[1] In August 1861, Ferry joined the Fourteenth Michigan Infantry, and served during the American Civil War, eventually being made a major and lieutenant-colonel in 1865.

"[2] William's younger brother Noah Ferry served as a Major in the Civil war and died at the Battle of Gettysburg.

William was Supervisor in Spring Lake in 1849, again from 1854 to 1859, and finally from 1860 to 1861. in 1857 Ferry was elected to the Michigan Legislature.

As a result, Thomas Ferry vacated his seat in the House of Representatives for Michigan's 4th congressional district, and William ran as the Democratic Party nominee in a special election for the seat.

William Ferry lost the election to Republican Wilder D. Foster by a 58%–42% margin.

The following year, Bagley appointed Ferry as a committee member charged with revising the constitution of Michigan.

[3] In 1878, Ferry moved to Park City, Utah, and become involved in the mining industry.

In losing to Republican John Christopher Cutler, Ferry received nearly 8,000 votes, or 7.8% of the statewide total.

Once the Michigan lumber markets began to dry in the 1870s Col Ferry moved to Utah and became one of the largest mining magnates in the United States.