This gentleman, whose portrait is given on another page (from a photograph taken at the age of 86), was widely known throughout this and adjoining counties as one of the earliest pioneer settlers in this part of the State.  His history will not be without interest to the present reader, or those of the far future, especially as to the methods of travel from the Eastern States to the West, and some of the characteristics of frontier life.

Stephen Gano Ferris was born in the town of Hillsdale, Columbia county, N. Y., Aug. 11, 1788.  At the age of four years he accompanied his father's family in their removal to North Norwich, Chenango county, N. Y., then a frontier county and quite sparsely settled.  Here in the course of time he learned the tanner and currier's trade, and followed that business until his father removed to Yates county, N. Y., probably 1810 or 1812.  On Aug. 11, 1814, (the 23d anniversary of his birth) he was married to Miss Eunice Beebe, in Chenango county, N. Y.  About the year 1820 he removed to the town of Howard, Steuben county, N. Y., which was then a frontier county.  Here he remained until the spring of 1832 when, pursuant to an arrangement between himself and his brother-in-law, Mr. Jabez Beebe (the latter having come West the previous year and purchased land where Fountain Green now stands), with his family, consisting of a wife and 6 children, he started West by way of the Alleghany, Ohio and Mississippi rivers, via Cincinnati and St. Louis.  His intention was to come down the Alleghany river to Pittsburg on a lumber raft, but in consequence of low water was detained at Olean Point, N. Y., until some time in the fall.  When Mr. Ferris got ready for another start he was joined by Wm. Stearns (an early settler in this county), and a man named Carman, with their families.  They purchased a flat-boat, which they covered and provided with the necessary facilities for cooking and lodging for their families.  In this boat they journeyed leisurely with the current.  They arrived in Cincinnati some time in October, having been about nine weeks on the river.  Here they sold the flat-boat and transferred themselves and goods to the steamboat Niagara, bound for St. Louis, Mo., at which point they arrived about Dec. 1.

While in Cincinnati Mr. Ferris and Mr. Carman were approached by a man named Austin, who endeavored to persuade them to divert their course to Texas, offering to each several leagues of good land free of charge if they would go there with their families; but, having made other arrangements, they declined the tempting offer.  Austin was afterward prominently identified with Texas and its struggle for independence from Mexico.  The town of Austin, now the capital of Texas, was named after him.

On the arrival of the steamboat Niagara at Jefferson Barracks, eight miles below St. Louis, it seemed as if the lateness of the season would compel the party to seek winter quarters in that vicinity; but luckily a small steamboat called the William Wallace was about to attempt the trip to Traders' Point, now Keokuk.  Mr. Ferris engaged passage for himself and family, although the Captain would not agree to carry them to any particular point in view of the possible closing of navigation at any hour. On arriving at Quincy the Captain declined going any farther unless liberally paid for it.  Mr. Ferris and others paid the price demanded, and the avaricious Captain - who was in addition to his rough manners a brutal fellow - came on to Traders' Point, landing there about the 10th or 11th of December.  At that time Traders' Point comprised three or four log cabins at the base of the hill. The population consisted of three or four traders and their families, and 100 or so of Indians and half-breeds who were loafing about.  There was no house where Hamilton now stands.  The first house above Fort Edwards (now Warsaw) was the cabin of Abraham Smith, about two and a half miles above the present town of Hamilton.  Desiring to cross the river to Mr. Smith's place, Mr. Ferris paid a man $16 to ferry his family and personal effects across the river.  The boat was a crazy affair, very leaky and not at all adequate to the burthen imposed upon it.  After loading the boat with its living freight and household goods, it was towed some three miles up the river by horses, and from that point "poled" across.  In the boat, in addition to Mr. Ferris' family and effects, were Mr. Stearns and his family and effects, and a horse and wagon.  After various and exciting besetments with the rapids and rocks, the boat, about one-third full of water, was finally landed not far from Mr. Smith's cabin, and the long and tedious journey by water was ended.

As landed upon the shores of Illinois, Mr. Ferris' family comprised of himself and wife and 6 children, as follows: John M., the eldest son, now a prominent citizen of Carthage; Leonard T., second son, now a prominent physician at Fountain Green; Francina R., the eldest daughter, afterward the wife of S. H. Tyler, Jr. (died at Fountain Green in the fall of 1859); Hiram G., third son, now President of the Hancock County National Bank, of Carthage; Dorothy L., second daughter, died at Fountain Green, Sept. 5, 1842, in her 17th year, unmarried; Fidelia B., third daughter, first wife of Dr. A. J. Griffith, and mother of W. H. Griffith, Esq., of this city.  This lady died in Philadelphia, Pa., Jan. 28, 1849, in her 19th year.  Her remains were brought back and buried at Fountain Green.

The crossing at Traders' Point was made on the 13th of December, 1832; and on the following day Mr. Ferris and his son John M. walked across to Horse Lick Grove (now Fountain Green), some 22 miles, where they employed a man named Geo. W. Howard to haul his family and goods to their destination.  The trip was made with an ox team to haul the household goods, and a one-horse wagon to haul the family.  They arrived at Fountain Green Dec. 15, 1832.  Mr. Beebe and family, having arrived the year previous, had a comfortable double log house, which he shared with Mr. Ferris' family until spring.  Mr. Ferris then purchased of Mr. Beebe 110 acres of land, upon which, on the ground now occupied by Mr. McClaughry's residence, in Fountain Green, he built a comfortable log house; in the spring of 1833 he opened out the farm and built a small tannery.  The latter, after a fair trial, proved impracticable on account of scarcity of bark.  Some five years later he built a small saw-mill on the creek not far from Fountain Green.  This proved unprofitable, and thenceforward until 1845 he gave his attention mainly to farming.  July 15, 1836, he sold the most of his farm to Mr. McClaughry.  Sept. 14, 1860, his wife died at Fountain Green.  Then he came to Carthage and made his home with the family of his son, Hiram G. Ferris, where he lived, with few absences, until his death, which occurred on the evening of November 29, 1876, while on a visit at the house of his son, Dr. L. T. Ferris, in Fountain Green, at the age of 88 years, 3 months and 18 days.  He was buried in the village grave-yard by the side of his wife, where lie the remains of other members of his family.

Stephen G. Ferris, besides being one of the earliest pioneers in this county, is given the highest tribute, by those who knew him best during his life-time, as being in an eminent degree an honest man, a good neighbor, a kind friend and Christian gentleman.  In early life he became a member of the Baptist Church, and maintained that membership and the faith it taught until his death.  When he first settled at Horse Lick Grove there were not to exceed 200 people within the present boundaries of Hancock county.  The nearest mill was 60 miles distant; and in lieu of flour, people had to be content with coarse meal pounded from dry corn in a wooden mortar.  These, among others, were some of the vicissitudes and hardships endured by the pioneers, that we might enjoy the conveniences and luxuries of the present day.

From the 1880 Gregg History of Hancock County, Carthage Township, pp. 707-710

Stephen G Ferris, 60, male, farmer, value of real estate 1000, born NY
Eunice, 60, female, born CT
John M, 33, male, lawyer, born NY
Hiram G, 24, male, teacher, born NY
A J Griffith, 33, male, physician, born OH
Sarah Smith, 18, female, born PA
John Jones ?, 17, male, laborer, born NY

Leonard T Ferris, 40, male, doctor medicine, value of real estate 4100, value of personal estate 1000, born NY
Hellen, 26, female, born VT
Charles, 6, male, born IL, attended school within the year
Lelia, 3, female, born IL
Delia, 2, female, born IL
Jacob H Emerick, 25, male, tailor, value of real estate 400, value of personal estate 25, born "Baravia"
John S Shenck, 23, male, teacher common school born NY
Byron Ferris, 30, male, tinner, born NY
George Alton, 25, male, farmer, born NY
Zolobus N King, 25, male, merchant, value of personal estate, born ME
Stephen G Ferris, 72, male, retired, born NY
Eunice, 72, female, born CT
Iyah Chambers, 40, male, merchant, value of personal estate 6800, born NY
Ruth Beebe, 50, female, born NY

Ferris, Hiram G, 47, male, white, banker, value of real estate 40,000, value of personal estate 25,000, born NY, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Julia E, 32, female, white, keeping house, born IL
Junius C, 12, male, white, born IL, attended school within the census year
Esta M, 9, female, white, born IL, attended school within the census year
Stephen H, 6, male, white, born IL, attended school within the census year
Julia, 5, female, white, born IL
Ellen, 3, female, white, born IL
No name, 7/12, female, white, born IL
Stephen G, 82, male, white, at his sons, born NY, male citizen of the U.S. aged 21 or more
Clark, Elizabeth, 19, female, white, domestic, born IL, both parents foreign born
Parkhurst, Lucy, 18, female, white, seamstress, born TN