William M. FERRIN

FERRIN

Posted By: Phyllis (email)
Date: 10/19/2004 at 12:25:35

WILLIAM M. FERRIN, BUCHANAN COUNTY SUPERVISOR

William Myron Ferrin was born on the Ferrin homestead in a log cabin not far from the Buffalo Creek. He was educated in public school, Byron No. 7; Ellington Seminary in New York; Epworth Seminary, Epworth, Iowa; and Palmer Business College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

His occupations included: teacher at the home school, Byron No. 7 for the winter term of 12 weeks at a salary of $35.00 per school month; bookkeeper for the Bever Bank in Cedar Rapids; and bookkeeper for the J.W. Butler Paper Company in Chicago, Illinois.

In 1897, Will was elected cashier of new bank at Aurora, but he resigned the position before his work commenced owing to the death of his father on October 26, 1897. He then returned to the Ferrin farmstead and made farming his life's work. He held many public offices which included these positons: school director, secretary of the school board, Byron Township trustee, and director and secretary of the Telephone company. He also served two terms as Buchanan County Supervisor, first in 1925 for two years and then in 1931 for three years by which time the length of office had been increased.

When the June 1925 flood occurred during his first term as supervisor, Will, the only supervisor located in the eastern portion of the county, found the flood had wiped out or damaged thirty-six bridges and more than half the roads in his district (Second District)which included Aurora. His more-than-ordinary experience in road and bridge building stamped him as a man of decision and experience, a fact recognized when he was unanimously elected Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for his second term in 1931. Will was proud to proclaim that he was a "real dirt farmer".

Source: Submitted by Phyllis Smith Jensen, [granddaughter] to the "AURORA, IOWA OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR HOME - 1999 CENTENNIAL EDITION." Page 23.