Ferry, Orris Sanford

Ferry, Orris Sanford, a Representative and a Senator from Connecticut; born in Bethel, Fairfield County, Conn., August 15, 1823; pursued preparatory studies, and was graduated from Yale College, New Haven, Conn., in 1844; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1846 and practiced; appointed judge of probate in 1849; member of the State senate in 1855 and 1856; prosecuting attorney for Fairfield County 1856-1859; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1856 to the Thirty-fifth Congress; elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859-March 3, 1861); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1860 to the Thirty-seventh Congress; entered the Union Army on July 23, 1861, as colonel of the Fifth Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry; was mustered out April 12, 1862, to enable him to accept an appointment as brigadier general of United States Volunteers; served in the latter capacity until June 15, 1865, when he was honorably discharged on tender of resignation; elected as a Republican to the United States Senate; reelected in 1873 by a combination of Independent Republicans and Democrats and served from March 4, 1867, until his death in Norwalk, Conn., November 21, 1875; interment in Norwalk Cemetery.