Thursday, February 17, 2005

Meet Cousin George

In the comments in an entry below a fellow journaller joked, "Have you settled your case with the Ferris Wheel people?"  He was light heartedly noting that I bear a famous name: Ferris.  I used to cringe at Ferris Wheel jokes, but then realized, "Hey, I am a member of a famous family.  Relish it and enjoy it." So I answer the joke by saying, "Hey I don't sue family members, and George Washington Gale Ferris is a cousin of mine."

His placeement on the Ferris geneological chart is 5,1,1,5,4,9,9 and mine is 3.1.1.5.3.8.4.4.1.1.  That makes us SIXTH Cousins THRICE removed.

George invented the Ferris Wheel for the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. All modern Ferris wheels from kiddie rides at the carnival on your street corner to the Giant wheel looming over London today trace their geneology to his creation, and like George and I, are cousins.

George and I are both descendants of Jeffery Ferris who came to America from England. 

You number your cousins, first, second, third...to sixth, by counting the generations back to your common ancestor and subtracting two.  In other words, if your cousin and you have a common grandparent, you're third generation or First cousins.  George is 8 generations removed from Jefferey.  I am 11 generations removed, so we are three generation different, thus we are sixth cousins thrice (3 times) removed.  Simple?

And this final note is ironic:  I hate Ferris wheels and will not ride on them.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just added you to my alerts list. I need all the inspiration I can get and you are one amazing character. Thanks for sharing your wonderous life-views.
Southern Reflections
Kathy

Anonymous said...

I rode a Ferris Wheel once...and only once. After much begging my little brother convinced me to take him on it. (Mother wouldn't allow him to go alone.) The electricity went off all over the fairgrounds & we were stuck for over 30 minutes, not on top, but jutting out in the front, which I think is worse. It's like you are suspended in the empty sky. He rocked the basket thing the entire time, but I didn't want him to get scared, so I pretended to not mind. I tryed to distract him from swinging by having him name things that he recognized in the dark, until he started leaning far out to see better. I sang to him (more to calm myself) and I "white knuckled" the bar until we were let off. I had to be helped out because my knees were so weak. I can grin now, but I have never been so scared since. Of course irony & Murphy's Law being what they are, the one time I would decide to ride, we would get stuck.
-Pica

Anonymous said...

i hate ferris wheels too. but i like roller coasters... i guess as long as something that "looks" secure is holding my hiney down.... i'm okay... as long as i've taken my xanax.... lol,
sara

Anonymous said...

You might want to sue that Ferris Bueller kid, too.....and I'm a Stacey

Anonymous said...

Hi Chuck.

I just wanted to tell you that I love your journal!  I took your quiz and got a 90!

Please keep up the journal, it makes me smile!  -Cindy

Anonymous said...

loved the story!  ;-)

~JerseyGirl
http://journals.aol.com/cneinhorn/WonderGirl  

Anonymous said...

I have no particular feeling for or against Ferris wheels, except for "extreme" versions like the one at California Adventure.  I wasted a lot of time in line for one of the scary rocking cars there, when what I wanted was one of the tame cars.  I could have been done in 10 minutes instead of 50.

I met a kid once named Ferris Cummings.  He was my dad's Assistant Dean's son.

Your numerical values for family trees are a complete mystery to me.  Then again, I've consistently refused to pay genealogy.com or ancestry.com for all those exciting memberships and software packages they keep offering to sell me.

Karen

Anonymous said...

Never rode a ferris wheel in my life and don't intend to but I like the name. I had a dear friend in San Antonio named Ferris and have an ex-in-law in Lubbock by that name. Like your journal. Paula

Anonymous said...

I love Ferris wheels. Especially ones that give you a spectacular view from the top. I love being trapped at the top. :-)

Anonymous said...

very interesting entry. I like farris wheels but do not like to rock in the chairs at the top

Anonymous said...

Well, how neat is this!!?!!  I don't like ferris wheels so much.  I am not a fan of heights.  This is cool! xox

Anonymous said...

I liked the story, but the geneology lesson went over my head....lol...christie
http://journal.aol.com/dimundntheruf69/ADayInTheLife/

Anonymous said...

Hi Cousin,  I have been looking for my father for 46 years.  My Mum just called out of the blue and said his name was Donald Ferris.  She didn't know how to find him but said I could start by looking for his Grandfather, he invented the Ferris Wheel.  Although, when I read the info on old Granddad it says he left no children.  Are we related?  I don't know where to go with this so since your so good with being removed a few times here and there I thought you might know if someone else had been removed.  The Daddy culprit would have been in Washington DC in 1957 and lived on G Street.  I have a Son who ask who is his Grandfather, just trying to answer that.  Any info or suggestions?

Anonymous said...

P.S.  I figured that we must be related because I hate Ferris Wheels and will never ride one.

Anonymous said...

gstreet1957 below....I cannot email you.  email me directly... I have answer for you....chuck

Anonymous said...

I have A cousin name george