Father and two brothers left for the gold rush area

Long ago before I (Josephine) was married I asked father (William Sherman) about his family background. Father answered this: My father (Franklin Samuel) and two brothers (Alvirus and Cyrus) left Michigan in the early 1850’s for the gold rush area. Alvirus the older brother married an Indian Maid and raised a family somewhere in California. Cyrus the next brother died un-married, logging in woods. Franklin Samuel Ferris the youngest of the three ended up in Salt Lake City. Father wasn’t sure why? Now I find through research it was because of a flood in 1862. All their tools, mine, home and everything was washed into the ocean by this flood. This I gather from correspondence with descendants in Humboldt Co., California. Alvirus first went to a brother George in Rawlins, Wyoming. George had a mine and raised cattle. Franklin didn’t stay long with George, but ended up in Ophir, Utah, working in the mines. There are relatives in Eaton County, Michigan. Father knew no names. His grandparents were spoken of only as Mother and Father Ferris. In 1945 I found Alice Ferris Bell in Lansing, Michigan. How? I wrote to the postmaster at Eaton Rapids, Michigan. I enclosed a letter seeking information on Ferris surname. The man mailed my letter to a Ferris lady listed in the city directory. This lady answered and after three letters gave me the name and address of Alice Ferris Bell. It turns out Alice is fathers first cousin. Her father is Wesley Ferris, a brother to the three brothers leaving Michigan. Alice copied from her father’s family bible the two families of our grandfather. The first wife died leaving 3 children. The second wife (our Grandmother) being Sally Spears (widow of Nathan Newell, issue 1 child, a son Nathan Jr. A falling tree killed the Father Nathan Sr. 3 months before the son was born, in Washtenaw Co., Michigan. The son Nathan was born December 1829, Washtenaw Co., Michigan. Samuel Ferris the widower then married Sally the widow. The three brothers and others are children of this union, Samuel and Sally. I corresponded with granddaughter Edith and Myrtle Newell. In 1944 I wrote the Indian Agency in California to see if I could locate descendants of Alvirus Ferris and the Indian Maid? Answer: I located Alvirus, a grandson, two sons and a granddaughter. In 1954 I visited the granddaughter, Caroline Ferris, at Orleans, California. She was educated in the Eastern U.S. Frederick, a son, spoke the mother’s Indian language. Frederick and brother Harry wrote me several times sending family group sheets on the families. Father Alvirus adopted the Indian baby of Mary, who he married as the aforementioned Indian Maid. Mary and Samuel had 8 children. The baby Caroline makes 9 children to be sealed to these parents. The father of the baby was known to be Stone. He sneaked off in the bushes and was never seen again, I858. Alvirus married Mary 1861. I next located Wesley Hotelling, grandson to father Alvirus. His wife is Dean Allen, of Utah pioneer stock. I had a lovely visit at their home June 1977, in Willow Creek, California. Wesley gave pictures and more history on the family where a bouts. There is a book (In the Land of The Grasshopper Song). In the book is some on I-ESE-Steve. He is nephew to Mary Tom Ferris, the Indian Maid Alvirus married – pictures. These folk are Karok and Yurok Indians. I found them extra nice people. I met many of the younger generations while in California 1977. (Written by Josephine Ferris Kirkham) (Re-typed for digitizing by Richard S. Hixson, April 2006)