Perry,  Rev.  William  Montague,  the  .son  of
Noah  and  Hannah  (Montague)  Ferry,  was  born  in
Granby,  Mass.,  September  8th,  1795.  He  graduated
at  Union  College  in  1820;  attended  the  Theological
Seminary  at  •  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  for  two  years,
and  finished  his  studies  under  Gardiner  Spring,  D.D.,
of  New  York.  He  was  licensed  and  ordained  by  New
York  Fresbytery  in  1832,  and  under  a  commission
from  the  United  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  he  was
appointed  as  missionary  to  tlie  Indians  of  the  north-
west, which  led  to  the  establishment  of  the  Mackinaw
Mission  on  the  island  of  Michilimackinac,  Michigan.
The  history  of  his  labors  there  is  that  of  incessant
toil.  He  established  schools  among  the  Indians,  and
hundreds  of  their  children  were  brought  under  the
influence  of  religion.
On  November  2d,  1834,  Mr.  Ferry  removed  with
his  family  to  the  point  where  the  cijy  of  Grand  Haven
now  stands;  his  was  the  first  white  family  in  the
county.  Here  they  encountered  the  toils  and  trials
of  pioneer  life  in  its  various  forms  ;  but  soon  he  added


He  died
December  30th,  18f)7,  in  Grand  Haven,  and  his  de-
cease was  deemed  a  public  calamity.  The  Councils,
in  referring  to  him  as  "the  founder  and  father  of  this
city,"  recorded  "their  high  estimate  of  his  qualities
of  mind  and  heart,  as  a  most  affectionate  friend,  a
man  of  untiring  business  enterpri.se,  large  benevo-
lence, inflexible  integrity  of  purpose,  and  firmly  fixed
moral  and  religious  character."

Mr.  Ferry  directed  in  his  will  that,  on  his  tomb-
stone, after  his  name,  age,  etc.,  should  be  this  inscrip-
tion : —

"  First,  toil ;  tlien  rest.
First,  grace ;  then  glory."

For  religious,  charitable  and  educational  purposes,  he
bequeathed  §137,000.  He  was  the  father  of  the  Hon.
