Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Elisha P. Ferry papers, 1840-1906
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Ferry, Elisha P. (Elisha Peyre), 1825-1895
- Title
- Elisha P. Ferry papers
- Dates
- 1840-1906 (inclusive)18401906
- Quantity
- 1.92 cubic feet plus 10 microfilm reels (positive and negative)
- Collection Number
- 2156
- Summary
- Papers of a pioneer of Washington state and its first governor, Elisha Ferry.
- Repository
-
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Open to all users.
- Languages
- English
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Elisha P. Ferry (August 9, 1825-October 14, 1895) was the first governor of Washington State. He first served two terms as the Governor of Washington Territory, and then became the state’s inaugural governor after Washington was admitted into the union as a state on November 11, 1889. He served one term, stepping down in 1893 due to his failing health.
Ferry was born in Monroe County in Michigan Territory, and he moved to Waukegan, Illinois as a child with his parents. He attended Fort Wayne Law School in Indiana, graduating early and passing the bar exam at 20 years old. He practiced law in Waukegan for 23 years, and marrying Sarah Brown Kellogg, with whom he had five children.
Beginning his political career, Ferry became Presidential Elector of Illinois in 1852, and then the first mayor of Waukegan in 1859. During the Civil War, he joined the Union Army, helping to organize the Illinois regiment, and befriended Ulysses S. Grant and Abraham Lincoln. In 1869, President Grant appointed Ferry Surveyor General of Washington Territory, and he moved his family to Olympia. In 1872, Grant appointed him Territorial Governor, and then reappointed him at the end of four years for a second term. Ferry was closely involved with the building of the Northern Pacific Railway, and helped plan the extension from Tacoma to Olympia. Ferry focused on pressuring various counties to pay their taxes, leaving his successor with a Territory that was almost debt-free.
After his second term, Ferry worked in Seattle in law and banking, and was nominated as a Republican candidate for State Governor when Washington was granted statehood. He defeated the Democrat Eugene Semple with 58% of the votes. His first summer in office, he helped to supervise the rebuilding of Seattle, Ellensburg, and Spokane Falls, all of which had largely been destroyed by fire. During his term, his health began to fail, and he left the position after one term. Two years after stepping down, he died of a cold.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
Papers including correspondence, speeches and writings, legal case files, notebooks, financial records, notes and other materials as well as the resolution by the King County Bar Association on the death of Governor Ferry, 1895.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on Use
Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Arrangement
Organized into 2 accessions.
- Accession No. 2156-001, Elisha P. Ferry papers, 1840-1906
- Accession No. 2156-002, Elish P. Ferry papers, 1806-1865
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Accession No. 2156-001: Elisha P. Ferry papers, 1840-1906Return to Top
Scope and Content: Papers including correspondence, speeches and writings, legal case files, notebooks, financial records, notes and other materials.
Digital Content/Other Formats: View selections from this collection in digital format.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.
Acquisition Info: From the library of Eliza Ferry Leary, 1/1/1936.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates | |
|---|---|---|---|
Series 1: Incoming Correspondence |
1857-1896 | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 1/1 | 2156-001 | A-Ar
Scope and Content:
Aberdeen Bank; Aetna Life Insurance Co.; Allen, John Beard;
Arctic Soda Water Apparatus
|
1865-1889 |
| 1/2 | 2156-001 | Ash
Scope and Content:
Ashton, James M.; Ashton, Samuel
|
1889 |
| 1/3 | 2156-001 | Atkinson, G. W. P. |
1888-1889 |
| 1/4 | 2156-001 | B-Ba
Scope and Content:
Baldwin, Fannie V.; Barnes, George A.; Barr, A. J.; Bash, A.
W.; Battle, N. W.
|
1882-1889 |
| 1/5 | 2156-001 | Be
Scope and Content:
Begg, Alex; Bell, John D.; Bellingham Bay Railway and
Navigation Co.; Bennett, C. L.; Berry, James T.
|
1884, 1889 |
| 1/6 | 2156-001 | Bl-By
Scope and Content:
Blodgett, H. W.; Bloomfield, N. H.; Borrette, F. A.; Botsford,
R. S.; Bradshaw, C. M.; Broadway Investment Co,; Burke (Thomas), Haller and
Rasin; Byers, Ovid A.
|
1878-1889 |
| 1/7 | 2156-001 | C-Cas
Scope and Content:
Cain, A. J.; Calkins, W. H.; Campbell, F.; Carleton College,
Minnesota; Carrere, J. F.; Carver, Eugene P.; Casto, J.
|
1870-1889 |
| 1/8 | 2156-001 | Cavanaugh, Thomas H. |
1889 |
| 1/9 | 2156-001 | Ch-Cl
Scope and Content:
Chamberlain, C. P.; Chase, Champion S.; Chehalis County
Sheriff; Citizens Bank, Fairhaven, Washington; Clark, T. J. V.; Clark,
Wellington; Clarke, Frances E.
|
1887-1889 |
| 1/10 | 2156-001 | Co-Coll
Scope and Content:
Cochran, John W.; Cole, Albert S.; Cole, F. B.; Coleman, Edgar
W.; Collyer, Samuel
|
1889 |
| 1/11 | 2156-001 | Colu-Com
Scope and Content:
Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad Co.; Comstock, Joseph
|
1885, 1889 |
| 1/12 | 2156-001 | Cor-Cu
Scope and Content:
Concordia Loan and Trust Co., Kansas City, Missouri; Coner, E.
P.; Cooper, John G.
|
1889-1895 |
| 1/13 | 2156-001 | Cor-Cu
Scope and Content:
Cory, Eliza P.; Cory, James Y.; Curtiss, D. S.
|
1887-1890 |
| 1/14 | 2156-001 | Da-Du
Scope and Content:
Davis, Bradford W.; Dawson, J. R.; DeMattos, J. P.; Dennis, E.
M.; Dennis, W. B.; Dewey, George M.; Diefenbach, J. C.; Dugill, M. T.
|
1887-1893 |
| 1/15 | 2156-001 | El-Es
Scope and Content:
Eldridge, E.; Esplin, Charles
|
1885-1886, 1892 |
| 1/16 | 2156-001 | Fa-Fi
Scope and Content:
Farichild, H.A.; Farnsworth, J. F.; Ferguson, Emory C.; Ferry,
Pierre P.; Ferry, T. W.; Ferry, Edward P.; First National Bank, Olympia,
Washington; First National Bank, Seattle
|
1868-1893 |
| 1/17 | 2156-001 | Fo
Scope and Content:
Ford, Georgiana S.; Forrest, W. R.; Fowler, L. D.; Fourth of
July Committee(s)
|
1889 |
| 1/18 | 2156-001 | Fr-Fu
Scope and Content:
Frary, T. C.; Freemasons; Fuller, George
|
1882-1893 |
| 1/19 | 2156-001 | Ga-Geo
Scope and Content:
Garfielde, Selucius; Gatzert, Bailey; George M. A.
|
1871-1890 |
| 1/20 | 2156-001 | Gow-Gu
Scope and Content:
Gowey, John F.; Grant, Frederick K.; Gray, James T.; Guilfoil,
O.D.
|
1889-1890 |
| 1/21 | 2156-001 | H-Ha
Scope and Content:
Handsaker, J. T.; Hanford, Cornelius H.; Harmon, Hill;
Hartman, C. W.; Hawkins and Co., Philadelphia; Hayden, James R.; Haynes, A.
F.
|
1887-189? |
| 1/22 | 2156-001 | He-Hi
Scope and Content:
Henry, C. V.; Higgins, David; Hight, A. W.; Hill, George D.;
Hill, W. Lain; The History Co., San Francisco; Hitchins, ed
|
1884-1889 |
| 1/23 | 2156-001 | Ho-Hu
Scope and Content:
Hollister, W. W.; Holton, Charles M.; Home Fire Insurance Co.,
Seattle; Hopkins, C. B.; Hoskinson, Stuart; Howard, Alice; Hoyt, Francis;
Hughes, A. S.; Hunt, Leigh Smith James
|
1878-1891 |
| 1/24 | 2156-001 | J
Scope and Content:
Jenkins, William D.; Johnson, P. B.; Jones and Co.,
Seattle
|
1889-1890 |
| 1/25 | 2156-001 | K-Ki
Scope and Content:
Keeley, William L.; Kellogg, W. P.; Kelly, E. C.; Kiggins and
Tooker Co., New York; King, A. E.; Kitsap County Auditor; Kittinger, Charles
H.
|
1881, 1889 |
| 1/26 | 2156-001 | L-Lew
Scope and Content:
Lambuth, W. D.; Landes, Henry; Laughton, S. E.; Lawson, Fred
A.; Lawson, James S.; Lawrence, J. C.; Leary, John; Leary, Eliza Ferry; Lewis,
James Hamilton; Lewis County, Washington Fair
|
1889-1894 |
| 1/27 | 2156-001 | Lo-Ly
Scope and Content:
Lombard Investment Company; Long, J. H.; Lyons, J. M.; Lysons,
Fred H.; Lytle, August
|
1876-1894 |
| 1/28 | 2156-001 | M-Mack
Scope and Content:
McCalley, R. M.; McCormick, R. C.; Macdonald, E. C.;
McDonough, Thomas; McGraw, John Harte; Mackintosh, A.
|
1857-1893 |
| 1/29-31 | 2156-001 | McNaught (James), Ferry, McNaught, and
Mitchell |
1878-1895 |
| 1/32 | 2156-001 | McT-Mi
Scope and Content:
McTaggart, Edward; Mahon, William; Martin, A.; Marvin and
Cmmack, St. Paul; May, D. W.; Metcalfe, J. B.; Michael, Edith B.; Milroy, R.
H.; Mitchell, John R.
|
1881, 1889 |
| 1/33 | 2156-001 | Mo-Mu
Scope and Content:
Monell, Elizabeth; Montesano, Washington Citizens; Moore, H.
K.; Moore, Miles Conway; Moore, P. D.; Mukilteo, Washington Citizens; Mumson,
E. T.; Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York
|
1876-1889 |
| 1/34 | 2156-001 | Na-No
Scope and Content:
Navarre, I. A.; Newland, R. G.; Newson, Joseph C.; New York
Press; New York World; Nicklin, T. G.; North, James M.; North Pacific History
Company; Northwest Pacific Railway Company
|
1871-1892 |
| 1/35 | 2156-001 | Ob-Ow
Scope and Content:
O'Brien, R. G.; O'Donnell, William; Olympia and Victoria
Railway; Ormsbee, Richard H.; Outburst Publishing Company; Owings, Nicholas
H.
|
1894-1889 |
| 1/36 | 2156-001 | Owings, Nicholas H. |
1889 |
| 1/37 | 2156-001 | Paddock (Rev.) J. A. |
1884-1890 |
| 1/38 | 2156-001 | Park
Scope and Content:
Parkinson, W. J.; Parks, R. H.
|
1889 |
| 1/39 | 2156-001 | Pen-Po
Scope and Content:
Pennsylvania University; Perrigo, W. P.; Phelps, H. H.;
Philbrick, B. S.; Piltrel, F. A.; Porter, N. S.
|
1887-1895 |
| 1/40 | 2156-001 | Pr-Pu
Scope and Content:
Prescott, C. H.; Preston (Harold), Carr, and Preston, Seattle;
Puget Mill Company, Port Gamble, Washington; Puget Sound National Bank of
Seattle; Puget Sound Shore Railroad Company; Pumphrey, W. H.
|
1887-1890 |
| 1/41 | 2156-001 | R-Ru
Scope and Content:
Rainier Club, Seattle; Range, J. W.; Rea, John A.; Reed, T.
M.; Republican Party, Washington; Rhoades, Frank M.; Richards; Richards, (A.
E.), Brophy, and Bradshaw, Winnipeg; Robbins (L.M.) and Son, Seattle; Roberts,
W. H.; Rural New Yorker
|
1887-1897 |
| 1/42 | 2156-001 | Sc-Seattle A
Scope and Content:
Schurz, C.; Scofield, T. D.; Scott, W. D.; Seattle Citizens;
Seattle and Eastern Construction Company
|
1879-1890 |
| 1/43 | 2156-001 | Seattle and Lake Washington Waterway
Company |
1894 |
| 1/44 | 2156-001 | Seattle I-Seav
Scope and Content:
Seattle Investment Company; Seattle Morning Journal; Seattle
Post-Intelligencer; Seattle Steam Candy Works; Seattle Union Veteran Club;
Seavy, L. T.
|
1889-1890 |
| 1/45 | 2156-001 | Sem-Shep
Scope and Content:
Semple, Eugene; Sheldon, W. S.; Shepard, Thomas R.
|
1886-1892 |
| 1/46 | 2156-001 | Sher-Spa
Scope and Content:
Sherpy, M. L.; Shorey, H. C.; Shoudy, John A.; Smith; Smith,
Victor Hugo; Smyth, Frank; Snell, Marshall K.; Soundings; Sparkling, Ford
W.
|
1876-1893 |
| 1/47 | 2156-001 | Spr-Sw
Scope and Content:
Spring, T. B.; Squire, Watson C.; Steven, E. A.; Steward, G.
A.; Stiles, T. L.; Streamer, Frank M.; Strowbridge, Edward; Sullivan, M. C.;
Sutton, Henry; Swan, James G.
|
1871-1889 |
| 1/48 | 2156-001 | T-Tull
Scope and Content:
Thomas, Y. H.; Thompson (Rev.), John R.; Thurston County,
Washington Auditor; Trafton, William B.; Tull, Charles D.; Tull, J. T.
|
1884-1890 |
| 1/49 | 2156-001 | Tur-Ty
Scope and Content:
Turner, George; Tuttle, L. R.; Twombly, Horatio N.; Tyner, N.
N.
|
1889-1890 |
| 1/50 | 2156-001 | U.S. General Land Office |
1872-1887 |
| 1/51 | 2156-001 | U.S. Treasury Department |
1876-1889 |
| 1/52 | 2156-001 | Wa-Wee
Scope and Content:
Wadsworth, Philip C.; Wadleigh, F. S.; Walker, Cyrus; Warner,
Louis B.; Watson, George W.; Waughop, John W.; Weekes, T. J.
|
1871-1889 |
| 1/53 | 2156-001 | Wei-Wil
Scope and Content:
Weird, Allen; Wells, L. A.; Welty, J. R.; Whatcom County,
Washington Auditor; Whiteley, Simeon; Whitney, A. D.; Williams (George H.),
Hill, Durham, Thompson, and Mays, Portland
|
1884, 1889 |
| 1/54 | 2156-001 | Wils-Woo
Scope and Content:
Wilson, C. L.; Wilson, E. T.; Wilson, G. W.; Wilson, Henry L.;
Wilson, John L.; Woodruff, D. E.; Woolley, P. A.
|
1876-1893 |
| 1/55-56 | 2156-001 | You
Scope and Content:
Young, Austin H.; Young, Joseph T.; Young and Boise, New
Tacoma, Washington; Young Men's Christian Association, Seattle
|
1883, 1889 |
| 1/57 | 2156-001 | Unidentified Letters |
undated |
Series 2: Outgoing Correspondence |
1869-1893 | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 2/1-2 | 2156-001 | Unbound Letters |
1869-1892, undated |
| 2/3 | 2156-001 | Bound Letters, Letterpress Copybook |
October 31, 1891-January 3, 1893 |
Series 3: Correspondence: General |
1870-1875 | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 2/4 | 2156-001 | General Correspondence re: San Juan
Islands |
1870-1875 |
Series 4: Speeches and Writings |
1881-1893 | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 2/5-6 | 2156-001 | Undated and Unidentified |
undated |
| 2/7 | 2156-001 | Address to Kitsap County Commissioners |
1881 |
| 2/8 | 2156-001 | Inaugural Address |
November 11, 1889 |
| 2/9 | 2156-001 | First Address to Washington State
Legislature |
November 18, 1889 |
| 2/10-15 | 2156-001 | Retiring Message |
January 11, 1893 |
Series 5: Documents |
1860-1896 | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 2/16-17 | 2156-001 | Personal, General |
1873-1895 |
| 2/18 | 2156-001 | Personal, Insurance |
1860-1896 |
| 2/19-26 | 2156-001 | State Documents
Scope and Content:
Appointment of George V. Calhoun, John C. Kellogg to
University of Washington Board of Regents; Territory of Washington v. Henry
Brown; Territory of Washington v. Peter Delaney; Territory of Washington v.
Thomas Burrows; Petition to E. P. Ferry re: Bernard Wasson; Territory of
Washington v. Richard Slocum; Statements of R. G. O'Brien re: Nicholas H.
Owings; Territory of Washington v. Sarah E. Selert; Territory of Washington v.
Charles Beattie; Territory of Washington v. E. B. Fuller; Territory of
Washington v. William McAllister
|
1875-1880 |
| 2/27-29 | 2156-001 | Agreements: Ferry Not a Party |
1864-1889 |
| 2/30 | 2156-001 | Miscellany |
1869-1881 |
Series 6: Legal Case Files |
1863-1892 | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 3/1 | 2156-001 | Wyllie, Robert C. |
1866 |
| 3/2-7 | 2156-001 | Keller, Josiah P. |
1863-1874 |
| 3/8-11 | 2156-001 | Phinney, Arthur |
1878-1892 |
Series 7: Notebooks |
1885 | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 3/12 | 2156-001 | Real Estate Notebook |
1885 |
Series 8: Financial Records |
1869-1895 | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 3/13 | 2156-001 | Account Books |
1873-1874 |
| 3/14 | 2156-001 | Miscellaneous Account Books |
undated |
| 3/15-30 | 2156-001 | Bills and Receipts, Checks, Notes, Other |
1869-1895 |
Series 9: List of Appointments |
1890 | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 4/1 | 2156-001 | List of Appointments to the Washington National
Guard |
1890 |
Series 10: Notes |
undated | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 4/2 | 2156-001 | Legal Notes, Notebook |
undated |
Series 11: Miscellany |
undated | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 4/3 | 2156-001 | Miscellany |
undated |
Series 12: Subgroups: McNaught, Ferry, McNaught, and Mitchell Law
Firm, Seattle |
1863-1894 | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 4/4-5 | 2156-001 | Incoming Correspondence
Scope and Content:
Chamberlain, Carter and Eaton, New York; Chamberlain, Carter
and Hornblower; Dolph, Bellinger, Mallory, and Simon, Portland; Felming,
Archibald; Grace (J. W.) and Company, San Francisco; McIntyre, Charles;
Maclennan and Liddell, Cornwall, Ontario; McNaught, Chapman and Dudley; Moore,
Hunt and Co., San Francisco; National Home Loan Association; Niez, Whittlesey
and Company, Seattle; Northern Pacific Railroad Company; Port Blakely Mill
Company; Porter, Nathan S.; Shankland, J. H.; Thinkham, William W.; Waterman
and Katz; Whalley and Fechheimer
|
1880-1887 |
| 4/6 | 2156-001 | Enclosures
Scope and Content:
Bryggers, John to John Ross; Puget Mill Co. to Cyrus Walker;
Hill (J. K.), Wing and Shoudy, New York; Smith, George F. to J. W. Grace and
Co.; Struve (H. G.), Haines and McMicken, Seattle; Hartman, C. W. to David
Shelton; Bash, W. S. to W. T. Forrest
|
1880-1893 |
| 4/7 | 2156-001 | Outgoing Correspondence
Scope and Content:
Mostly to Mrs. Elizabeth Monell
|
1881-1887 |
| 4/8 | 2156-001 | Opinion
Scope and Content:
Concerns contract between Thomas Prather et al and G. G.
Foster et al
|
1880 |
| 4/9 | 2156-001 | Case Files (Filed by Name of Complainant) |
1881-1882, 1894, undated |
| 4/10-11 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "B" Misc. |
1872-1882 |
| 4/12-13 | 2156-001 | Case Files: Coleman, James M.
Scope and Content:
Action against George Budlong, 1881-1882, re: Terry's third
addition to the City of Seattle
|
August 3, 1881 |
| 4/14-16 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "C" Misc. |
1880-1884 |
| 4/17 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "D-G" Misc. |
1881-1882 |
| 4/18-19 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "H" Misc. |
1881-1885 |
| 4/20 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "J" Misc. |
1881 |
| 4/21 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "K-M" Misc. |
1881-1886 |
| 4/22 | 2156-001 | Case Files: Munks, William
Scope and Content:
Correspondence concerning an alleged land fraud
|
1880-1881 |
| 4/23-24 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "M" Misc. |
1870-1881 |
| 4/25 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "N" Misc. |
1882 |
| 4/26 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "O" Misc. |
1881-1883 |
| 4/27 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "Pe-Pr" Misc. |
1881 |
| 4/28 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "Pu-R" Misc. |
1881-1884 |
| 4/29-30 | 2156-001 | Case Files: Scott, W. D.
Scope and Content:
Papers related to indebtedness to the Puget Mill Co.
|
1886-1887 |
| 4/31-34 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "S" Misc. |
1876-1884 |
| 5/1-4 | 2156-001 | Case Files: "W-Y" Misc. |
1871-1891, undated |
| 5/5-6 | 2156-001 | Financial Miscellany |
1878-1885 |
| 5/7-8 | 2156-001 | Notes, Memos, Miscellany |
1863-1885 |
Series 13: Ferry Family |
1870-1906 | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 5/9-11 | 2156-001 | Ferry, Sarah B. Kellogg: Incoming
Correspondence |
1870-1906 |
| 5/12 | 2156-001 | Ferry Children
Scope and Content:
Incoming correspondence from various parties, filed
chronologically; notebook of Pierre P. Ferry; photograph, probably of Lincoln
Ferry
|
1876-1891 |
Series 14: Subgroups: Others |
1840-1889 | ||
| Box/Folder | Accession | ||
| 5/13 | 2156-001 | Lindsay, Charles
Scope and Content:
Documents concerning transactions between Lindsay and other
parties
|
1840-1845 |
| 5/14 | 2156-001 | Puget Sound Transportation Company Minutes |
1877 |
| 5/15 | 2156-001 | Republican Party, Washington
Scope and Content:
Minutes of Territorial Republican Convention, 1880
|
1880 |
| 5/16 | 2156-001 | Seattle, General Relief Committee
Scope and Content:
Committee formed after Seattle fire of 1889 to assist in
reconstruction, and Ferry was on the committee. Includes incoming
correspondence mostly to Mayor Robert Moran and financial miscellany
|
1889 |
| 5/17 | 2156-001 | Seattle National Bank, Articles of
Association |
1889 |
| 5/18 | 2156-001 | Fidalgo and Skagit River Railway and Navigation
Company, Articles of Incorporation |
1884 |
Accession No. 2156-002: Elish P. Ferry papers, 1806-1865Return to Top
Scope and Content: Resolution by King County Bar Association on the death of Governor Ferry, 16 Oct. 1895.
Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use: Public Records (use unrestricted when access is granted)
Acquisition Info: Transferred from Northwest collection in 1973.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Governors--Washington (State)--Archives
- Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
Personal Names
- Ferry, Elisha P. (Elisha Peyre), 1825-1895--Archives
Other Creators
-
Corporate Names
- Yates, Richard, 1818-1873
