William Montague Ferry was born in 1824. His family moved to Grand Haven, MI, when he was ten years old. As a young man he learned the trades of machinists and engineer from Demetrius Turner, a well-known mechanic who designed much of the machinery for Grand Haven's water supply infrastructure. In 1855 Ferry, his brother Thomas, and Andrew Thompson founded the Ottawa Iron Works and commenced manufacture of stationary steam engines, marine steam engines, and especially sawmill machinery. Ferry received several patents for his sawmill machinery.

Ferry served in the army during the Civil War, but returned to his business after the war was over. He was actively involved in politics but continued to improve his machine designs until he moved to Utah in 1878. The works burned down in 1880 but was rebuilt in a new location. The business failed in 1883.

Information Sources

• Some of the information here came from "Ottawa's Old Settlers" by William M. Ferry, in Volume 30 of the Michigan historical collections, available online at the University of Michigan "Making of America" archive. In the article he mentions other mechanics in the area who contributed to the development of sawmills: "To the McCrays, William T. Powers and Horace Wilder of Kent county, to George B. Woodbury and Hugh McDowell of Ottawa county, to Esau and John Torrant [who spelled their names Esau Tarrant and John Torrent, respectively] of Muskegon county (formerly a part of Ottawa), as the originator of this new era, full meed of praise should ever be given." Ferry's memory is that Ottawa Iron Works was founded in 1850, but it appears that 1855 is a more likely date.
• Listing in the 1874 work, Wiley's American iron trade manual of the leading iron industries of the United States, under Ferrysburg: "OTTAWA IRON WORKS—Wm. M. Ferry, Jr. Iron foundry and general iron works."
• The work History of the University of Michigan, by Burke A. Hinsdale, available online in the University of Michigan "Making of America" archive, has a biography of Ferry, extracted here.

  WILLIAM MONTAGUE FERRY was born at Michilimackinac, Michigan, July 8, 1824, elder son of the Reverend William Montague and Amanda (White) Ferry. In 1834 he removed with his parents to Grand Haven, which continued to be his home for over forty years. He received his early training in his father's library. He also had a year's instruction at the Sanderson Academy of Ashfield, Massachusetts, under Henry L. Dawes, afterwards United States Senator, and spent one year at the Kalamazoo Branch of the University of Michigan. Active life began for him at the age of fifteen, when he was placed in charge of large gangs of men as manager of his father's lumber business on the Grand River. He learned the trade of machinist, and in 1850 built the Ottawa Iron Works at Ferrysburg, Michigan. He became widely known as machinist, inventor, and hydraulic and mechanical engineer. In April, 1857, he was elected Regent of the University for the term beginning January 1, following, and served the full term. In August, 1861, he enlisted at Grand Haven as private in the Fourteenth Michigan Infantry, and the following December was promoted to First Lieutenant and Quartermaster of his regiment. On the 30th of June, 1862, he was appointed Captain and Assistant Commissary of Subsistence. On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted Major and Lieutenant-Colonel, United States Volunteers, " for faithful and meritorious services during the war." After the surrender of Lee's army he resigned his commission and was honorably mustered out of the service April 24, I865. He was with his regiment at Pittsburg Landing in April, 1862, and participated with it in the siege of Corinth. He served on the staffs of Generals Rosecrans and McPherson, and was wounded at Vicksburg during the siege. He was afterwards put in charge of the Depot Commissary at Memphis, where he remained until his resignation. He was the originator of the system of commutation of rations, which has now been included in the regulations of the army, having received the formal approval of Congress. In 1870 he was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Michigan, and in 1873 Governor Bagley appointed him one of the members of the commission to revise the State Constitution. He was elected Mayor of Grand Rapids in 1876. In 1878 he removed to Park City, Utah. Here he became actively interested in the mining operations of the Territory and was one of the original owners of the Quincy Mine. From 1884 to 1892 he represented Utah on the National Democratic Committee. In 1893 he was Commissioner of the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. In 1904 he was nominated for Governor of Utah on the American ticket, and ran over one thousand votes ahead of the ticket. He was a member of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, and of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. He was married October 29, 1851, to Jeannette Hollister, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. There were six children, of whom only two survive: Mrs. Mary M. Ferry Allen and Mrs. Kate H. Hancock. He died at Park City, Utah, January 2, 1905, and is buried at Grand Haven, Michigan.

• A mailing-list posting about a shipwreck mentions a pressure gauge in the engine room of a wreck; the gauge is labeled, "Ottawa Iron Works Company, Ferrysburg, Michigan". The poster, Craig Rich, says that the company operated from 1855 through 1887.
• The Loutit District Library web site has a Chronological Directory of Industries, Businesses, and Other Organizations in Northwest Ottawa County 1808-1975, by Wallace K. Ewing. This document says that Ottawa Iron Works was founded in 1855 by Ferry, his brother Thomas, and Andrew Thompson. The works were built by Ferry & Chandler. It employed 150 men. W. F. Parish was manager. Another name mentioned is Christian Gallmeyer, who might have later become the titular partner in Gallmeyer & Livingston.
• American Steam Engine Builders: 1800-1900 by Kenneth L. Cope, 2006 page 177