Scottish birth records show that Robert Ferris was born October 10, 1870 at No. 18 Burnfoothill, Dalmellington, Ayrshire, Scotland. His parents, Moses and Margaret Barris were both from Ireland but had moved to Scotland shortly after their marriage in 1860. Robert was the fifth of seven children, two having died in infancy. In 1879 the family left Scotland, landing in New York and immediately locating in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Robert completed school only through the eight grade and began working as an electrician from an early age. Eventually he and his three brothers owned and operated seven electrical plants scattered throughout the midwest. An article in a Yankton newspaper in 1897 indicates he had installed an electrical burglar alarm in the Donaldson store which worked perfectly in scaring off an attempted robbery. It was perhaps at this time that he met and courted his future wife, Helen Sophia Donaldsen, daughter of the business owner. They were married on his 36th birthday, 10 Oct 1906 in Yankton. All three of their children were born in Yankton.
The Ferris brothers sold all of their power plants in 1919 and Robert retired at 49 years of age. Shortly after that the family moved to Minneapolis. Son, Robert Martin, remembers that his father was always at home but kept busy constantly inventing and attempting to improve new small appliances.
Robert died 13 Feb 1946, three months after his son, Robert returned from military service during World War II. Some of their friends thought that he had been waiting for his son's return.
Robert completed school only through the eight grade and began working as an electrician from an early age. Eventually he and his three brothers owned and operated seven electrical plants scattered throughout the midwest. An article in a Yankton newspaper in 1897 indicates he had installed an electrical burglar alarm in the Donaldson store which worked perfectly in scaring off an attempted robbery. It was perhaps at this time that he met and courted his future wife, Helen Sophia Donaldsen, daughter of the business owner. They were married on his 36th birthday, 10 Oct 1906 in Yankton. All three of their children were born in Yankton.
The Ferris brothers sold all of their power plants in 1919 and Robert retired at 49 years of age. Shortly after that the family moved to Minneapolis. Son, Robert Martin, remembers that his father was always at home but kept busy constantly inventing and attempting to improve new small appliances.
Robert died 13 Feb 1946, three months after his son, Robert returned from military service during World War II. Some of their friends thought that he had been waiting for his son's return.
Scottish birth records show that Robert Ferris was born October 10, 1870 at No. 18 Burnfoothill, Dalmellington, Ayrshire, Scotland. His parents, Moses and Margaret Barris were both from Ireland but had moved to Scotland shortly after their marriage in 1860. Robert was the fifth of seven children, two having died in infancy. In 1879 the family left Scotland, landing in New York and immediately locating in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Robert completed school only through the eight grade and began working as an electrician from an early age. Eventually he and his three brothers owned and operated seven electrical plants scattered throughout the midwest. An article in a Yankton newspaper in 1897 indicates he had installed an electrical burglar alarm in the Donaldson store which worked perfectly in scaring off an attempted robbery. It was perhaps at this time that he met and courted his future wife, Helen Sophia Donaldsen, daughter of the business owner. They were married on his 36th birthday, 10 Oct 1906 in Yankton. All three of their children were born in Yankton.
The Ferris brothers sold all of their power plants in 1919 and Robert retired at 49 years of age. Shortly after that the family moved to Minneapolis. Son, Robert Martin, remembers that his father was always at home but kept busy constantly inventing and attempting to improve new small appliances.
Robert died 13 Feb 1946, three months after his son, Robert returned from military service during World War II. Some of their friends thought that he had been waiting for his son's return.
Robert completed school only through the eight grade and began working as an electrician from an early age. Eventually he and his three brothers owned and operated seven electrical plants scattered throughout the midwest. An article in a Yankton newspaper in 1897 indicates he had installed an electrical burglar alarm in the Donaldson store which worked perfectly in scaring off an attempted robbery. It was perhaps at this time that he met and courted his future wife, Helen Sophia Donaldsen, daughter of the business owner. They were married on his 36th birthday, 10 Oct 1906 in Yankton. All three of their children were born in Yankton.
The Ferris brothers sold all of their power plants in 1919 and Robert retired at 49 years of age. Shortly after that the family moved to Minneapolis. Son, Robert Martin, remembers that his father was always at home but kept busy constantly inventing and attempting to improve new small appliances.
Robert died 13 Feb 1946, three months after his son, Robert returned from military service during World War II. Some of their friends thought that he had been waiting for his son's return.
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