Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-10-15
T. W. FERRY DEAD.
Gx.united States Senator from
the Wolverine State.
ONCE VERY PR0MINENTINPoL1TICs
Late Years Found Him Living Retired
Served the state In Both National House
and Senate and Was Given Public Ofice
as Soon as He Attained His Majority
Paralysis Following Some Years of Ill
Health Closes His Career.

Paralysis Following Some Years OF Ill
Health Closes His Career.
Grand Haven. Mich, Oct. 15.-Ex-
United States Senator Thomas W. Ferry
died here very suddenly yesterday
morning of paralysis. He had been in
fair health, excepting for attacks Of
sudden dizziness. until three days ago.
when he took to his bed. Tuesday even
ing he was given hypodermic injec-
tion. The family sat up with him
short time. when he seemed to be
asleep. Yesterday morning he was
found dead in bed. +. =. Ferry and
Colonel Moatague Ferry, his brothers,
reside at Park City. Utah. They have
been wired and as soon as a reply is
received arrangements WIZ be made
for the funeral, which will take place
here. The internent will be at Lake
Forest cemetery. In the death of ex-
Senator Thomas w. Ferry Michigan
as a state loses an honorable. worthy
son. whose fame was national and
whose actions were wont to be watched
by the entire country. Once popular,
powerful and famous. of late years
he had fallen into seclusion and re-
tirement akin to that of a hermit
Broken in health and spirits, sick at
heart for hopes deferred and ambitions
unsatistied, the last fourteen years of
his life he was a complete wreck of his
former self.
Went Early Into Political Life.
Ex-senator Ferry was born at Mack
mac, Mich His father, Rev. William
NJ. Ferry. was Presbyterian mission
airy who long before Michigan became
a state moved to Mackinac island to
labor among the Indians. He built the
Mission House, which every visitor to
the island must have seen and which
now stands in practically the same
condition as he left it. In this historic
al house Thomas w. Ferry was born
June /, 1927. He was educated in the
public schools and early in life entered
upon a public career.
He was a member of the county
board of supervisors the year he at
tanned his majority. At the age OF
% he was elected to the state legisla
ture, and in 1856, some six years later
was elected a member of the state
senate. Michigan selected him as her can
didate forvice president at the ationa
convention held in Chicago in $50. which
nominated Lincoln. In 1864 ne was ap.
pointed to represent his state on the
hoard of managers of the Gettysburg
Soldiers National cemetery and served
Tor years. Michigan was represented
by him at the funeral of President
Lincoln.
Elected to Both Houses of Congress.
In 1866. at the age of 3S. he was elect
cd to congress. and was thrice re-elect
ed. but did not serve the fourth time
being chosen by the state legislature t
the United States senate to succeed ia
cob NJ. Howard. He took his seat il
the senate March 4. 1871, serving q:
president pro tenn. and upon the deatl
OF Vice President Wilson became act
ing vice president of the United States
He was reelected to the senate for ;
second term, and was again choser
in the senate closed in 1888. the yea
which marked his political defeat. H,
was candidate for reelection for ;
third term, but the opposition was s,
strong as to hold the legislature in ;
deadlock, which was broken after sev
eral weeks of fierce contention by tn
election of Thomas w. Palmer. Th,
Ferry was his appointment as a mem
Der OF the state park commission hav
ing charge of Mackinac island. o
which board he was unanimously elect
ed president.