Ferrell, L.O.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Ferrell, L. O., founder and present conductor of Ferrell 's Preparatory school, New Orleans, La., is a son of Col. C. B. and Missouri (Wilkinson) Ferrell, of Lagrange, Ga., and easily traces his paternal ancestry back to the time of William the Conqueror, in the stirring and historic events of whose interesting career Baron Ferrell participated. The sword worn by L. C. Ferrell's paternal grandfather, and wielded with telling effect in the cause of American independence, in the war of the Revolution, is now a cherished memento reposing in the Smithsonian institution at Washington, D. C.

The paternal grandfather was a large planter and slave owner. Col. C. B. Ferrell, the father, was representative of the best type of the gallant Confederate soldier. At the beginning of the Civil war he was one among the very first men to enlist, and never did he entertain the most fleeting thought of returning home until his superior officers had surrendered and there no longer was any chance of wielding his arms toward upholding the government of the Southern confederacy. Throughout the term of the war he served with conspicuous gallantry under that dashing and unconquerable Confederate cavalry leader, Gen. Forrest. On the occasion of his last visit to the city of New Orleans, Gen. Stephen D. Lee spoke in the highest terms of Col. Ferrell, whom he personally knew.

The Ferrell family in America emanates from the state of Georgia, from which commonwealth L. C. Ferrell removed to Montgomery, Ala., in the days of his youth and there resided until the time of taking up his residence in Louisiana. In his youth L. C. Ferrell determined to become a lawyer, and by vigorous application prepared himself for that profession, which he was ready to enter at a time when his years did not yet allow of his admission to the bar. Being told that he was too young, the aspiring apostle of Blackstone turned to teaching, and after a year passed in instructing others, returned to the profession of his first choice and was admitted to practice before the supreme court. He at once launched into the practice of law, but his zeal in application to his law books was such that after 6 months his eyes failed, and physicians advised him to abandon the legal profession. Being denied the law, he turned again to teaching, and going to Houma, La., he taught uninterruptedly during 5 years. This was a particularly trying field of endeavor, and one calling for the exercise of rare qualities if success was to be realized.

It is said that when Mr. Ferrell took charge of that school not one of the 60 boys in attendance could speak a word of English, properly related. That section was known generally as being distinctly French, but before Mr. Ferrell left there English had become the language of the people, and the citizens, recognizing the wonderfully efficient influence of the rising young teacher, made most flattering offers to him to remain with them, but his eyes were fixed upon other fields and his plans already made, and bidding adieu to the friends who had loyally cooperated with him in his faithful labors of the past 5 years, he went to Donaldsonville, where he established and became principal of the Donaldsonville academy, which he managed with the most gratifying success during several succeeding years.

While at Donaldsonville Mr. Ferrell was married to Miss Jean Hanson, a daughter of R. T. Hanson, a prominent sugar planter, and 2 children have been born to their union, namely, Hanson D., and Miss Jean. Shortly following his marriage Mr. Ferrell removed to New Orleans and established his private school for boys. Again, within a brief time, the success of this institution became markedly evident. Though he opened his school with 25 boys in attendance, he turned away applicants who could not be accommodated during the first term of the school, and within a short time it had become apparent to the patrons of the school--always increasing--that here was an instructor destined to play an important part in picking and preparing young men for the conquests of college years and the duties and obligations of citizenship and life. As the years have passed, the fame of Ferrell's private school for boys has grown and spread until it permeates all adjacent regions and has become coextensive with a large part of the country. As far as this unusual success can be explained, it seems due, in the main to the application of common sense methods backed by Mr. Ferrell's native ability to manage boys, together with his unfailing energy and push. The school is deeply loyal and patriotic, and always lends a willing hand in adding its quota to the importance of the general display on occasions calling for uniformed and disciplined bodies of young men, and on such occasions Ferrell 's school is never found wanting in the appearance of its student body of cadets. Mr. Ferrell personally typifies the loyal spirit of Ferrell boys; he is Mr. Ferrell the center from which that spirit radiates, and through his rugged honesty of purpose and his even handed administration of justice among his boys, he holds the unqualified confidence and esteem of all who attend his school. It very soon become a matter of pride with new students entering the school that they have the privilege of participating in maintaining the high standard of excellence long since accorded to this institution. Mr. Ferrell stands in the relation of an unfailing friend to his boys, and this they soon realize and appreciate.

Politically Mr. Ferrell is affiliated with the Democratic party, and while his professional duties are such as to preclude any general political activity, he yet regards it as of vital importance that he afford the boys within his care a rational example of the patriotic discharge of the duties and obligations of American citizenship, and for this leading reason he feels it particularly incumbent upon him to take part in the selection of the best men to whom the duty of administering the laws shall be confided. With these considerations in mind, he has served as vice-president of his ward and as president of his precinct. He is a member of the Baptist church.

It should be stated here that Mr. Ferrell was educated in the state of Alabama. His preceptors in the law were the respective members of the famous law firm of Clopton, Herbert & Chambers. Clopton afterwards became chief justice of Alabama, Herbert became secretary of the navy under Pres. Cleveland, and Chambers became chief justice of Samoa. Mr. Ferrell is affiliated with the Sons of the American Revolution and the Sons of Veterans.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 160-162. Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.