The evening Republican., 1902-05-20
BENJAMIN !,
' FERRIS NIGHT.


ed by the Historical Society Of Della
ware, last evening with Chief JuGtice
Lore in the chair.
Henry c. Conrad lead membir on
Mr.. Ferris by the late Dr. Lewis p.
Bush. Mr.. Conrad, before reading
the paper, said that Delaware owed
debt OF gratitude to Benjamin Fer
ris which had never been paid.
The paper showed that Mr.. Ferris
was the descendant of an English
family which came to this country in
1852. Mr.. Ferris was the first citizen
OF Delaware to gather its annals TO-
gether. Mr.. Ferris was born here
August 7, 1850, and after learning
watch making in Philadelphia, he
returned here until 1913. In this
city he was coNeyancer and was
| also city surveyor.IMr. Ferris always
took an active interest in the affairs
Of the city.
Mr.. Ferris was one of the committee
appointed by the society OF Friends
to investigate the efforts to dislodge
the Seneca Indians from their reser-
vation in New York and took an
active part in that work.
Previous to serving on this commit
tee Mr.. Fer ris had developed the idea
of writing a history of the early
/ settlements in this state. On this
subject ne secured much valuable
knowledge on this point He even
studied the Swedish languagein order
to better study the records Of Old
Swedes Church, but mary changes
have been made in the language and
the work was difficult.
The paper then described the diff
ferent periods covered In the history
. which is familiar to many people, 1t
comes up in 1916 when this city had
population Of 1000.
The whole edition was so soon sold
that it was soon hard to obtain a
copy.
About 1885, Mr.. Ferris withdrew
from business. From that date he
spent bis time in literary pursuits.
lie died at the age Of 81 years. He
was member of The Society Ct friends
and is buried in the cemetery Of that
society.
Mr.. Conrad also exhibited book
of Mr. Ferris, showing u plot of all
the streets in this city. Mr. Ferris
was also an excellent artist, and drew
the picture of Old Swedes Church,
which is the frontispece of its his
tory.
The speaker also exhibited several
other drawings by Mr.. Ferris Mr..
Conrad also called attention TO the
letter of William Penn, presented by
the children of Mr.. Ferris, and con.
tanned in box made from wood of
the boat Welcome, on which William
Penn came to this country.
David Ferris, son Of the historian
was the next speaker. Mr.. Ferris
said his father was born in the house
at Third and Shipley streets, at one
time the old gas Office. His fathers
family were originally Presbyterians
but later became Friends and five Of
them were ministers of the society.
MIR. Ferris then told now his father
had learned watch making. He learn
ed French during his apprenticeship.
and he also learned history. His mem-
CRY of dates was remarkable.
Mr.. Ferris alluded to his fathers
conversational faculties, and to his
good nature. He drew and painted
we'll and wrote excellent rhymes.
Mr.. Ferris once declined to vote
for President of the United States
because he was a communicating chief
of the army. The speaker also alud-
ed to the controversy on religion con-
Quoted by his father and the Rev. e,
Gilbert in the Christian Repository.
Pennock Pussy, read the principal
paper of the evening. Mr.. Pusey's
paper will be published later.
Ezra Fell, Henry f. Pickles, Ell
ward Belts, Elwood Garrett, William
Ferris, William M. Candy, spoke
briefly.
At tire regulAr meeting 81 the
society William NJ. Field presented
the society with number of valuable
maps nd autographs.