Memorable Manitobans: Matthew Ferriss (1818-1900)

Matthew Ferriss Click to enlarge

Farmer, municipal official.

Born in Essex County, Ontario on 21 April 1818, he married Eliza Wright on 8 November 1843 and came to Manitoba in 1872, settling on a farm at Burnside. The had seven children: Georgiana Euphemia Ferriss (1845-1918), Albert Ferriss, Angus Ferriss, Fred Ferriss, Walter Ferriss, Ida Ferriss (Mrs. Bell), and Emma Ferriss (Mrs. Scouten). He served as Warden and Reeve for the Rural Municipality of Portage la Prairie (1883-1884) and Returning Officer for the Portage la Prairie constituency in the 1888 general election and a 1891 by-election. He died at Burnside on 2 September 1900 and was buried in Burnside Cemetery.

Sources:

Death registration, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

“Matthew Ferris, a plains pioneer, called”, Manitoba Free Press, 6 September 1900, page 3.

Tread of the Pioneers, written and edited by Joseph H. Metcalfe and published by the Portage la Prairie and District Old Timers’ Association, 1932.

We thank Margerett Hansen for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 2 October 2023

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!