Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-07-24
REMIN IsCENC ES.
WRITTEN Tca THE nARrIsssrRs IxpEFxsDEsr
BY A BERKELEY BOY.
William Ferret, A. M, Phi. ID. .

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| read with no little satisfaction
the statement, ia the THE INDIE
PENDENT, that the high honorary
degree of Phi. D., had been con-
ferred on Professor William Fer
rel, formerly of Berkeley but now
of Washington. 1t was well de-
served by the recipient. 1t was
at the same time befitting the
West Virginia University to be-
stow it on one who has reflected
honor on the State whose name
that excellent institution bears,
and to which itself does credit, un-
der the able management of Presi-
dent Martin and his professional
associates. It gives me pleasure
to make this passing mention OF
valued educational appliance
which was much needed in our
section of the Old Dominion, in my
boyhood, and for the lack of which
not few of US Berkeley boys were
compelled to seek collegiate adj
vantages in the institutions en-
dowed by sister States, such as
Princeton, New Jersey, or Can
nonsburg, Pennsylvania-the last
named of which was my Alma
Mater, as it was that of David H.
Riddle, David Hunter, Strother,
James Erskine Stewart, Mormon
Miller, and perhaps other whose
names do not recall. The recip-
lent of the honor from Morgan
town your announcement of which
has furnished me the text of my
present chapter, was educated
partly at Marshall College, at the
time when it was struggling for
a foothold at Mercerburg, and af-
forwards at the feeble though
creditable pioneer Western Vir-
ginia college at Bethany. From
BethanyIhe had previously receiv-
edthe degree of Master of Arts.
And now for the correction of an
error into which you have fallen
in the classification of Prof. Fer
rel as "native of Berkeley" He
was not born in Virginia, but in
Pennsylvania, and in that part of
familiar old Bedford county out of
which Fulton county has been
carved, / believe. His father re-
moved to Virginia, about 1929 or
1880, and settled about two miles
West of Back Creek, not far from
the Warm Spring road, on a farm
which was previously owned and
occupied by Mr.. John CARRIER, and
which is now in possession of one
Professor terrePs brothers. i have
not said the farm was cultivated
or worked by Garber,as the phrase
usually runs, for the reason that in
his later years he got in the habit
of neglecting his farm to an extent
that made his name proverb.-
His only care was for his RYE,
seemingly, consequently he lapsed
into very careless habits.
On one occasion, seeing how ne
elected his fences were, and that
the stray cattle of the neighbor-
hood were making sad havoc in
his corn-field, one Of his neighbors
ventured to expostulate with Gar
Der. The only defense he made
was, "You see I've so much to do
that I've no time to do anything"
Many time have / heard this
standing excuse of neighbor Gar
Der quoted in illustration of the
utter incompatibility of his too
common latter-day habit with ag-
ricultural thrift. His successor, J /.
Benz. Ferrel, father of the Profess
or, was far different sort of man.
He set his sons an example by
which they have not failed to pro-
fit. Not that they have shown any
special relish for the pursuits of the
farmer, for two of them have been
educated as physicians, and have
given more or less attention to
professional pursuits; but they
have all, so far as l have known,
proved themselves to be careful
and painstaking men, not at all
disposed to neglect matters in
hand.
TO the contrary of this, Profess
or Ferrel's persistency, in the pur-
suit of his profession as scientist,
as well as his proficiency, has been
remarkable. He has been OF great
use to the Coast Survey for years,
where his special work is the dis
cussion of tidal observations. he
gave ten or twelve years to the
calculations entering into that for.
midable work known as the 'Nau-
tical Almanac which is under the
supervision of the Navy Depart
ment. The tidal calculations made
by him are printed over his name
by the Government, in the annua
reports of the Coast Survey. They
have received favorable criticisms
from scientific journals at hons