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Seattle, WA 98195

Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard). University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections 2156 Ferry, Elisha P. (Elisha Peyre), 1825-1895 Elisha P. Ferry papers 1840-1906 1.92 cubic feet plus 10 microfilm reels (positive and negative) Collection materials are in English Papers of a pioneer of Washington state and its first governor, Elisha Ferry.

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.

Organized into 2 accessions.

Accession No. 2156-001, Elisha P. Ferry papers, 1840-1906 Accession No. 2156-002, Elish P. Ferry papers, 1806-1865

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.

Open to all users.

Request at UW

Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Ferry, Elisha P. (Elisha Peyre), 1825-1895--Archives Yates, Richard, 1818-1873 Governors--Washington (State)--Archives Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington) Washington (State) Politics and Politicians Pioneers

Accession No. 2156-001: Elisha P. Ferry papers, 1840-1906 1.89 cubic feet (5 boxes) 5 microfilm reels

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.

Series 1 Incoming Correspondence 1857-1896 1/1 2156-001 A-Ar 1865-1889

Scope and Content: Aberdeen Bank; Aetna Life Insurance Co.; Allen, John Beard; Arctic Soda Water Apparatus

1/2 2156-001 Ash 1889

Scope and Content: Ashton, James M.; Ashton, Samuel

1/3 2156-001 Atkinson, G. W. P. 1888-1889 1/4 2156-001 B-Ba 1882-1889

Scope and Content: Baldwin, Fannie V.; Barnes, George A.; Barr, A. J.; Bash, A. W.; Battle, N. W.

1/5 2156-001 Be 1884, 1889

Scope and Content: Begg, Alex; Bell, John D.; Bellingham Bay Railway and Navigation Co.; Bennett, C. L.; Berry, James T.

1/6 2156-001 Bl-By 1878-1889

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.

1/7 2156-001 C-Cas 1870-1889

Scope and Content: Cain, A. J.; Calkins, W. H.; Campbell, F.; Carleton College, Minnesota; Carrere, J. F.; Carver, Eugene P.; Casto, J.

1/8 2156-001 Cavanaugh, Thomas H. 1889 1/9 2156-001 Ch-Cl 1887-1889

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.

1/10 2156-001 Co-Coll 1889

Scope and Content: Cochran, John W.; Cole, Albert S.; Cole, F. B.; Coleman, Edgar W.; Collyer, Samuel

1/11 2156-001 Colu-Com 1885, 1889

Scope and Content: Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad Co.; Comstock, Joseph

1/12 2156-001 Cor-Cu 1889-1895

Scope and Content: Concordia Loan and Trust Co., Kansas City, Missouri; Coner, E. P.; Cooper, John G.

1/13 2156-001 Cor-Cu 1887-1890

Scope and Content: Cory, Eliza P.; Cory, James Y.; Curtiss, D. S.

1/14 2156-001 Da-Du 1887-1893

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.

1/15 2156-001 El-Es 1885-1886, 1892

Scope and Content: Eldridge, E.; Esplin, Charles

1/16 2156-001 Fa-Fi 1868-1893

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

1/17 2156-001 Fo 1889

Scope and Content: Ford, Georgiana S.; Forrest, W. R.; Fowler, L. D.; Fourth of July Committee(s)

1/18 2156-001 Fr-Fu 1882-1893

Scope and Content: Frary, T. C.; Freemasons; Fuller, George

1/19 2156-001 Ga-Geo 1871-1890

Scope and Content: Garfielde, Selucius; Gatzert, Bailey; George M. A.

1/20 2156-001 Gow-Gu 1889-1890

Scope and Content: Gowey, John F.; Grant, Frederick K.; Gray, James T.; Guilfoil, O.D.

1/21 2156-001 H-Ha 1887-189?

Scope and Content: Handsaker, J. T.; Hanford, Cornelius H.; Harmon, Hill; Hartman, C. W.; Hawkins and Co., Philadelphia; Hayden, James R.; Haynes, A. F.

1/22 2156-001 He-Hi 1884-1889

Scope and Content: Henry, C. V.; Higgins, David; Hight, A. W.; Hill, George D.; Hill, W. Lain; The History Co., San Francisco; Hitchins, ed

1/23 2156-001 Ho-Hu 1878-1891

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

1/24 2156-001 J 1889-1890

Scope and Content: Jenkins, William D.; Johnson, P. B.; Jones and Co., Seattle

1/25 2156-001 K-Ki 1881, 1889

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.

1/26 2156-001 L-Lew 1889-1894

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

1/27 2156-001 Lo-Ly 1876-1894

Scope and Content: Lombard Investment Company; Long, J. H.; Lyons, J. M.; Lysons, Fred H.; Lytle, August

1/28 2156-001 M-Mack 1857-1893

Scope and Content: McCalley, R. M.; McCormick, R. C.; Macdonald, E. C.; McDonough, Thomas; McGraw, John Harte; Mackintosh, A.

1/29-31 2156-001 McNaught (James), Ferry, McNaught, and Mitchell 1878-1895 1/32 2156-001 McT-Mi 1881, 1889

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.

1/33 2156-001 Mo-Mu 1876-1889

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

1/34 2156-001 Na-No 1871-1892

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

1/35 2156-001 Ob-Ow 1894-1889

Scope and Content: O'Brien, R. G.; O'Donnell, William; Olympia and Victoria Railway; Ormsbee, Richard H.; Outburst Publishing Company; Owings, Nicholas H.

1/36 2156-001 Owings, Nicholas H. 1889 1/37 2156-001 Paddock (Rev.) J. A. 1884-1890 1/38 2156-001 Park 1889

Scope and Content: Parkinson, W. J.; Parks, R. H.

1/39 2156-001 Pen-Po 1887-1895

Scope and Content: Pennsylvania University; Perrigo, W. P.; Phelps, H. H.; Philbrick, B. S.; Piltrel, F. A.; Porter, N. S.

1/40 2156-001 Pr-Pu 1887-1890

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.

1/41 2156-001 R-Ru 1887-1897

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

1/42 2156-001 Sc-Seattle A 1879-1890

Scope and Content: Schurz, C.; Scofield, T. D.; Scott, W. D.; Seattle Citizens; Seattle and Eastern Construction Company

1/43 2156-001 Seattle and Lake Washington Waterway Company 1894 1/44 2156-001 Seattle I-Seav 1889-1890

Scope and Content: Seattle Investment Company; Seattle Morning Journal; Seattle Post-Intelligencer; Seattle Steam Candy Works; Seattle Union Veteran Club; Seavy, L. T.

1/45 2156-001 Sem-Shep 1886-1892

Scope and Content: Semple, Eugene; Sheldon, W. S.; Shepard, Thomas R.

1/46 2156-001 Sher-Spa 1876-1893

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.

1/47 2156-001 Spr-Sw 1871-1889

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.

1/48 2156-001 T-Tull 1884-1890

Scope and Content: Thomas, Y. H.; Thompson (Rev.), John R.; Thurston County, Washington Auditor; Trafton, William B.; Tull, Charles D.; Tull, J. T.

1/49 2156-001 Tur-Ty 1889-1890

Scope and Content: Turner, George; Tuttle, L. R.; Twombly, Horatio N.; Tyner, N. N.

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 1871-1889

Scope and Content: Wadsworth, Philip C.; Wadleigh, F. S.; Walker, Cyrus; Warner, Louis B.; Watson, George W.; Waughop, John W.; Weekes, T. J.

1/53 2156-001 Wei-Wil 1884, 1889

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

1/54 2156-001 Wils-Woo 1876-1893

Scope and Content: Wilson, C. L.; Wilson, E. T.; Wilson, G. W.; Wilson, Henry L.; Wilson, John L.; Woodruff, D. E.; Woolley, P. A.

1/55-56 2156-001 You 1883, 1889

Scope and Content: Young, Austin H.; Young, Joseph T.; Young and Boise, New Tacoma, Washington; Young Men's Christian Association, Seattle

1/57 2156-001 Unidentified Letters undated Series 2 Outgoing Correspondence 1869-1893 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 2/4 2156-001 General Correspondence re: San Juan Islands 1870-1875 Series 4 Speeches and Writings 1881-1893 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 2/16-17 2156-001 Personal, General 1873-1895 2/18 2156-001 Personal, Insurance 1860-1896 2/19-26 2156-001 State Documents 1875-1880

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

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 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 3/12 2156-001 Real Estate Notebook 1885 Series 8 Financial Records 1869-1895 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 4/1 2156-001 List of Appointments to the Washington National Guard 1890 Series 10 Notes undated 4/2 2156-001 Legal Notes, Notebook undated Series 11 Miscellany undated 4/3 2156-001 Miscellany undated Series 12 Subgroups: McNaught, Ferry, McNaught, and Mitchell Law Firm, Seattle 1863-1894 4/4-5 2156-001 Incoming Correspondence 1880-1887

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

4/6 2156-001 Enclosures 1880-1893

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

4/7 2156-001 Outgoing Correspondence 1881-1887

Scope and Content: Mostly to Mrs. Elizabeth Monell

4/8 2156-001 Opinion 1880

Scope and Content: Concerns contract between Thomas Prather et al and G. G. Foster et al

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. August 3, 1881

Scope and Content: Action against George Budlong, 1881-1882, re: Terry's third addition to the City of Seattle

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 1880-1881

Scope and Content: Correspondence concerning an alleged land fraud

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. 1886-1887

Scope and Content: Papers related to indebtedness to the Puget Mill Co.

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 5/9-11 2156-001 Ferry, Sarah B. Kellogg: Incoming Correspondence 1870-1906 5/12 2156-001 Ferry Children 1876-1891

Scope and Content: Incoming correspondence from various parties, filed chronologically; notebook of Pierre P. Ferry; photograph, probably of Lincoln Ferry

Series 14 Subgroups: Others 1840-1889 5/13 2156-001 Lindsay, Charles 1840-1845

Scope and Content: Documents concerning transactions between Lindsay and other parties

5/14 2156-001 Puget Sound Transportation Company Minutes 1877 5/15 2156-001 Republican Party, Washington 1880

Scope and Content: Minutes of Territorial Republican Convention, 1880

5/16 2156-001 Seattle, General Relief Committee 1889

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

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, 1806-1865 .03 cubic feet (1 file)

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.