Frank Ferris was born in Cincinnatyi, Ohio, in October of 1815. He moved from Cincinnati to Franklin Township in 1830, to Aurora in 1834, back to Franklin Township in 1836, to Switzerland County in 1849, then back to Franklin Township in 1853. Since then he had lived on his farm in Franklin Township, about two miles from Sunman and six miles from Milan. He married Miss Martha J. Taylor in 1839. He served as Trustee of his township for seven years. In 1846 he was elected as Representative from Ripley county by the Republican party. He was a devoted member of the M.E.Church, and had been a Mason for fifteen years.