont, origin: English, C Methodist;
Abner L., M, Married, 40, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist, Farmer;
Gorgina, F, Married, 28, born Ont, origin: English, C Methodist;
Judson, M, 8, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist;
Nettie, F, 6, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist;
Rowland, M, 5, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist;
Harold, M, 3, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist;
Lorin, M, 1, born Ont, origin: Irish, C Methodist.
Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Essex, J. H. Beers & Co., Toronto, p. 593-594:
Thomas L. Wright, one of the prominent representative farmers of Colchester South, County Essex, belongs to one of the old pioneer families, the founder of which was Henry Wright.
Henry Wright was born and reared in England and in young manhood emigrated to America with a brother, locating at Rutland, Pennsylvania, where the brother remained permanently. Henry married in that State Mary Klingensmith, and when troubles arose between the Colonies and the Mother Country he decided to remove to English soil. With his family he located first on Grosse Ile, but later removed to Malden, when he learned the former land did not belong to Great Britain, and still later he moved to the lake shore, where he took up land in Lots 80 and 76. He and his wife were buried on this farm. They were the parents of the following children: William married Betsey Lipps; Philip married (first) Miss Dowler, and (second) Delilah Malott; Henry married (first) Miss Hitchcock, by whom he had one daughter, Deborah, who married Matthew McCormick, and he married (second) Hannah Lipps; Thomas married (first) Jennie Little, (second) Mary Leighton, and (third) Abbie Larabie; Betsy married John Brush; Mary married Asa Wilcox; Mattie married Samuel Watson; Katie married Henry Lipps.
Philip Wright, the grandfather of Thomas L. Wright, was born Jan. 5, 1775, at Rutland, Pennsylvania, and came with his parents to Grosse Ile, later to Malden, where he married a Miss Dowler, who died leaving one daughter, Anna, born March 30, 1796, who became the wife of Capt. John McCormick. Philip Wright married (second) Delilah Malott, born June 30, 1786, on Grosse Ile, and to them came these children: Lucy, born Nov. 28, 1802, became the wife of Isaac Ferris; Catherine was born Nov. 18, 1804; Peter, born Sept. 30, 1806, married Betty Snider; William, born Nov. 14. 1808, was twice married, first to Miss Buchanan, and died in the States; Sarah, born Nov. 12, 1811, is the widow of Charles Larabee and still survives at the age of ninety-three with faculties unimpaired; Philip S., father of our subject, is mentioned below; Theodore, born Nov. 10, 1816, a local Methodist minister, married Arabella Leighton, and they live at Ludington, Michigan; Ebenezer, born Sept. 20, 1818, married Eliza Stockwell; Mary Christine, born Oct. 16, 1820, married Thomas Leighton and died at Wyandotte, Michigan; Susannah, born Dec. 9, 1824, died in the States.
Philip Wright, being of age when he came to this township, received a 200-acre grant of land adjoining that of his father. When he married he took the rear half of Lots 75 and 76, and upon Lot 75 chose the site of his home. This spot is now marked by a pear tree, and a few rods south of it is a remarkable ever-flowing spring which is shaded by a hoary elm, said to have been set out by Lucy Wright when it was but a branch and she a child. This spring is known to the whole countryside. It is stoned to the depth of twelve feet and flows sixty-five barrels of pure, refreshing water every twenty-four hours.
Philip S. Wright, father of Thomas L. Wright, was born Dec. 4, 1813, on the old home ...
Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Essex, J. H. Beers & Co., Toronto, 1905, p. 538-539:
Abner L. Ferriss, vice-president of the South Essex Agricultural Society, is a member of one of the first families to settle in the township of Colchester, County Essex.
Joseph Ferriss, his grandfather, was a resident of Kentucky, and there married Christina Hahn, a German girl who had been taken prisoner by the Indians from her home in Pennsylvania... To Joseph and Christina (Hahn) Ferriss were born children as follows: ... Isaac, father of Abner L...
Isaac Ferriss was born Nov. 15, 1795, on the lake shore, in this township, and on Jan. 18, 1818, married Lucy Wright, who was born Nov. 23, 1802, a daughter of Philip and Delilah (Mallott) Wright. Mr. Ferriss died July 29, 1881, and his widow died Jan. 22, 1890. He began farming on the present Thomas Brown place, on land which his father owned, and later removed to several farms, for many years prior to his death living on a farm of sixty acres in Colchester South township, now the home place of his son Abner L. During his life he owned a number of fine properties and was considered a successful man. During the war of 1812 he served in the militia, enlisting before he was eighteen years old. Mr. Ferriss took part in the taking of Detroit, and for his services rendered on this occassion received a silver medal which is preserved and highly prized by his son, our subject. In the Rebellion of 1837-38 he again came forward and tendered his loyal services, and assisted in the building of the blockhouse on Bois Blanc Island. In politics he was a Conservative. In religious faith he was a Methodist.
The children born to Isaac Ferris and his wife were: Ann Christine, born April 8, 1822, married Benjamin Knapp; Philip, of Colchester South township, was born June 4, 1824; Hulda Catherine, born May 30, 1826, is the widow of Joseph Snider, of Harrow; Esther Caroline, born Feb. 25, 1828, married William Buchanan; Sarah Janet, born June 9, 1830, married John Munger, and they reside at Washington, Michigan; Lucy Delilah, born Oct. 16, 1832, is the wife of Joseph Drummond; Joseph Robert, born May 4, 1835, married Alma Baldwin, and died in Amherstburg at the age of sixty-five years; Ebenezer W., born Jan. 8, 1837, lives in Harrow; Abner Lidwell, was born Nov. 8, 1841; Thomas Herman, born Aug. 26, 1843, married Margaret Fisher, and is postmaster at Harrow; Isaac, born Nov. 5, 1847, now living in Anderdon, married (first) F. Fulmer, and (second) Mary Lonsbury.
Abner Lidwell Ferriss was an infant when the family came to the farm where he now lives, and his schooling was obtained in a log building that stood near the road on the Leonard Eede farm. At that time only elementary branches were taught and his reading books were the English Reader and the New Testament. Although the schools possessed none of the latter day accommodations they laid the foundations upon which could be built later substantial structures, as was the case with Mr. Ferriss, who is now one of the best informed men of the county. In the course of time the home farm came into his possession, and he has always been interested in its improvement. The old log house which was on the place when the family came here is still standing, in perfect repair, although no longer used as a dwelling. Some years ago Mr. Ferriss erected a handsome modern frame house which is the pleasant family home. In the agricultural affairs and interests of the township he has taken a very active part and for many years has been a member and one of the directors of the South Essex Agricultural Society, now serving his fourth year as vice-president of that organization.
In 1871 Mr. Ferriss was united in marriage with Georgiana Thrasher, a native of Colchester South township, daughter of William and Emma (Taylor) Thrasher, and granddaughter of Charles Thrasher, who came from Quebec and settled in Gosfield township in 1829. To Mr. Ferriss and his wife have been born the following children: E. Judson, born Jan. 16, 1873, resides in Windsor, and is bookkeeper for a Detroit firm; he married Belle Misner, and they have two children, Anna Gertrude and Muriel. Jennie, born Dec. 5, 1874, died Jan. 13, 1902. Roland, born April 8, 1876, who resides in Harrow, married Nellie Pastorius. Harold, born Oct. 26, 1877, married Lina Sinasac, lives at Harrow, and has one daughter, Beulah May. Lorrain, born July 23, 1879, is at home. Della Grace, born April 12, 1881, is assistant postmaster at Harrow. Emma was born Aug. 2, 1884. Wilhelmina was born May 14, 1886. Mildred and Nellie, twins, were born May 8, 1892.
Mr. Ferris and his family belong to the Methodist Church, in which he is a steward and one of the trustees, being also one of the leading contributors to its support. In politics he is a member of the Reform party and has served with the greatest credit and ability in a number of the township offices. He has been a member of the council and for five years supervisor, for four years was assessor, and four years also was collector. His deep interest in educational matters does not end with the providing of opportunities for his own intelligent family, but he has willingly and efficiently served as trustee, secretary and treasurer of Section No. 5, having served in the two last-names offices for the past forty years. He is a charter member of the lodge of the Order of Workmen at Harrow, and assisted in its organization. Mr. Ferriss is a representative man of this section, and is held in very high esteem. His judgment is consulted on many public matters, and his known integrity makes his word of vast influence.
Lucy
Wright
Philip Ferriss 1824-
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