Ferris Foreman
Encyclopedia
Ferris Foreman was a lawyer, politician, and American soldier during the Mexican American War and Colonel commanding a Volunteer Regiment and the District of Southern California
during the American Civil War
.
, Tioga County, New York
. In 1836 he was practicing law in Utica, New York
. However the next year he was a clerk of the Illinois House of Representatives in Vandalia, Illinois
.
He secured an appointment as U.S. Attorney for Illinois, from 1839 to 1841. In 1839, Ferris Foreman prosecuted the case of "The United States versus Gratiot," in a case arising under a lease, by the government of a portion of the lead mines of Galena. On January 11, 1844, Foreman was married, to Lucinda Boothe (died 1880) and they had one daughter, Ann. He was a Democrat member of the Illinois State Senate from 1845 to 1846.
and was appointed Colonel commanding the 3rd Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. It was composed of ten companies and served in the war from July 1846 to May 1847. His 3rd Regiment with Colonel Foreman in command was attached to the Army of Invasion of General Winfield Scott
, and played a part in the siege of Vera Cruz, and in the march on Mexico City, Colonel Foreman was especially commended in the report by General Scott.
. Soon after he arrived he assisted in the relief of emigrants coming overland, taking command of one of the relief columns sent by the Territorial government over the Sierra passes. He later became a Postmaster and for a short time in the summer of 1850 was a Sacramento County Judge.
He became involved in business and in 1853 was elected to the board of the Alta California Telegraph Company. He became involved in California politics and from 1859 to 1860 he was Secretary of State of California, during the administration of Governor John B. Weller
.
as Lt. Colonel but became Colonel commanding the 4th Regiment from November, 1861 succeeding Colonel Henry M. Judah
in command of the regiment. His Regimental Headquarters and several companies were sent from San Francisco to Camp Latham in Southern California
in late 1861. On May 2, 1862, General George Wright
wrote to Colonel Ferris Foreman, the new commander of Camp Latham to send, two or three companies of the Second Cavalry with Lieutenant Colonel G. S. Evans as commander to establish a post in the Owens Valley
. He was Commander of the District of Southern California
from May 15, 1862 to May 17, 1862 and from April 10, 1863 to July 7, 1863. Colonel Foreman commanded the 4th Regiment until August 20, 1863, when he resigned.
Shortly afterward, Foreman's daughter Ann was discovered to have been in communication with the infamous secessionist and duelist Daniel Showalter
who wrote her an affectionate letter that was found on the body of a Confederate spy in west Texas in September 1863.
State's Attorney and was a delegate to the Illinois state constitutional convention for the 13th District in 1870. He returned to California in his later years, and died in Stockton
, San Joaquin County
, February 11, 1901. He was buried at San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery, in Stockton.
District of Southern California
During the American Civil War, the Army had reorganized including the new Department of the Pacific which was created on January 15, 1861. By 1863, the department had five districts including the District of Southern California established on September 25, 1861...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early Life
Born in NicholsNichols (town), New York
Nichols is a town in Tioga County, New York, USA. The town contains a village also called Nichols. The town is on the south border of both the county and the state. The town is halfway between Binghamton and Elmira. The population was 2,584 at the 2000 census...
, Tioga County, New York
Tioga County, New York
As of the census of 2010, there were 51,125 people residing in the county, with 22,203 housing units, of these 20,350 occupied, 1,853 vacant. The population density was 98 people per square mile...
. In 1836 he was practicing law in Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
. However the next year he was a clerk of the Illinois House of Representatives in Vandalia, Illinois
Vandalia, Illinois
Vandalia is a city in Fayette County, Illinois, United States, northeast of St. Louis, on the Kaskaskia River. From 1819 to 1839 it served as the state capital of Illinois. Vandalia was the western terminus of the National Road. Today it is the county seat of Fayette County and the home of the...
.
He secured an appointment as U.S. Attorney for Illinois, from 1839 to 1841. In 1839, Ferris Foreman prosecuted the case of "The United States versus Gratiot," in a case arising under a lease, by the government of a portion of the lead mines of Galena. On January 11, 1844, Foreman was married, to Lucinda Boothe (died 1880) and they had one daughter, Ann. He was a Democrat member of the Illinois State Senate from 1845 to 1846.
Mexican War
During the Mexican American War he raised a company of volunteers in Vandalia, Fayette County, IllinoisFayette County, Illinois
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 22,140, which is an increase of 1.6% from 21,802 in 2000. Its county seat is Vandalia...
and was appointed Colonel commanding the 3rd Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. It was composed of ten companies and served in the war from July 1846 to May 1847. His 3rd Regiment with Colonel Foreman in command was attached to the Army of Invasion of General Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
, and played a part in the siege of Vera Cruz, and in the march on Mexico City, Colonel Foreman was especially commended in the report by General Scott.
49er
After returning from Mexico, Foreman was a Presidential Elector for Illinois in 1848. In 1849, he went to California during the 1849 California Gold RushCalifornia Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. Soon after he arrived he assisted in the relief of emigrants coming overland, taking command of one of the relief columns sent by the Territorial government over the Sierra passes. He later became a Postmaster and for a short time in the summer of 1850 was a Sacramento County Judge.
He became involved in business and in 1853 was elected to the board of the Alta California Telegraph Company. He became involved in California politics and from 1859 to 1860 he was Secretary of State of California, during the administration of Governor John B. Weller
John B. Weller
John B. Weller was the fifth Governor of California from January 8, 1858 to January 9, 1860 and a Congressman from Ohio, U.S. senator from California, and minister to Mexico.-Life:...
.
Civil War
Following the beginning of the Civil War, he joined the 4th Regiment of California Infantry4th Regiment of California Infantry
The 4th California Infantry was a volunteer infantry regiment recruited from northern California during the American Civil War. It was organized at Sacramento, Placerville, and Auburn in September and October 1861....
as Lt. Colonel but became Colonel commanding the 4th Regiment from November, 1861 succeeding Colonel Henry M. Judah
Henry M. Judah
Henry Moses Judah was a career officer in the United States Army, serving during the Mexican-American War and American Civil War...
in command of the regiment. His Regimental Headquarters and several companies were sent from San Francisco to Camp Latham in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
in late 1861. On May 2, 1862, General George Wright
George Wright (general)
George Wright was an American soldier who served in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
wrote to Colonel Ferris Foreman, the new commander of Camp Latham to send, two or three companies of the Second Cavalry with Lieutenant Colonel G. S. Evans as commander to establish a post in the Owens Valley
Owens Valley
Owens Valley is the arid valley of the Owens River in eastern California in the United States, to the east of the Sierra Nevada and west of the White Mountains and Inyo Mountains on the west edge of the Great Basin section...
. He was Commander of the District of Southern California
District of Southern California
During the American Civil War, the Army had reorganized including the new Department of the Pacific which was created on January 15, 1861. By 1863, the department had five districts including the District of Southern California established on September 25, 1861...
from May 15, 1862 to May 17, 1862 and from April 10, 1863 to July 7, 1863. Colonel Foreman commanded the 4th Regiment until August 20, 1863, when he resigned.
Shortly afterward, Foreman's daughter Ann was discovered to have been in communication with the infamous secessionist and duelist Daniel Showalter
Daniel Showalter
Daniel Showalter , was California miner, state legislator, duelist, secessionist, soldier for the Confederate States of America in Texas.-Biography:...
who wrote her an affectionate letter that was found on the body of a Confederate spy in west Texas in September 1863.
Later life
With the Republicans dominating California politics, Foreman returned to Illinois and became the Fayette CountyFayette County, Illinois
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 22,140, which is an increase of 1.6% from 21,802 in 2000. Its county seat is Vandalia...
State's Attorney and was a delegate to the Illinois state constitutional convention for the 13th District in 1870. He returned to California in his later years, and died in Stockton
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, San Joaquin County
San Joaquin County, California
San Joaquin County is a county located in Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, just east of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 685,306. The county seat is Stockton.-History:...
, February 11, 1901. He was buried at San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery, in Stockton.