History of Roselle, (Union County) New Jersey United States of America

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Isaac Ferris, educator, was born in New York city, Oct. 9, 1798; son of John and Sarah (Watkins) Ferris; grandson of Gilbert and Sarah (Fowler) Ferris; and a descendant of Jeffrey Ferris. He was graduated from Columbia with the first honors in 1816, his college course having been interrupted by a year's service in the war of 1812. He was instructor in Latin at Albany academy, 1816-17; attended the Associate theological seminary, New York city, 1817-18; and the seminary of the Reformed Dutch church, New Brunswick, N.J., 1818-20. He was ordained to the Reformed Dutch ministry in 1820 and was pastor at New Brunswick, N.J., 1821-24, at Allbany, N.Y., 1824-36, and in New York city, 1836-53. He was organizer of the Rutgers female institute, New York city, its first president, 1839-56, and was subsequently connected with the Ferris institute. In 1852 he became chancellor of the University of the city of New York, holding also the chair of moral philosophy and the evidences of revealed religion. He resigned in 1870 and was elected chancellor emeritus. He was a corporate member of the American board of commissioners for foreign missions, 1830-32; the organizer and corresponding secretary and later president of the Board of foreign missions of the Reformed Dutch church; chairman of the distributing committee of the American Bible society, 1847-73; a founder of the Y.M.C. association of New York city in 1852; president of the New York Sunday-school union, 1837-73; and a member of the New York historical society. He was thrice married: first in 1820 to Catherine A., daughter of Richard Burchan, secondly, in 1839, to Sarah J., daughter of John Crygier; and thirdly, in 1850, to Letitia, daughter of Abraham G. Storm. He received the degree of D.D. from Union in 1833 and that of LL.D. from Columbia in 1853. His published writings include Domestic Christian Education (1835); Ecclesiastical Characteristics of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church (1848); and numerous sermons and addresses. He died at Roselle, N.J., June 16, 1873.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Roselle, (Union County) New Jersey

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