Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 2.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 99.
 
MARTIN F. FERREY

     One of the distinguished and valued citizens of Salem is Martin F. Ferrey,
whose career affords an excellent example of what may be accomplished through
persistent and rightly directed efforts along definite lines of action. He comes
of a people whose record for courageous and determined adherence to faith and
principle, in the face of the most relentless and cruel persecution, has
commanded the admiration of the civilized world through many centuries. He was
born in Arabkir, Armenia, on the 20th of October, 1888, and is a son of Jacob
and Anna Fereshetian, the family name having been changed to its present style
by Mr. Ferrey on May 26, 1927. His father, who owned large estates in Armenia,
came to the United States in 1893, for the purpose of seeing the country, and in
1895, during the terrible massacres in Armenia, the mother and son escaped by
fleeing to Egypt, where the mother's death occurred. On learning of the
condition of things, the father at once went to Egypt from this country, and in
1900 brought son with him to the United States. They located in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, where the father followed his trade, that of a research tanner, in
which he was an expert.
     Martin  Ferrey attended the public and high schools of Philadelphia and was
graduated from the Agricultural College there. In 1913 he attended the Meadville
Theological School, a Unitarian institution at Meadville, Pennsylvania, and was
graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity on September 21, 1916. He was
ordained to the ministry of the Unitarian church and became the pastor of the
First Universalist church of Kent, Ohio, where he remained about one year. He
then became a lecturer for the American Unitarian Association, in which capacity
he traveled all over this country. He became pastor of the Unitarian church at
Colorado Springs, Colorado, and while there studied in Colorado College,
graduating with the degree of Master of Arts on June 5, 1919. His special work
in that institution was in researches in experimental and visual psychology, and
so meritorious was his thesis that it was republished by the University of
California. Mr. Ferrey was appointed minister-at-large of the Unitarian church
and served societies in Sacramento, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah. In
1921, he came to Salem, Oregon, and entered the law school of Willamette
University, being graduated on June 11, 1924, and on September 9 he was admitted
to the bar, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of law
in this city. He was admitted to practice in the federal courts on February 4,
1925, and his record has stamped him as a lawyer of more than ordinary ability.
A forceful and convincing speaker, well grounded in the basic principles of
jurisprudence, he has shown great strength in the trial of causes, while as a
counselor he is sound and dependable.
     On September 21, 1916, Mr. Ferrey was united in marriage to Miss Florence
I. Moore, a teacher, of Meadville, Pennsylvania, and they are the parents of a
daughter, Florence Louise. In his political views, Mr. Ferrey is aligned with
the republican party, was on the advisory board of the central committee, and
has shown deep interest in public affairs. He is a member of Rockton Lodge, No.
316, F. & A. M., of Kent, Ohio ; Chadwick Chapter, No. 37, O. E. S.; Elkarez
Grotto, and also of the Lions Club, of which he is chaplain. He has also been a
director of the Associated Charities. He is rendering appreciated service as
pastor of the Unitarian church in Salem. Mr. Ferrey became a naturalized citizen
of the United States, June 1, 1920. During the World war he took a very active
part in supporting the various war measures, having been an official speaker for
the Red Cross and Liberty loan drives in the state of Ohio and was state
director and secretary of the home and school gardens of that state. After going
to Colorado he became superintendent of the Red Cross emergency hospital at
Callahan and served as chaplain of the Reserved Watch at Colorado Springs. Mr.
Ferrey is a writer of note, being a contributor to the Masonic Analyst and many
religious magazines, and has done much lecturing, being frequently requested to
deliver literary criticisms before women's clubs and other organizations. A
fluent and exceedingly interesting speaker, he has been well received wherever
he has appeared. Cordial and friendly in manner, he has gained a wide and
favorable acquaintance since coming to Salem and has many warm and loyal
friends, who esteem him for his attainments and genuine worth.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2010 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.