Washington Territory. Governor (1872-1880 : Ferry)

Elisha P. Ferry was born in Monroe, Mich., in 1825. He studied law and was admitted to the bar at Fort Wayne at the age of twenty. In 1848 he moved to Waukegan, Ill., where he practiced law and became the first mayor of Waukegan. In 1852 and 1856 he was presidential elector for his district. He was a member of the constitutional convention in Illinois in 1861, and from 1861 to 1863 he was bank commissioner for that state. During the Civil War he was on the staff of Governor Yates of Illinois, serving as assistant adjutant general with the rank of colonel and assisting in organizing, equipping, and sending into the field a large number of the Illinois regiments. In 1870 Ferry was appointed surveyor general for Washington Territory, and in 1872 he was appointed governor of Washington Territory by President Grant. His reputation and popularity are attested to by the fact that when Washington's citizens were at last allowed to elect their own governor, they chose Ferry.

In his message to the legislature in 1873, Governor Ferry reviewed the history of the San Juan dispute and suggested that a new county be formed in the San Juans, which was done immediately. On that and other issues, Ferry demonstrated an understanding of the needs of the territory. He constantly emphasized the importance of sound legislation in regard to railroads, finance, agriculture and education. In Dec. 1873, the Northern Pacific Railroad finally completed its line to Tacoma, barely meeting the deadline necessary to hold its huge land grants. At the same time, however, the Northern Pacific went bankrupt and the railroad workers went on strike for their back pay, forcing Governor Ferry to call out the Territorial Militia to maintain order.

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