Woodbridge Nathan Ferris was born on January 6, 1853, and died on March 23, 1928. He was an American educator who worked in New York, Illinois, and Michigan. Ferris served as the 28th governor of Michigan and later worked in the United States Senate as a member of the Democratic Party. He founded Ferris State University, and the university is named after him.

Early life

Woodbridge N. Ferris was born on January 6, 1853, in a log cabin near Spencer, New York. He was the first of seven children born to John Ferris Jr. and Estella (Reed) Ferris. He grew up and received his education in Spencer. At age 14, he began attending Spencer Academy. When he was 16, he went to a teacher training program in Waverly and earned his teaching license. After teaching for one year, he decided to continue his studies at a school in Owego.

From 1870 to 1873, Woodbridge studied at the Oswego Normal Training School, which is now known as the State University of New York at Oswego. At Oswego, his teachers included Hermann Krusi, who taught drawing and geometry. Krusi’s father had once worked as a top assistant to Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi at Pestalozzi’s school in Switzerland. Krusi taught Woodbridge a learning method that focused on hands-on activities instead of lectures. Woodbridge used this approach throughout his life as an educator.

Start of career

After graduating from the Oswego teacher training school, Woodbridge returned to Spencer, where he became principal of the village's academy. After one year as principal, Ferris attended the University of Michigan Medical School from 1873 to 1874. In December 1874, he married Helen Frances Gillespie. He met her at Oswego, and she taught at the academy in Spencer during his time as principal. The couple had three sons: Carleton Gillespie (1876–1961), Clifford Wendell (1881, died just after three months), and Phelps Fitch (1889–1935). Ferris taught again at Spencer Academy from 1874 to 1875.

In 1875, Ferris moved to Freeport, Illinois, to become principal of the Freeport Business College and Academy. In 1876, he became principal of the Normal Department of Rock River University. In 1877, he co-founded the Dixon Business College and Academy of Dixon, Illinois. In 1879, Ferris became superintendent of schools in Pittsfield, Illinois, where he remained until 1884.

Continued career

In 1884, Ferris moved to Big Rapids, Michigan, where he started the Ferris Industrial School (now Ferris State University). Ferris was the president of the school until his death and became so closely associated with it that people called him "The Big Rapids Schoolmaster." He also served as the president of the Big Rapids Savings Bank.

During the Panic of 1893, Ferris faced money problems, and his school almost closed. However, several former students lent him money to keep it open. Later, the school was officially registered, and Ferris invested $50,000 (about $2 million in 2024). The school became successful and gained recognition across the country. Over time, it grew to include many respected departments, such as English, business, pharmacy, civil service, elocution, music, and college preparation.

In 1892, Ferris ran for the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan's 11th district but did not win. In 1904, he ran for Governor of Michigan against Republican Fred M. Warner but also did not win. Ferris was a delegate to the 1908 Democratic National Convention and again served as a delegate to the 1912 convention.

Governor of Michigan

Ferris was chosen as governor of Michigan in 1912, making him the first Democratic governor in 20 years. He served from 1913 to 1917. During his time in office, he helped start several reforms, such as a farm colony for people with epilepsy and the Central Michigan Tuberculosis Sanatorium. The Copper Country Strike of 1913–1914 happened while Ferris was governor. After a long period of violence between miners who were striking and workers who continued working for the mine owners, Ferris sent the National Guard to the area. The Guard stayed for more than a year, which caused conflicts between the strikers and the soldiers. The violence between miners, strikebreakers, and the National Guard showed that northern Michigan needed a strong law enforcement presence. This led to the creation of the Michigan State Police after the strike ended.

In 1914, Ferris was named honorary president of the First National Conference on Race Betterment, a meeting about eugenics held at the Battle Creek Sanatorium. He did not attend because the mine strike was still happening. In 1916, he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. Ferris’s successful time as governor and his easy-to-recognize appearance—tall with a full head of silver-gray hair—led to the nickname "Good Gray Governor."

U.S. Senator

Helen Ferris died on March 23, 1917. In 1920, Ferris did not win the election for governor, losing to Alex Groesbeck. On August 14, 1921, he married Mary E. McCloud (1882–1954). Ferris received many honorary degrees, including a master of pedagogy from Michigan State Normal College, and LL.D.s from Olivet College, the University of Michigan, and the University of Notre Dame.

In 1922, Ferris was elected to the United States Senate for the term beginning on March 4, 1923. He was appointed to the Committee on Education and Labor and supported the creation of a federal Department of Education. In 1924, Ferris was again a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. He was Michigan's favorite son candidate for president and received 30 votes on the first ballot. The nomination went to John W. Davis, who lost the general election to Calvin Coolidge.

Death

In early March 1928, Ferris said he would not run again for the Senate. He passed away in Washington, D.C., on March 23, 1928. Ferris was buried at Highlandview Cemetery in Big Rapids. His first wife and his sons, Carleton and Phelps, were also buried there.