In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1851, Lafayette county
From History of Ray County, Mo. (1881)
WILLIAM W. FERREE.
Was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, November 18, 1851. His parents came to Richmond, Ray county, when he was yet a small child. They lived at Richmond for about five years, and then moved to Daviess county, Missouri, where they remained for two years. They then came again to Ray county and located in the town of Morton, then known as Shaw's Shop, where Mr. Ferree was educated. After leaving school he learned the trade of blacksmithing, and has always worked at that business since. Mr. Ferree was married on the 3d day of February, 1876, to Miss Louise J. Weeks, a resident of Caldwell county, Missouri, and a native of Virginia. The offspring of this marriage is two children: Fred W., and Urah Pearl. Mr. Ferree is an excellent mechanic, and enjoys the proceeds of a large and constantly increasing patronage. He also conducts a wagon manufactory in connection with his blacksmith shop. He is a good citizen, and an indispensable adjunct to the town of Morton.
As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1881. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.