American engineer, born at Galesburg, IL, in 1859. Migrating with his family to California, he there received his early education, and in 1881 graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. He started in business at Pittsburg, PA, where he located his construction works. When the Columbian Exposition structures were building, some special structure was desired that should rival and excel the Eiffel Tower of the Paris Exhibition of 1889. At a dinner of the Saturday Afternoon Club Mr. Ferris outlined the plan of a monster wheel of a design all engineers had hitherto declared impracticable. The plan then outlined was successfully carried out. Died, 1896.
