WHO WERE MR. & MRS. W. H. FERRIS?

WHO WERE MR. & MRS. W. H. FERRIS?
AND
THE FRIDAY MORNING MUSICALE CELEBRATES ITS 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN 1952-1953

On July 14, 1901, the Tampa Tribune announced that Louise Frances Dodge of Ann Arbor, Michigan, had reached Tampa and joined the Tribune. Described as a versatile writer and a newspaper woman of experience, "her work will be especially appreciated by the lady readers of the Tribune." Her new feature, "Our People and Others," was first published in July 1901 and appeared on the society page each Sunday edition. Miss Dodge soon won recognition by her brilliant writings, her charming personality, and her qualities of leadership and initiative.

In April of 1902, Louise began a daily society page feature titled "Womans* Ways and Wishes." Two months later she inspired and organized the Student Art Club along with Mrs. C. C. Martin and was joined by several other society women and students of art, electing Mrs. M. L. Douglass as its first president. In 1923 the Tampa Art Institute was formed when the Students Art Club and the Tampa Museum of Fine Arts were combined. *Yes, singular and no apostrophe.

In early Oct. 1902, Louise urged the creation of a music club which would be named "The Friday Morning Musicale." She was encouraged in her efforts by Mrs. Conoley and Mrs. Weller who referred her to Mrs. W. H. Ferris, an outstanding music teacher and organist for St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Together, Louise and Mrs. Ferris started a club of music lovers with Mrs. W. H. Ferris as its first and only president for its first 23 years. The organization continues in Tampa to this day (2024)

The club's meetings opened with a roll call to which members responded with bits of musical news, usually about the composer or topic of the meeting. A report was read about the chosen composer’s life or topic and was followed by four musical numbers selected from the composer’s works or of the type of music being studied. The Musicale later also categorized members into musical departments - piano, soprano, contralto and chorus. As the club expanded, additional departments were added including violin, orchestra and organ.

WHO WERE MR. & MRS. W. H. FERRIS?

Mrs. W. H. Ferris appeared in newspaper articles hundreds of times in Tampa, from 1900 to 1924, due to her musical talent--church organ performances, piano performances, wedding and funeral performances, social events, church events, and travels.

In her lifetime, she was always referred to in the newspapers as "Mrs. W. H. Ferris" except for two mentions as "Mrs. William H. Ferris."

Her husband, W. H. Ferris, was co-owner of a successful shoe business in Tampa, which started in July 1891 when he and Eugene Blain bought the inventory of John Keane.

Their first ads were to get rid of Keane's inventory.

Later, more creative shoe store ads appeared in the newspapers almost daily from 1891 to 1899.

But personally, W. H. Ferris was mentioned only a handful of times in articles from the mid 1890s to 1902 about his business travels and his efforts in organizing the Tampa Wheelmen's bicycle club for which he was its first president.

Mr. and Mrs. Ferris were mentioned in the newspaper together only ONCE in their lifetimes.

The article at right describes a Wheelman's meeting in Chief Harris's office. He was A. J. (Andrew Jackson) Harris, Tampa's popular fire chief. His office, as well as Fire Station 1, was located in the old old City Hall that was built in 1890 and demolished in 1915.

Read more about A. J. Harris.

Read about the details concerning its construction.

MRS. W.H. FERRIS WAS KATHERINE ELIZABETH CRAIG

Mrs. W. H. Ferris was Katherine Elizabeth Craig. She was born Sep. 6, 1870 in Orrville, Ala. to parents Emmet E. Craig & Mary Norman Kittrell.**

*Information given on Kate's death certificate provided by her daughter shows "Kitchener" as her mother's maiden name but online research of her family tree shows several records sources showing Kittrell.

1870 Census, Dallas County, Orrville, Ala.

Katie was born in Orrville, Dallas Co., Ala. fifteen days after this census was taken. On this page, almost all the adult males were farm laborers and none had any values recorded for their real estate or personal property.

By 1880, the Craigs had moved to Hunt Co., TX and Emmet had become a grocer. Hunt County borders Dallas County on the northeast of the Dallas-Ft. Worth metro area and its county seat is Greenville.

Emmet Craig (36) was a grocer on the 1880 Census of Hunt Co., TX. Wife Mary (Kittrell) Craig was 36, with children Katie (9) and Norman W. Craig. (8) both born in Alabama. The census date was June 1, 1880, so Katie would turn 10 that September resulting in an 1870 birth year.

Emmet Craig died in April of 1891.

WHEN WAS KATE CRAIG IN TAMPA & HOW DID SHE MEET WM. H. FERRIS?

In late December 1893, Kate Craig traveled from Texas to visit with her uncle and aunt in Tampa-- Judge & Mrs. Barron Phillips. A reception was held at the Phillips home at which "A number of our most prominent society young people were present." No doubt that William H. Ferris was present, being a successful shoe business owner and grandson of Ft. Brooke/Tampa pioneer merchant William G. Ferris Sr. (who was still living at the time.) Kate was 23 at the time, William H. Ferris was 26. No evidence has been found that Kate had visited Tampa earlier.

Mrs. Barron Phillips was Elizabeth Craig Phillips, sister of Kate's father Emmet E. Craig. Their parents were James Woodburn Craig (1817-1880) and Catherine Quarles (1820-1896).

Judge Phillips and wife Elizabeth Craig were parents of William Sidney Phillips (1879), James Craig Phillips (1881), and Kathleen Phillips (1883). These were Kate's cousins. (Some i nfo from Find a Grave; Catherine Elizabeth Craig Phillips - Phillips family Oaklawn cemetery plot)

Judge Barron Phillips was Kate's uncle by his marriage to Elizabeth Craig, Kate's aunt.

Barron Phillips married Catherine Elizabeth "Betty" Craig on May 11, 1876 in Dallas Co., Alabama.

Judge Phillips died in Tampa on May. 1, 1904.

Read about his life in his obituary.

Mrs. Phillips died in Ashvelle, NC on Sep. 15, 1930.

Read her obits.

"Kate" as she was known socially, married William H. Ferris in Tampa on Feb. 15, 1894. It was six weeks after they met. Their marriage license shows Kate's first letter of her first name was written over due to first misspelling with a "C" instead of a "K." In her own signature, it is a "K."

WHO WAS W. H. FERRIS?

W. H. Ferris was William Houston Ferris (hereafter sometimes referred to as WHF), a grandson of Tampa pioneer merchant William Gould Ferris, Sr. (WGF-1) and wife Eliza Morris. WHF's middle name Houston was his maternal grandmother's maiden name.

THE FERRIS FAMILY OF TAMPA PIONEERS

Below is mostly from the Sunland Tribune Vol. 22, 1996 "Tampa Is The Place of Places" by Kyle Vanlandingham, at USF Library Digital Commons. Italics portions have been added by TampaPix.

	William Gould Ferris, (Sr.) was the founder of one of Tampa’s leading nineteenth century pioneer families. Born June 11, 1810 in Ovid, New York, he was the eldest of five children of Josiah and Lydia (Bangs) Ferris. As a young man, WGF-1 went to the Choctaw Indian Nation Territory (Hempstead County, Arkansas), and was married there on June 4, 1834 to Eliza Morris, a native of Fort Wayne, Ohio. *(Her 1850 & 1860 censuses clearly show Louisiana. Her 1870, 1880 and 1885 censuses show Ohio.) WGF-1* arrived at Fort Brooke (Tampa) from Arkansas in 1841, He was employed by the U. S. Army and soon received orders from a ship in the bay which transferred him to East Florida. (This was the Florida Territory; Fla. was not yet a state until Mar. 3, 1845.) The following year, in 1842, he returned with his family to settle at Fort Brooke, where he served as acting paymaster and sutler to the troops. WGF-1 soon opened a general merchandise and clothing store which was washed away during the great hurricane of 1848. He then built another store on the south side of Whiting Street which he operated until 1857, when he moved the store to the northeast corner of Washington and Monroe Streets (now Florida Ave.) because it was determined to be on Federal Government property. The Fort Brooke northern boundary was Whiting St.
William G. Ferris, Sr. 1810 - 1895 Photo courtesy of Sunland Tribune Vol. 22, 1996 "Tampa Is The Place of Places" by Kyle Vanlandingham.		Eliza Morris Ferris 1817 - 1891 Photo courtesy of Sunland Tribune Vol. 22, 1996 "Tampa Is The Place of Places" by Kyle Vanlandingham.
LOCATION OF W. G. FERRIS' STORE IN 1852 Map key and description has been repositioned in order to show a larger representation of Tampa and the fort structures. Courtesy of the National Archives Mouse over the map to see close up of Ferris' store location. See the larger, uncropped map showing the entire Fort Brooke reservation as it appears on the original map.
In Dec. 1866, his son Josiah Ferris became Acting Mayor of Tampa until Mar. 1869, being City Council president at the time Tampa Mayor E. A. Clarke left Tampa. Always the trailblazer, Col. Wm. G. Ferris was reported by the Sunland Tribune in June 1879 as converting the lighting of his residence from kerosene to gas. In 1880, his son Henry Clarke Ferris was elected Mayor of Tampa. (See newspaper articles in Henry Clarke Ferris section below.)

1855 FERRIS & SON AD IN THE FLORIDA PENINSULAR

"SUPERIOR WINES AND LIQUORS" (for medicinal purposes.)

The July 31, 1890 issue of the Tampa Journal printed a page of descriptions of various Tampa merchants and their backgrounds. Ferris came to Tampa in 1842 and was in business by 1843. His son Josiah assisted in the business as well. Before the early 1880s, Ferris received his goods by sea from New York, but after H.B. Plant finally connected the railroads to Tampa in 1884, he has had them shipped by rail.

1850 CENSUS, FORT BROOKE, POST OFFICE Tampa Bay

William G. Ferris (Sr.), merchant (39, born New York) and wife Eliza M. Ferris (30, born Louisiana*), children: Josiah (15) Clerk b. Arkansas, Mary (13) b. Arkansas, William (6) b. Fla., Ann Eliza (4) b. Fla., Henry C. (2) b. Fla.

*Eliza's birth place is also listed as Louisiana on her 1860 census, but her 1870 and 1880 censuses show Ohio. WGF-2 was their first surviving child born in Florida. Josiah was working as a clerk in his father's store.

Also in 1857, Ferris constructed a new two-story home for his family on Washington Street, just east of the store. In addition to being a prominent merchant, he was a pioneer in the shipping business and owned a number of schooners and steamers.

Perhaps the most famous of the Ferris ships was the steamer Scottish Chief. The Florida Peninsular newspaper reported on July 28, 1860 (portions below) that W. G. Ferris and Son had entered the cattle business and had purchased a small steamer, the Scottish Chief, "a ship well calculated for the cattle industry." Later during the Civil War, the Scottish Chief was used as a Navy blockade runner by Capt. James McKay and was eventually set afire and sunk by Union forces in the Hillsborough River in October, 1863. (Also see "The Life and Times of James T. Magbee Page 2 - 1861 Secession to End of Civil War. and James McKay, Sixth Mayor of Tampa all at TampaPix)

Sunland Tribune Vol. 22, 1996 "Tampa Is The Place of Places"
by Kyle Vanlandingham, at USF Library Digital Commons.
This 1884 Sanborn fire insurance map from the
University of Florida digital maps collection.
shows the house was 1½ stories.

EXCERPTS FROM THE ARTICLE DESCRIBED ABOVE See the whole article. When it opens, click it again to see it full size.

McKay also used the "Salvor" for more than just shipping cattle. During the Civil War, he smuggled supplies past the Naval blockade into Tampa, where he was hailed as a hero, while just before the war he was selling beef and supplies to the Union troops at Key West. On Oct. 14, 1861, while attempting to sneak through the blockade with arms, ammunition, whiskey & cigars from Cuba, the U.S. Navy captured McKay, his ship, his young son, the crew, a few passengers, and his slaves.
Read about the capture of the Salvor and McKay's imprisonment, here at TampaPix.

Monroe street was officially renamed Florida Avenue at a city council meeting on May 2, 1888, but references to Florida Ave. can be found in newspaper articles as early as 1879. The context of its use appears that it refers to the road as it led out of Tampa to the north, beyond the city limits as far north as Buffalo Ave. (now MLKing Jr. Blvd.)

1860 CENSUS, TAMPA

William G. Ferris, Merchant (49, b. New York) and wife Eliza Ferris (43, has aged 13 years since 1850, b. Louisiana*), children: Mary is no longer in the home. Josiah has moved out and is living next door. William (16) , Eliza (14), Henry C. has aged 8 years since the 1850 Census (10) he should be 12 here, Alice (6) was born after the 1850 Census.
*Her birth place in 1870 and 1880 censuses show Ohio.

William G. Ferris, Sr. was a leader in many ventures. He was a founder and fifth largest stockholder of the Florida Peninsular Railroad Company in 1859 and was president of the Tampa Ice Company which built an ice house on Washington Street in 1860. On Nov. 24, 1860, when Hillsborough County citizens convened in a mass meeting at the Alafia to urge secession of Florida from the Union, W. G. Ferris was among those present who signed the petition calling for a state convention to consider the matter. After the Civil War, the Ferrises resumed their shipping business and continued to operate their general store.

THREE SONS OF WILLIAM G. FERRIS, SR. & ELIZA MORRIS

Josiah Ferris
1836 - 1901
Photo courtesy of Sunland Tribune Vol. 22, 1996

JOSIAH FERRIS - ELDEST SON
Italics from City of Tampa Mayors - Josiah Ferris, 11th Tampa Mayor

Born on August 5, 1836 in Arkansas,* Josiah Ferris was the eldest of six children born to William Gould Ferris Sr. and Eliza Morris Ferris.

Josiah , along with his father, enlisted in the Florida militia during the Third Seminole War (1855-1858). Prior to the Civil War, Josiah had become a business partner in his father's general store and cattle business.

The Ferris brothers, Josiah and William, were members of the Tampa Brass Cornet Band, organized March 31, 1860, by J. A. Butterfield. The band’s musical instruments were purchased for $170.11 from W. G. Ferris & Son.

On April 21, 1861 the 20th Florida Regiment (CSA) assumed command at the abandoned Fort Brooke and declared Tampa under Martial Law. Mayor Snell and other City officials served without pay during most of their term when all City salaries were cancelled after May 20, 1861.

Josiah Ferris, no date given.
From City of Tampa Past Mayors.
(TampaPix is not convinceed this is the same person as seen at left. Head shape, eyes and ears are too different.)

Snell resigned as Mayor and hurriedly left Tampa after selling his properties. One possible explanation is that he realized Tampa could not be effectively defended against Union invasion from the sea and had no desire to remain in the city.

Tampa's "S.S. Guards" were the "Sunny South Guards", a volunteer company commanded by Capt. John T. Lesley which became Co. K, 4th Florida Infantry Regiment CSA during the war. Josiah served in the 4th Florida Infantry Regiment.

After the war, Josiah resumed working with his father in the business. Josiah also established a successful jewelry business in Tampa. In 1862, Josiah Ferris married Caroline Rhodes. They had four children: John William, Josiah, Jr., Rawson and Allie. They were married for eight years when, following a brief illness, Caroline Ferris passed away on January 31, 1871. Ferris then married Maggie Knight, with whom he had two children: Thomas Lee and Ghira.

Some former residents of Tampa returned after the war and the citizenry tried to rebuild the town. Efforts were made to re-establish the town's government, however, it took over a year before the citizens of Tampa were permitted to hold municipal elections and other aspects of city government.

On October 25, 1866, Edward A. Clarke was elected mayor of Tampa. Ferris became involved in local politics following the Civil War and served as the president of Tampa's city council. Other council members included Dr. William A. Liveley, Robert Flournoy Nunez and Bartholomew C. Leonardi.

After Mayor E. A. Clarke's quiet departure in December of 1866., Josiah Ferris served as Acting Mayor until John T. Lesley was elected as mayor. Lesley had previously served as Sheriff from 1866 to 1869. Leslie campaigned on a single platform that Tampa's charter should be revoked by the state legislature due to the City's destitute financial condition. The majority of residents agreed and Lesley was elected mayor on March 1, 1869. Josiah Ferris was the first Tampa native to serve as mayor of Tampa, but since he was not an elected mayor, he usually is not considered to be the first. (That credit goes to Thomas Edward Jackson, son of Tampa surveyor and pioneer merchant John Jackson. Thomas was born in Tampa in 1852 and was the 15th (1877) and 24th (1889) mayor of Tampa.)

While under Lesley, a City Clerk, Treasurer (Josiah Ferris) and a City Council was elected; the Lesley Administration did little more than wait until the state legislature revoked Tampa's Charter due to an inactive government. On October 4, 1869, the state legislature responded as expected and revoked the City's charter. When the news reached Tampa, Lesley and other City officials resigned their positions. The Hillsborough County government appropriated all City properties and assumed responsibility for providing educational and other principal services to Tampa's residents. Tampa's status as a non-chartered city continued until August 1873 when residents voted to reincorporate as a town.

Josiah Ferris and his father were two of the founders of St. Andrew’s Church in 1871. Ferris returned to his business ventures and after his second term as a city council member, he campaigned for City Clerk in Aug. 1877 and won. He remained in that position for nine years from 1877-1886 . Josiah Ferris died on November 24, 1901 in Tampa.

Josiah's obituary is incorrect about his birth place.

*TampaPix note: His Tampa Tribune obit claims he was born in New Jersey. This is wrong. His father had died, his mother had died, he was the oldest child, nobody was left who knew where he was born. Earliest OFFICIAL records are the most accurate, and ALL his censuses show Arkansas. His parents MET in Arkansas and MARRIED there in 1834. Two years after Josiah was born, his sister Mary was born in Arkansas.
**The City of Tampa has removed this publication from their website, maybe because of its erroneous information concerning the history of old City Hall and the naming of Hortense, the clock, BUT you can still read it and download it from TampaPix's Dropbox folder.

Josiah Ferris' signature in 1865 on the Florida Oath of Allegiance to the Union at Tallahassee, Fla. Florida's Oath of Allegiance to the Union
(The date has been reproduced here from a line near the top of the page due to ditto marks.)

William G. Ferris, Jr. 1844 - 1867 Photo courtesy of Sunland Tribune Vol. 22, 1996	WILLIAM GOULD FERRIS, Jr. (WGF-2) 2ND SON of WGF-1 & ELIZA MORRIS William G. Ferris, Jr. was born July 29, 1844 in Tampa. He married FLORENCE HUNTER on May 25, 1865 in Leon County, (Tallahassee) Florida. [No license image available.] According to her 1870 Census, Florence was born 1844 to 1845 in Florida. Florence appears on various later records under different first and middle names (Susan and Florence.) Sometimes an initial "A." is used. Online researchers of this family claim the "A" stood for "Andrew," her father's name. Combined, she was Florence Susan A. Hunter, a daughter of Andrew J. Hunter and Mary Houston. TampaPix has been unable to find Andrew and Mary Hunter on a Florida census. However, there is a marriage record of Andrew & Mary from Leon County marriage books.
MARRIAGE OF FLORENCE'S PARENTS - ANDREW J. HUNTER and MARY HOUSTON Florence's parents married in Leon Co., Tallahassee on Jan. 25, 1844. Florida had not yet become a state and was still a U.S. Territory. Their daughter (Susan) Florence Hunter was born in 1844 to 1845. They applied for their license on Jan. 18. See their license.
REMARRIAGE OF MARY HOUSTON HUNTER TampaPix has been unable to find what happened to Florence's father, Andrew Hunter, but on Feb. 20, 1854, Florence's mother, Mary Hunter, married Samuel Humphress at Monticello, Jefferson Co, Fla. Click the image to see it larger. 1860 CENSUS, WAKULLA CO., FLA. Six years and four months later, 15 year old Florence Hunter, and her mother and stepfather, appear on the 1860 Census of Wakulla County, "Between Sopshapey (Sopchoppy) and St Marks Rivers," Newport Post office. Although the census record shows "Humphries," his tombstone, which appears to be the original, (photo courtesy of Find A Grave) shows "Humphress" like his marriage license. Florence was listed last and out of order of descending age in the family of Samuel (40, born in SC) and Mary (44, born in NC). They are followed by what appears to be Samuel's three sons from a prior marriage, as they were born before 1854. John (20, b. c1839-40), Calvin (18, b. c1841-42), William (13, b. c.1846-47). Listed last is Florence Hunter (15, b. c. 1844-45.) This indicates that she was not a child of the head of house. This census did NOT record relationships, but the rule with all censuses was that children of the head of house are always listed first in descending order of age, then non-children of the head of house are listed from oldest to youngest.
HOW DID FLORENCE HUNTER MEET WM. G. FERRIS JR.? The proximity of Wakulla Co. to Leon Co. no doubt played a role in the reason why Florence and Wm. G. Ferris, Jr. met and married in Leon County in 1865. Wakulla County is located just south of Leon County, where Florida's State Capital of Tallahassee is located. Wakulla Co. borders the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Recall Josiah Ferris was in Tallahassee in 1865 to sign the Florida Oath of Allegiance after the Civil War. WGF-1 may have gone up there with him and the quickest way would have been by steam ship from Tampa into Apalachee Bay, to a port on the St. Marks River. They may have met at the port or even in Tallahassee. Or, the brothers may have been on their way back home when the war ended. Their only child, William Houston Ferris (WHF) was born in Jan. 1867 in Tampa, Fla. He was the husband of Katherine Craig.
William G. Ferris, Jr., died two days before his 23rd birthday, on July 27, 1867. As his obituary states, he was so well-known in Tampa that "a more extended [obituary] was entirely unnecessary here at home where he was born..." He died of "dropsy of the chest." West Chester University Digital Commons Dropsy (Dropsey/ Dropsy in the Leg/ Dropsy of the Brain) - An unnatural accumulation of serous fluid in any serous cavity of the body, or in the subcutaneous cellular tissue. The various forms of dropsy affecting different parts of the body are designated by specific names. Heart Failure / Heart Failure and Dropsy/Heart failure.
The Graveyard of old diseases: Dropsy, swelling caused by a fluid buildup, is a symptom of kidney disease or congestive heart failure and can affect the lower exterminates, abdomen, or chest cavity. According to mid-nineteenth-century author Horatio Goodday, over half of deaths from dropsy could be prevented with “good air; suitable clothing, and shelter against excess of damp, cold, and heat; cleanliness, proper food; exercise; rest; and the right observance of the Sabbath.” Cases of dropsy were often deadly and physicians recommended drawing out the fluid to relieve the patient’s suffering and prolong life. Thought.com Historic Causes of Death Dropsy - Edema; often caused by congestive heart failure.

Wiliam G. Ferris, Jr. was buried in Tampa's first cemetery, Oaklawn.
Gravesite photos courtesy of Find A Grave.

HENRY CLARKE FERRIS - 17th MAYOR OF TAMPA, NO PHOTO AVAILABLE
The youngest son of WGF-1 and Elizabeth Morris, Henry Clarke Ferris was born in Tampa on May 21, 1848. He was the second native of Tampa to become its mayor. Term: August 14, 1880 - February 19, 1881. His middle name was in honor of Edward A. Clarke, also a pioneer Tampa merchant and Tampa mayor. Growing up, Henry Clarke Ferris worked in his father's general store and after his father passed away, he took over managing the store. Interested in politics, Ferris successfully campaigned for mayor in August of 1880. At the time of his election, Tampa had only about seven hundred residents. Yellow fever was rampant and Tampa still lacked a railroad. Mayor Ferris only served for six months because during his term, he moved across the river, outside of the town limits. Because of that, he had to resign, and Matthew E. Haynesworth, who was President of the City Council at the time, stepped in as Acting Mayor. Ferris ran again for mayor in 1887, but was defeated by George B. Sparkman, Tampa's first mayor of its second incorporation. Henry Clarke Ferris continued to work as a merchant after leaving office. He was married to Julia Bartholomew, and they had a daughter named Della. He died in Tampa on September 27, 1902.

HENRY C. FERRIS OBITUARY

"Old citizen passed away this morning." He was 54.

No mention of having been mayor of Tampa, no mention of occupation, no mention of surviving family.

WILLIAM HOUSTON FERRIS (WHF) - SON OF WILLIAM G. FERRIS, JR. AND FLORENCE HUNTER FERRIS

Three years after the death of her husband, Florence Ferris and three year old William H. Ferris are on page 140 of the 1870 Census. "Inhabitants in" is blank because Tampa as an incorporated area no longer existed, its charter having been dissolved. Others listed in the vicinity are mostly farm laborers, and the presence of William Ashley and Constance Bourquardez nearby indicate this is probably an area in the "north" of Tampa which is now the area around Oaklawn Cemetery from Harrison St. to Interstate 275. The value of her real estate, $1,500, indicates a larger plot of land than most others in the area, and her personal property, $500, indicates she was no poor widow. Living in her home were a 30 year old black cook named "Rachel Ferris" and black house servant named Charles H. Hendry. Also in the home were a black sailor named Frank Seward (20) and Sylvey Seward (11) a nurse(at age 11?). It's possible Florence was being supported by her father-in-law WGF-1 or an inheritance as her occupation is "keeping house."

WHF was 3 years old and if recorded correctly, this was his age on June 1, 1870, the official census date. Even though the enumerator visited on July 15, 1870. it means he was born sometime from June 2, 1866 to June 1, 1867, because all ages were to be recorded as their age was on their last birthday on or before June 1, 1870.

1870 CENSUS, TAMPA

TAMPA AND FT. BROOKE AFTER THE CIVIL WAR

After military units were transferred from Fort Brooke in 1858, it was leased to Captain James McKay but his use was interrupted first by Confederate and then Union troops. When the fort was occupied by the Confederates, the place was bombarded several times by Union warships. At the conclusion of the conflict, Union troops occupied the post as a base of operations for the military occupation of the area until 1869.

As Tampa languished during the 1870s and early 1880s, so did Fort Brooke. When the occupying troops left Fort Brooke during Reconstruction days, some of the land was declared part of the public domain and squatters moved in. When yellow fever became a grave problem for the artillerymen stationed at Key West, military authorities searched for a nearby place where most of the men could be moved during the so-called "sickly season."

FLORENCE HUNTER FERRIS MARRIES CHARLES HANFORD

Three years after the death of her young husband, and less than two months after the 1870 Census, Florence married Irishman Charles Hanford on Sept. 1, 1870 in Tampa.

Marriage record of Mrs. Florence Ferris and Charles Hanford.

CHARLES HANFORD ON THE 1870 CENSUS

Charles Hanford was born c1845 in Ireland according to his 1870 Census which was taken bout two months before his marriage to Florence Ferris. His occupation was "QM USA" (Quartermaster). Hanford was living next to Spanish Tampa pioneer Joseph Robles and Joseph P. Robles (his son.) On the previous page was Judge Perry G. Wall, merchant John Darling, cattleman & merchant John T. Lesley, steamer captain James McKay Jr., merchant James McKay Sr., stock raiser William (B) Henderson, sailor Josiah Ferris (Jr), and merchant Christopher Friebele. On the next few pages were merchant John Jackson, Dr. Franklin Branch, merchant Edward A. Clarke, and William G. Ferris, Sr., These were all early Tampa pioneers who had businesses and homes in the heart of Tampa on or near Franklin Street at Jackson St., Washington St. and Whiting St. Recall Florence Ferris was living with her son six pages away from Hanford, on page 140, in the northern part of town near what is now Tampa Heights.

"Inhabitants in" is blank because there was no Tampa city limits, town or village. The charter had been dissolved.

According to a Sept. 23, 1871 Fla. Peninsular article which mentions him, Mr. Hanford was the Quartermaster's Agent for Fort Brooke at the time. The article is in poor condition and beyond enhancement to be presented here, so here is a transcription. it is a letter to the Peninsular by an unnamed writer.

THE PENINSULAR, Saturday, Sept. 23d, 1871 - H. L. Mitchell, Editor.

The Late Sheriff and Tax Collector of Hillsborough County.
MR. EDITOR--The circumstances attending the death and burial of the late Wm. McFarland, a prominent member of the Republican party, and a gentleman held in high esteem for his many virtues and amiable qualities, having given rise to some comment "it is well perhaps that an authentic account should be furnished the readers of the PENINSULAR in order that the personal and political friends of the deceased may know, and draw their own references."
Col. McFarland was seized with the prevailing fever one week ago while on a visit to his friend, Dr. Hamlin at Sulphur Spring, and notwithstanding the most skillful treatment and careful nursing on the part of Dr. and Mrs. H, sunk until Thursday morning at five o'clock when he expired. Notice was promptly sent to his friends in town, and every one naturally expected that nothing would be spared on their part to show every respect to his remains. The necessity of using every expedition in the matter was evident; but notwithstanding this, it was found that preparations were only begun. Imagining somewhat the feelings of Dr. Hamilin and family under such circumstances, MR. CHARLES HANFORD, Quarter Master's Agent at Fort Brooke, accompanied by the Rev. R. A. Simpson of the Episcopal Church, drove out to Dr. Hamlin's residence, there arriving at === (damage to page) they found Dr. Hamlin ill and in bed, and the remains of the lamented Col. McFarland in status quo as for the previous fourteen hours. This may be better imagined than described. Two hours more elapsed, and neither friends nor coffin arriving, the imperative necessity of immediate Burial was but too apparent. The suggestion was made that the lateness of the hour precluded the possibility of removal and subsequent interment in the cemetery near town and consequently a grave had better be prepared near the spot. At 10 P.M., assisted by Mr Henry Murphy, a neighbor of Dr. Hamlin, this arduous task was commenced, and at 11 no coffin being forthcoming, Messrs. Hanford, Simpson and Murphy, carried the shrouded remains of an honest man and good citizen to their last resting place, some two hundred yards north west of the Doctor's residence. Here, literally "no useless coffin enclosing his breast," he was committed to Mother Earth, the solemn words of the Church's last ritual for the dead being recited by the Rev. Mr. Simpson, as the fading radiance of the fair Southern moon dimly beamed from the horizon. These are the facts, gentle reader, and truly "facts are stubborn things."

"Alas for the varity
Of Christian charity,
Under sun."

CHARLES HANFORD AND FORT BROOKE HISTORY
(See "Final Battle for Ft. Brooke" at TampaPix.com for sources.)

In 1864, Northern forces destroyed all of the main buildings inside Fort Brooke and destroyed a salt processing factory owned by Confederate blockade-runner and former Tampa Mayor James McKay. Union forces occupied the fort from 1864 until 1869. According to The Final Years of Fort Brooke" by James Covington, Sunland Tribune, Charles Hanford was one of the commanders at Fort Brooke at this time. From 1869, the fort fell into disrepair. By 1873, the buildings in the Fort Brooke federal reservation were unoccupied and James McKay was given a lease to use the wharf and one-half of the warehouse for his cattle shipping operations. Captain McKay at this time had the largest fleet of schooners and steamers in the state of Florida.

Charles Hanford married Florence (Hunter) Ferris on Sep. 1, 1870 in Tampa. Her son William H. Ferris was about 3½ years old.

In 1871, Charles Hanford was one of the founding members of St. Andrews Episcopal church. According to an article in the Florida Peninsular, a organizational meeting was held on July 24, 1871. The following gentlemen were elected Vestrymen: Henry L. Crane (son of H. A. Crane, future owner of the Orange Grove Hotel, County Judge, Justice of the Peace, U.S. Deputy Court Clerk, late 1870s - 1890s, U.S. Commissioner 1879-1920), H. L. (Henry Laurens) Mitchell (current editor of the Peninsular late 1860s to 1870s, lawyer, Fla House of Rep, future Supreme Ct. Justice, future 16th Gov. of Fla), Wm. G. Ferris (Sr.), Josiah Ferris, E. A (Edward A.) Clarke (dry goods merchant and former 10th Tampa mayor 1866, T. K. (Thomas) Spencer (merchant and former editor and owner of the Peninsular late 1860s, future editor Sunland Tribune) and Charles Hanford." Crane and Spencer were elected Church Wardens and Hanford Secretary of the Vestry. (From St. Andrew's Episcopal church history.) See Tampa Newspaper History at TampaPix

Charles Hanford was appointed Tampa's Postmaster from Oct. 21, 1872 to Dec. 9, 1872. This was the shortest term of postmaster service through 1906. See a 1909 Tribune article of the history of Tampa's post office and its postmasters.

Image from National Archives "Postmaster Appointments for Hillsborough County, Florida, p.2

Hanford served as the appointed Hillsborough County clerk from Sept. 1872 to March 1873. According to Karl Grismer's "A History of the City of Tampa and the Tampa Bay Region of Florida," by mid-summer of 1873 economic conditions had improved to such an extent that the citizens of Tampa decided that a municipal government should be re-established. So a meeting was held August 11 and the 48 electors who attended voted to incorporate, this time as a town instead of as a city. James E. Lipscomb was elected mayor, Charles Hanford, clerk, and John G. Robles, marshal. Councilmen elected were W. T. Haskins, E. A. Clarke, John T. Lesley, Josiah Ferris and Henry L. Crane. Hanford served as Tampa's City Clerk for seven months from Aug. 11, 1873 to March 11, 1874.

FORT BROOKE INSPECTED
The Final Years of Fort Brooke" James Covington, Sunland Tribune, 1981 University of S. Florida Digital Commons.)

One who became concerned about the condition of the area in 1874 was Charles Hanford who commanded the Union troops at the fort when they occupied the place. He noted the grass and weed-ridden cemetery, "No longer is it a fit resting place for soldiers." Charles Hanford to Major General Emery, October 20, 1874,"
The cemetery, one-fourth of an acre square was located one-fourth of a mile from the reduced military reservation.

In response to Charles Hanford's letter to the Army command, $200 was spent by the Quartermaster Corps to improve the conditions. In an inventory of the standing buildings made during the 1870s, the following valuation was made: Officer’s quarters, 85 x 46, $3,000; barracks, 110 x 50, $1500; hospital, 42 x 30, $500; mess hall, 50 x 25, $500; bake house, 50 x 25, $300; storehouse, $50; commissary, $100; flag staff, $500; four wooden cisterns, $480 and boardwalk, $50, making a grand total of $7,180.40.

This letter to Gen. Emery is the last known official record of Charles Hanford in Tampa, but there is one more mention for 1885, the validity of which is unverified by TampaPix. (See section below on Florence Hanford on the 1880 Census). Mentions of a Charles Hanford in northern newspapers BEFORE 1870 and AFTER 1874 are numerous, but there's no way to tie him to Tampa's Charles Hanford, as there is no mention of age or native country of Ireland or military involvement. The Oct. 6, 1862 Brooklyn Daily Times published an article "The 90th Regiment at Key West" stating "The New Era, dates Sept. 27, published at Key West, Fla. has been received. It contains only one additional death from yellow fever--that of CHARLES HANFORD, Co. E...." Further research reveals that this was Charles N. Hanford who, like Tampa's Charles Hanford, was born in 1844-45 but in New York and was the son of New York natives William H. and Charlotte M. Hanford, and grandson of Ozias & Mary Hanford. These families lived in the town of Umadilla, Otsego County, NY where William H. Hanford was a shoemaker. Charles N. Hanford was buried at Barrancas Cemetery, Pensacola, where many U.S. Civil War dead were transferred from Key West and Fort Brooke cemeteries.

In 1877 the size of the Ft. Brooke government reservation land was reduced. The military authorities regained control of Fort Brooke when the President of the United States set aside 155 acres in January 22, 1878 and May 29, 1878, for military purposes with the remaining land kept in the public domain, which became known as the town of Fort Brooke.

In 1880 Captain Jacob Rawles of the Fifth Artillery made a thorough inspection of the 155 acres with its rundown buildings, Indian mound, scattered live oak and orange trees, dock, cemetery, springs, winding creek and thick woods to the east of the buildings. In his report dated September, 1880, Rawles noted that there were no storehouses at all on the site. Quarter-master supplies for the troops from Key West were either placed under tents or in an old log stable and food stored in an old guard house building. Officers’ quarters likewise in poor condition, consisted of one building containing a hall and four rooms on the first floor, and four attic rooms on the second. (This is the building seen in the classic old photos of "The Officer's Quarters" showing a long porch with rocking chairs.) Two kitchens to prepare food for the officers were located twenty feet from the building, but under a common roof that needed shingles. Only one large wooden building served as housing for the artillerymen from Key West. The doors and windows had been stolen and the sills under them were in a rotten state. New floors and a roof were needed. The hospital consisted of a small wooden building which contained a dispensary, beds for twelve patients and erected nearby was the kitchen.

During the winters of 1878-79, and 1879-80, the Key West garrison was moved to Fort Brooke where it remained until traces of Yellow Fever had disappeared from Key West. Believing that the seasonal move from Key West to Tampa would become an annual event, the quarters at Fort Brooke were given a thorough evaluation by military authorities. During the time that the post had been deserted, people of Tampa had roamed through the deserted post removing windows and doors, and carrying away boards and bricks for use in their homes. Such removals were commonplace. Insult was added to injury at Fort Brooke when citizens deposited their "night soil" on the grounds. Years later, the town of Fort Brooke would be a filthy, disgusting area with its own mayor, law enforcement, and town government. The town of Ft. Brooke remained a separate municipality until it was annexed into Tampa in 1907.

Soldiers standing at attention in camp at Fort Brooke. This is very likely to be the Key West Troops who were stationed there from May 1880 to 1882, after which time the fort was decommissioned.
This photo is from the USF Digital Collection where it is attributed to the Burgert Brothers and dated "1880?" It's not possible that the Burgert brothers took this photo. The oldest Burgert brother was Willard Chesney Burgert and would have been 5 years old in 1880. This photo is part of the Burgert's "Relic photo" collection--photos they bought from other photographers.

On December 24, 1880 the Secretary of War authorized the expenditure of one thousand dollars for the repair of the buildings and detailed sketches of proposed barracks buildings planned for Fort Brooke can be found in the military records at the National Archives.

KEY WEST TROOPS LEAVE FORT BROOKE, POST IS DECOMMISSIONED
The Sunland Tribune gives Fort Brooke a glowing review as if it was in a tourist brochure.

The troops from Key West remained in Tampa from May 1880 until 1882 when they were transferred during the "sick season" to St. Augustine and Mount Vernon, Alabama. The last roll call of soldiers occurred in 1882 and the last soldiers were shipped out in December the same year. The post was decommissioned by the US Army in 1883. In 1883 the War Department relinquished title to the Interior Department and the reservation was opened to homestead applications at the Federal Land Office. This started "The Final Battle for Fort Brooke."

It wasn't annexed into Tampa until 1907.

FLORENCE HANFORD ON THE 1880 CENSUS
Living in the "Town of Tampa" with her son, Willie Ferris (13) who was attending school, Florence was still "housekeeping" which indicated no occupation for income. This record indicates Florence was divorced, Charles Hanford is nowhere to be found on this census. The enumerator was to record a slash (\) in col. 11 if widowed, or write a "D" in col. 11 if divorced. The appearance of a "D" could therefore not be an accidental careless mark by the enumerator.

This was the first census to record the birth place of the person's parents. It shows Florence's parents were from North Carolina. A search for Andrew J. Hunter or Mary Hunter or Mary Houston born in NC yielded no conclusive census results.

She lived near carpenter John T Givens, James McKay (Jr.), John McKay (his bro.), editor & Publisher Thomas K. Spencer, blacksmith John H. Krause, lawyer & editor James T. Magbee, merchant John Darling, merchant Wm. B. Henderson, physician & editor John P. Wall. these are all early Tampa pioneers who lived in the heart of Tampa near Franklin St. & Jackson, northward to around Cass. St.

MENTION OF CHARLES HANFORD IN TAMPA FOR 1885

According to The City Clerks of Tampa, 2nd Ed., Sept 2017, Charles Hanford was one of the founding members of Tampa's Board of Trade in 1885. But in Karl Grismer's history of Tampa, Hanford is not among those listed who attended the meeting when it was organized on May 7, 1885. The initial membership was dominated by retail store owners (27 out of 63 members.) There are no Tampa newspapers online for 1885.

According to Grismer:
The Board of Trade was organized Thursday night, May 7, 1885, at a meeting of the town's boosters in Branch's Opera House. Dr. John P. Wall was elected president; John T. Lesley, vice-president, and Thomas A. Carruth, secretary. Its first members included practically all the progressive citizens of Tampa. They were: E . P . Seclor, H . Herman, Edward A. Clarke, Christophper. L. Friebele, William. G. Ferris (Sr.), George H. Packwood, W . A. Morrison, H. E. Cleaveland, David. S. Macfarlane, A. B. M cKenzie, Lawson Chase, George T. Chamberlain, Dr. J. A. Giddens, Perry G. Wall, II., H. L. Knight, Silas. A. Jones, A. J. Knight, I. S. Giddens, W. C . Brown, Thomas. C. Taliaferro, J. H. Fessenden, Fred. A. Salomonson, Thomas A. Carruth, W. N. Conoley, C . L. Ayres, J . A. Campbell, S. B . Leonardi, J. D Clarke, Hugh. C. Macfarlane, A. S. Lenfestey, Augustus. C . Wuerpel, H. W. Fuller, S. P. Hinckley, Thomas E. Jackson, Thomas. K. Spencer, James McKay, Jr., J. V. Brannan, Fred Ferman, D. F. Hammond, H . J. Cooper, Dr. George B. Weedon, John T. Givens, Dr. H. R . Benjamin, John F . Browning, N. Dixon, W. J. Allen, J. H. Dorsey, Paul Jones, W. S. Hancock, John B. Spencer, J. T . Anderson, Stephen. M. Sparkman, William B. Henderson, W. A. Givens, William Hayes, Jr., F. J. LaPenotiere, J. M. Johnson, 0. J. Andreu, M . Lovengreen, Dr. Duff Post, E. L. Lesley, S. L . Biglow, George B. Sparkman, James T. Magbee and J. E. Mitchell. Unquestionably the most important achievement of the Board of Trade was the part it played in bringing the cigar industry to Tampa. (Some first names have been added by TampaPix.)

If the Tampa City Clerks publication is correct, Hanford was still in Tampa in 1885 when the Board of Trade was established.

FLORENCE HANFORD ON THE 1885 STATE CENSUS
On the June 30, 1885 state census of Florida, Florence Hanford was recorded as widowed and running a boarding house in Tampa. The question is, was she first divorced and by 1880, her ex-husband had died? The first mention of her boarding house in Tampa newspapers is found in the Weekly Tribune issue of Jun 16, 1888. The article is a list of businesses and their incomes for the one week ending Jun 9th, 1888. It shows "Mrs. Hanford, boarding house, $20. Over the next decade are a about half a dozen mentions of a visitor renting there. The address 508 Twiggs was her home.

The first Sanborn Fire Insurance maps to cover this area of Twiggs Street was in 1895. The house was a 1½ story wood frame structure with a room extended from the rear on the northwest corner, and a separate porch in the front which was probably a direct entrance to the room. Florence's kitchen was rather large for a house this size. The east side of the house faced the west end of the Academy of the Holy Names convent built in 1891. It was demolished in Oct. 1925 and eventually became the site of the City Markets in 1927. Its last life was as a U-Save supermarket from 1947 to 1991.

Morgan St. has been narrowed in this image to conserve horizontal space.
See a 1925 photo of the convent taken just before demolition from the location of Florence Hanford's property at Morgan St. and Twiggs.

See a history of the convent and the City Markets and many old photos here at TampaPix.

The 1885 Census shows Florence at age 38, widowed, and her occupation was "Private boarding house." In her home was only her son, Willie F. Ferris (incorrect middle initial.) Enumerated three households away was James McKay (Jr.), "sea captain," and his wife Mary E. and their six children. Next to the McKays were W.G. Ferris (Sr.) merchant, (73) with wife Eliza M. (67) and daughter Alice C (12).

WHF married Katherine Elizabeth Craig in Tampa on Feb. 15, 1894. He was a shoe merchant with Ferris & Blain in Tampa from 1892 to 1899, and after a short time in a Navy mercantile company, he became a furniture salesman in 1902. By 1904 he moved to Birmingham and continued a successful furniture business there where he was joined by his mother in 1909. His wife remained in Tampa all her life and would visit him now and then, sometimes with their daughter. Mrs. Ferris was a piano teacher and talented performer for many years in Tampa. She was the first and only president of the Friday Morning Musicale in Tampa for its first 20+ years until her death in 1924. She and WHF had only one child, Katherine Norman Ferris, her middle name being her uncle's, Norman W. Craig.

Eliza (Morris) Ferris died in Tampa, Oct. 31, 1891.

William. G. Ferris Sr. died in Tampa, Aug. 3, 1895, after a long and productive life.

William Gould Ferris, Sr. photo from Sunland Tribune Vol. 22, 1996 "Tampa Is The Place of Places" by Kyle Vanlandingham, at USF Library Digital Commons.

See TampaPix Tampa & James McKay during the Civil War and Tampa during the 1848 Hurricane.

WILLIAM HOUSTON FERRIS AND WIFE KATE CRAIG FERRIS

Three months after marrying W. H. Ferris, Mrs. Ferris (Katherine Craig Ferris) was off to Dallas, probably to see her parents.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ferris was busy with his shoe store.

FERRIS & BLAIN MOVES 2 BLOCKS NORTH

1892 - Ferris & Blain shoe store in the 2-story brick Gould Building at 508 Franklin St. "B & S" was "boots & shoes." There was a dentist on the 2nd floor. Yellow buildings were wood frame.	1895 - Ferris & Blain shoe store on the Davis Block at 708 Franklin St. (outlined in red) in 1895. The building outlined in blue was 3 stories and being built at the time the map was planned. In 1926 the Tampa Theater was built across Franklin Street, replacing the two brick buildings seen here.


WHF traveled often to purchase shoes for his business. In 1895 his partnership with Eugene Blain was mutually dissolved due to Blain becoming general manager of a lumber company.
The first mention of Mrs. Ferris' musical talent is found in the Dec. 8, 1895 Tampa Tribune. She was in the news hundreds of times in her lifetime concerning various public performances on the piano and pipe organ in funerals, weddings, shows and society club meetings.

After mutually dissolving their Ferris & Blain partnership, W.H. Ferris continued in the shoe business for four more years.



	He then sold his shoe business to H.T. Vatterlin in late September of 1899. It was expected that Mr. & Mrs. Ferris would soon move up north, but only part of this would be correct.
There was a mob scene at the store when Vatterlin put all of Ferris's inventory on sale for drastically reduced prices. Vatterlin had to shut the doors and let one person in at a time as one person left.		Mr. Ferris did some travelling after he sold his store.
Without any prior mention, W. H. Ferris had joined C.P. [sic] Baker at his Tampa Naval Stores.	Tampa Naval Stores Co. filed for incorporation in Oct 1899 with $100k capital stock. The company was to engage in extensive naval stores business, with Tampa & Port Tampa as its principal business points. T.A. Jennings Pres, DeSoto Fitzgerald VP, C.B. Baker sec. & treas. Other incorporators were M.J. Wood, C.A. Jacobson. Incorporation completed Nov. 8, 1899 in Tallahassee, "to conduct business of naval stores merchants, general commission and factorage business in naval stores, farm products, operating naval stores, sawmills, tram roads, steam boats, deal in real and personal property and conduct a storage and wharfage business." After initial raging success, the company went out of business in 1905 due to a rise in railroad freight rates, with corporate leaders leaving for other companies due to the decline of the turpentine business in Tampa and its relocation to Jacksonville. The company reorganized in Oct. 1905.	TFC had been around since at least 1890, located on the "Arnold block" of Franklin St.
	"Knight of the grip" was slang for a traveling salesman. After this, W. H. Ferris is mentioned a few more times in Tampa newspapers (1904, 1905 & 1909, see timeline below). He moved to Birmingham, Ala. before 1904 and started a furniture business there. His wife and daughter remained in Tampa.

FERRIS FAMILY TIMELINE

1850 Jun 01	Census of Tampa lists children of Wm G. Ferris (39) and Elizabeth Ferris (30): Josiah, 13 (1834-35); Mary; William, 6 (1843-44); Ann Eliza, 4 (1845-46); and Henry C, 2 (1847-48).
1860 Jun 01	Census of Tampa shows William Ferris (Jr.) age 16, living in the home of his parents W.G. (49) and Eliza Ferris (43). William G. Ferris, Jr, b. Jul 29, 1844, d. Jul 27, 1867 buried in Tampa's Oaklawn Cemetery. Eliza (14), Henry C. (10), Alice (6).
1865 May 25	Marriage #1362 Leon County, William G. Ferris and Florence A. Hunter
1870 Jun 01	Census, Tampa - Susan F. Ferris 25 (b. c1845, Fla.), William H. Ferris 3, b. Fla. She has a 30 yr old black servant cook Rachel and real estate $1500 and personal property $500. This is more than most men on the page and surrounding pages. She was no poor widow. It is assumed that William's mother was Susan Florence Ferris as on later records she is "Florence."
1870 Sep 01	Marriage license, Tampa, Mrs. Florence Ferris and Charles Hanford, married by Wm E. Collier, Matt P. Lyons clerk of Ckt Ct.
1870 Sep 06	Katherine Elizabeth Craig born in Orrville, Ala. to Emmit E. Craig & Mary Kittrell Craig
1880 Jun 01	Census of Hunt Co, TX - E.E. Craig (36) Grocer, M.K. Craig, wife (36) Katie, daughter (9), and son N.W. Craig (8, Norman.)
1885 Jun 30	Florida Census, Hillsb. Co - Florence Hanford 38, widowed, private boarding house, son William 18
1894 Feb. 15	Marriage of William H. Ferris and Katherine E. Craig, Tampa.
1895 Feb. 20	Daughter Katherine Norman Ferris born in Tampa. Middle name for mother's brother.
1895 Nov. 02	TRIB: Mr. W.H. Ferris continues shoe business at the same old stand after Blain of Ferris & Blain dissolves partnership mutually.
1897 Aug. 19	TRIB - W.H. Ferris president of Tampa Wheelmen bicycle club.
1898 Mar 18	TRIB - Hyde Park Tea Guild meets at residence of Florence Hanford, 508 Twiggs. This is William's mother, Florence Hunter Ferris Hanford.
1899 Sep 28	TRIB - Mrs. W. H. Ferris and little daughter return from Atlanta
1900 Feb. 04	TRIB - An event was held at the home of Mrs. Hanford on Twiggs St. and was the "center of attraction for society's queens...when Mrs. W. H. Ferris graciously received her young friends."
1900 June 01	Census, Tampa, William (32), b. Jan 1868 Fla, wife Katherine (28), dau Katherine (5). They were living in home of his widowed mother at 508 Twiggs St, Florence Hanford 52. He was owner of shoe business, Katherine was a music teacher. The 1900 Census recorded birth month, year, and age. William's birth year and age are incorrect. If he was born in January it would have been in 1867 because he was 3 on the June 1, 1870 Census. He would have been 33 on the 1900 Census.

1902 Jan 02	TRIB - Mr. W. H. Ferris is now with the Tampa Furniture Co.
1904 Jul 29	One of two articles that mentions Mr. & Mrs. Ferris together. Kate and her daughter left Tampa to join Mr. Ferris in Birmingham. They were to spend part of the summer at Lookout Mountain and St. Louis before returning to Tampa in October.
1905 Sep 26	The second article that mentions Mr. & Mrs. Ferris. Mrs. Ferris often vacationed in the Carolinas or elsewhere in the north each summer, usually with her daughter, but not every time. Here, only William's mother and daughter come visit William in Birmingham while his wife visits friends in Indiana after having spent time at Lookout Mountain in NC.
1907 Jan 12	Birmingham, Ala. Post-Herald: W.H. Ferris starts appearing in Birmingham newspapers, elected as member of the Birmingham Commercial Club, then in ads for his furniture store.
1908 Jul 03	Birmingham News: W. H. Ferris WANT AD - To rent a warehouse of buy a lot on Belt RR. W.H. Ferris, 2121½ 3rd Ave.
1908 Aug. 02	Birmingham Post-Herald: W. H. Ferris WANT AD Salesmen to sell furniture as a side line to dealers.
1908 Aug 09	Birmingham Post-Herald: Oct. 1 one room 50 x 200 ft; large electric elevator and private RR track.
1909 Jan 01	Birmingham News: NEW CORPORATIONS - "W. H. Ferris Furniture Company" filed in the Probate Court. Authorized capital stock at $5,000, fully subscribed and paid up. Officers are: K. C. Ferris, president (this is Kate Craig Ferris, William's wife); F. H. Hanford, vice president & secretary, (Florence Hunter Hanford, William's mother); W. H. Ferris, treasurer & manager. Kate's and Florence's involvement with the company appear to be only a matter of William obtaining corporation status as neither of them ever seem to mentioned in the news as being involved with the company.
1909 Nov. 11	TRIB - Florence Hanford is moving to Birmingham to live with her son.
1910 Apr 15	Census of Birmingham, Ala. W. H. Ferris was living with his 60 year old widowed mother, Florence Hanford. He was 42,* born in Fla., married for 16 years, furniture store merchant, but his wife is not in the home. He was born Jan. 1867, he would have been 43 by April 15, 1910.
1910 Apr 15	Kate Ferris does not appear under any name on the 1910 Census or in the 1910 Tampa City Directory.
1911 Jun 13	Birmingham News - W. H Ferris WANTED - To buy, sell or exchange second-hand furniture; also to pack and ship household goods. 2113 2nd Ave, 2121½ 3rd Ave.
1911 Jun 23	Birmingham News - - FOR SALE at factory cost, 100 sample iron beds. W.H. Ferris, 2121½ 3rd Ave.

1911 Jul 30	TRIB - Mrs. W. H Ferris traveled to London with mother Mrs. Craig of Texas to attend royal opera.
1913 Sep 21	TRIB AD - PIANO AND PIPE ORGAN - Mrs. W.H. Ferris, organist and director of St. Andrew's choir, teacher of piano, (Sherwood), pipe organ, (Flagler). Trained accompanist, coaching of best masters abroad. Phone 1327 or 498. Florida Open Air School.
1914 Jul 16	TRIB - Miss Katherine Ferris, who has been the guest of her (paternal) grandmother, Mrs. Florence Hanford, is now visiting in New York. Later Miss Ferris will take a motor trip through the Adirondacks, Catskills and into Canada before entering Sweet Briar, where she will attend school next year.
1914 Sep 22	Annette Sperry succeeds Mrs W. H Ferris who resigned as St. Andrew's organist
1914 Oct 23	Birmingham News - Mrs. William Ferris spent some time with relatives in Dallas, TX and now visiting her mother [in-law] Mrs. Hanford, on 11th Ave So. before returning to her home in Tampa.
1918 Jul 29	Florence Hanford, mother of W.H. Ferris, died in Birmingham on July 29, 1918. Her obits say she was 76. She was at most 73. Florence's parents married in Leon Co., Tallahassee on Jan. 25, 1844. Assuming Florence was born no less than 9 months later, she would have been born in Oct. 1844. Her 1860 Census age of 15 puts her birth at 1844-45. Her 1870 Census age of 25 also puts her birth at 1844-45. Her 1880 Census age of 35 also puts her birth at 1844-45. As time passes, a person's age becomes unreliable on censuses. Her 1900 Census age is incorrect, it says she was 52, BUT it shows she was born Oct. 1847. The census date was June 1, so the math was probably done to arrive at 1847. Her birth month of Oct. being reliable, it shows she was born 9 months after her parents married. . In 1910 she was listed at 60; she would have been 64. In Oct. 1918 she would have turned 74, but she died in July, so she was 73. She was buried in Tampa's Woodlawn Cemetery. Her obit of July 31 in the Tribune "Roll of the Dead" says she had lived in Birmingham for four years. This is incorrect; she moved there in 1909 and she and her son are on the 1910 census of Birmingham so she had lived there at least 9 years. It mentions she had a boarding house in Tampa after her husband's death "many years ago." Information about her boarding house has already been presented above.
1920 Jan 01	Census, Birmingham - W. H. Ferris age 60, owns furniture shop, rooming at rear of house at 1020 11th Ave, home of Fred Patterson (oil promoter) & family. WHF was born Jan. 1867. He would have been 53 on Jan. 1, 1920, or 54 if he was born Jan. 1.
1920 Jan 01	Census, Tampa, 712 Fielding Ave - Kate C. Ferris 47 married, Music teacher at home, dau. Catherine 24, single, private school teacher. Kate would have been 49 on this census. The highlighted columns were for home ownership or rental, and mortgaged or free (paid off.) It shows she was a home owner, mortgaged.

1920 Nov 24	TRIB - Trial of Mr. McDuffie for fatal auto accident colliding with Lizzie Carew who was driving her car. Passengers with Carew were Mrs. W. H. Ferris and Miss Catherine Ferris
1921 Sep 02	TRIB - Death of Mrs. Mary Kittrell Craig, mother of Mrs. W. H. Ferris and grandmother of Miss Catherine Ferris of Tampa, died in Dallas TX Aug 31.
1924 May 03	TIMES - Mrs W.H. Ferris, founder of Friday Morning Musicale, is director of St. Andrews choir.
1924 Aug 27	TRIB - Rotary meeting Dr. Patillo reads message of thanks from Mrs. W, H. Ferris (for flowers) who is undergoing long illness.
1924 Sep 02	TRIB - Kate C. Ferris, wife of William Houston Ferris, died on Sep. 1, 1924 after a three months illness (breast cancer.) See her death certificate. Though they were married, her obits do not mention her husband, William Houston Ferris, among the survivors. Only mentions are her daughter Katherine, her aunt Mrs. Byron (Elizabeth Craig) Phillips, her cousins Kathleen & Craig Phillips (all four of Tampa) and her brother, Norman Craig of Dallas.
1924 Sep 02	Myrtle Hill cemetery Photo from Find a Grave
1924 Sep 03	TRIB - DEATH OF KATE C. FERRIS, The Rotary club meeting "paid a silent tribute of respect to the memory of Mrs. Kate Ferris, who had often played for the club luncheons and other affairs. Mrs. Ferris died late Monday night"

1924 Sep 03
1929 Mar 27 Wednesday	Death of William Houston Ferris in Birmingham, Ala.
1929 Mar 28 Thursday	Birmingham Post Herald: Veteran Furniture Dealer Passes Away at Local Hospital. W. H. Ferris, age 68, of 1020 Eleventh Ave. So. and for many years a furniture dealer at 225 Second Ave. No. in Birmingham, died at local hospital shortly after being stricken ill at work. He is survived by a daughter, Miss Catherine Ferris, of Tampa, Fla. WILLIAM FERRIS WAS NOT 68. His 1870 census age of 3 means he was born sometime from June 2, 1866 to June 1, 1867. He died on Mar. 27, 1929, so if he was born on June 2, 1866 to March 27, 1867, would have been 62. If he was born on Mar. 28, 1867 to June 1, 1867, he would have been 61. Assuming his birth month of January on the 1900 Census is correct, he would have been born Jan. 1867 and would have been 62 when he died and 6 months old when his father died.
1929 Mar 29 Friday	Tampa Tribune - The body of William H. Ferris to arrive in Tampa. His only survivor was his daughter, Miss Catherine Ferris.
	The funeral of W.H. Ferris held Mar. 30 in Tampa. THE TAMPA TIMES: Died in Birmingham (yes) at home of his mother (NO, she died in 1918.). Was in shoe business as Blain & Ferris in Tampa before leaving for Birmingham. (NO, was in furniture business.) Survived by daughter. Buried in Oaklawn Cemetery, Tampa. Though W. H. Ferris and Kate were married, they seem to have lived separate lives beginning around 1902 to 1904. Kate led the life of a socialite in Tampa, as did her mother-in-law Florence. They travelled often, at least once Kate touring Europe with her mother Mrs. Craig. For all the events Kate hosted, and her many travels all over the country each year, it doesn't seem possible that she was living only off her piano teaching classes. She was probably at least partly being supported by her husband's furniture business income.

DAUGHTER KATHERINE NORMAN FERRIS
Daughter Katherine/Catherine N. Ferris never married and continued living at 712 Fielding Ave. She became a school teacher after attending Sweetbriar College in Canada from 1915.

Apr. 1, 1930 Census, 712 Fielding Ave, Tampa - Catherine N. Ferris, 34, single, public school teacher.
Apr. 15, 1940 Census, 712 Fielding Ave, Tampa - Catherine N. Ferris, 45, single, public school teacher, lodgers: Verla Hennessee, 42, single, public school teacher, June Trezevant, 54, single, Industrial bank teller.
1945 Florida state census, 712 S. Fielding, Catherine Ferris, 50, college educated, teacher. Charles Roberts, 25, b. ME, Army, Mary Roberts, 23, b. ME, housewife.
1950 Census, 712 S. Fielding, Catherin N. Ferris, 55, never married, public elementary primary school teacher.
Jun 11, 1987 - Obituary, Catherine Norman Ferris, 92, of 3405 Bay to Bay blvd, Tampa, died Wednesday Jun. 10, 1987. A descendant of a pioneer Tampa family, she was a lifelong resident of the Tampa Bay area. She was a retired public school teacher and a member of Hyde Park Presbyterian Church. Survived by three cousins, Bernhard and Maggie Croft both of Tampa, and Esther Floyd of Haines City. JL Reed & Son funeral dirs. (These cousins must have been on her mother's side because her father was an only child.)

Photo from Find a Grave.

THE FRIDAY MORNING MUSICALE CELEBRATES ITS 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

1952, Sep. 14

In 1952 the Friday Morning Musical planned five meetings to celebrate its fifty year anniversary. The first event one was to be held on Oct. 3, 1952, at the American Hellenic Center.


	On Oct. 5, 1952, the Tribune published this full page article about what transpired at this first event. Officers of the club "dressed in appropriate costumes" presented skits reenacting the outstanding events of the club's past fifty years. Charter members present (members of the club when it was first organized) included Mrs. Annie Macfarlane McPherson, who was a daughter of Hugh Macfarlane, now remembered as "the father of West Tampa," responsible for the initial founding and growth of West Tampa as a city. Credit was given to Louise Frances Dodge as being one of the organizers of the club. She was "encouraged in her efforts by Mrs. Douglas Conoley and Mrs. R.J. Weller who referred her to Mrs. W.H. Ferris, a leading piano teacher in Tampa."
	Annie Macfarlane was a daughter of Hugh Macfarlane, "the father of West Tampa." Annie was well-liked and very talented as a vocalist and pianist, giving many local performances that elicited rave reviews in Tampa. Mrs. Frank Caldwell, also known as "Mrs. Mary Spencer Caldwell," wrote a paper which was recited by another member, due to Mrs. Caldwell's failing vision, concerning the life of Miss Louise Frances Dodge. This was reported by D.B. McKay in his May 31, 1953 Pioneer Florida page.

1904 May Festival
Who was Louise Frances Dodge?