From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 1019-1020
 
CHESTER A. FERRY.  The gentleman of whom the biographer now writes is widely 
known as one of honored citizens of northern Walworth county, for Mr. FERRY 
has been actively identified with the agricultural interests of Troy 
township.  His well-directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his 
capable management of his own business interests and his sound judgment have 
brought to him prosperity, and his life demonstrates what may be accomplished 
by the man of energy and ambition who is not afraid of work and has the 
ambition to continue his labors, even in the face of seemingly discouraging 
circumstances.  Mr. FERRY has been content to spend his active and useful life 
right here at home, and he is truly a product of pioneer days, for having been 
born here, some sixty-two years ago, he has lived through the wonderful epoch 
of change that has taken place in Walworth county, and he recalls many 
interesting incidents of his early life in the woods when practically 
everything was different from what it is today.
 
Chester A. FERRY was born in Troy, this county, April 21, 1849, and he is the 
son of Loren and Hannah (RICE) FERRY, the father born in Grandy, 
Massachusetts, in 1819, and the mother in Syracuse, New York, in 1829.  They 
grew up and were married in the East, coming to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 
an early day and settled on a farm in Troy township, of two hundred acres.  
This land they improved into a good farm and here spent the balance of their 
days, the father dying in 1880 and the mother surviving him twenty-three 
years, dying in 1903.  They were the parents of five children, three of whom 
are living at this writing.  Politically, Loren FERRY was a Republican and for 
many years he was influential in local affairs, holding many of the township 
offices.  He was twice married and Charles, his oldest son by his first wife, 
served through the Civil war as a soldier in the Twenty-eight Wisconsin 
Infantry.
 
Chester A. FERRY grew upon the home farm and when but a mere boy he knew the 
meaning of hard work in the fields.  He received a common school education in 
his district, and when a young man started in life for himself as a tiller of 
the soil.  He is now the owner of an excellent farm in Troy township, 
consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has kept well improved and 
on which he carries on general farming and stock raising.  He has a pleasant 
home and good buildings for his stock and machinery.
 
Politically, Mr. FERRY is a Republican, but has never been a public man.  On 
October 2, 1880, he was united in marriage with Mary Jane RITCHIE, a native of 
Belfast, county Down, Ireland, the daughter of William and Mary Ann (QUALE) 
RITCHIE both natives of Ireland, where they grew up and were educated and 
married, emigrating to America in 1865 and settling at once in Walworth 
county, Wisconsin, locating in Troy, but later moved to a farm of forty 
acres.  To this they added until they had about seventy-five acres, and here 
Mr. RITCHIE died on August 9, 1904, his wife having preceded him to the grave 
on July 31, 1895.  They were the parents of twelve children, ten of whom are 
living.  To Mr. and Mrs. FERRY, five sons, all living, have been born, namely: 
William, Charles, Chester, Jr., Roland and Darwin.
 
Submitted by Carol