USA > Missouri > Encyclopedia of the history of Missouri, a compendium of history and biography for ready reference, Vol. II > Part 76
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were as follows : Cattle, 911,725 head, valued at $34,964,654; hogs, 3,612,636 head, valued at $36,278,500; horses and mules, 89,849 head, valued at $3,961,442; sheep, 462,405 head, valued at $1,757,154; poultry, 70,081,- 267 pounds, valued at $4,905,689; total live stock value, $81,867,339. Wheat, 7,271,343 bushels, valued at $5,089,940 ; corn, 5,796,395 bushels, valued at $1,796,882; oats, 891,403 bushels, valued at $222,851 ; flaxseed, 1,766,- 044 bushels, valued at $1,501,137; buckwheat, 6,133 bushels, valued at $3,680 ; timothy seed, 4,021,503 pounds, valued at $143,881 ; clover seed, 2,609,856 pounds, valued at $154,416; castor beans, 52,742 bushels, valued at $58,- 016; pop corn, 3.375 bushels, valued at $1,- 688; cotton, 20,910,400 pounds, valued at $1,254,624; cotton seed, 16,050,720 pounds, valued at $160,507 ; tobacco, 1,083,375 pounds, valued at $86,670 ; broom corn, 789,- 106 pounds, valued at $35,550; hay, 68,000 tons, valued at $547,402; total farm crops shipped to market, value, $11,057,244. Ap- ples, 168,558 barrels, valued at $404,539; peaches, 183,761 baskets, valued at $49,940; strawberries, 140,214 crates, valued at $238,- 483 ; raspberries, 9,615 crates, valued at $17,- 307 ; blackberries, 10,664 crates, valued at $55,990 ; fresh fruit, 3,939,992 pounds, valued at $78,800; dried fruit, 781,237 pounds, val- ued at $46,874; potatoes, 110,308 bushels, valued at $52,948; onions, 83,451 bushels, valued at $41.726; melons, 3,303,526, valued at $132,141 ; canned goods, 7.794,982 pounds, valued at $116,925; vegetables, 3,384,723 pounds, valued at $43,300; total value of fruits and vegetables, $879,079. Eggs, 33,- 935,325 dozen, valued at $3,393,533; butter, 4,081,833 pounds, valued at $571,457 ; cheese, 626,069 pounds, valued at $68,868; dressed meat, 868,156 pounds, valued at $48,749; hides, 8,447,865 pounds, valued at $591,351 ; feathers, 439,172 pounds, valued at $197,637 ; molasses, 220,124 gallons, valued at $66,037 ; whisky and wine, 387,703 gallons, valued at $775,406 ; wool, 3,179,297 pounds, valued at $735,859 ; nursery stock, valued at $264,800 ; total value of miscellaneous articles, $7,497,- 000; aggregate of all farm products sent to market, $98,300,662.
Farmers' Fire Insurance Compa- nies, Association of .- The Missouri State Association of Farmers' County Mu- tual Fire Insurance Companies was organ-
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ized at Jefferson City, Missouri, in February, 1889, the first officers being W. S. McClintic, of Monroe City, president ; T. D. Evans, of Meadville, vice president ; W. L. Shouse, of Shelbina, secretary, and W. B. Flowers, of Meadville, treasurer. It is a beneficiary as- sociation, with social features, its object be- ing to bring about unity and concert of action between farmers' county mutual insur- ance companies, and promote the insurance of farm property against fire and lightning at the lowest possible cost. It is said this is effected at about half the rates charged by the regular insurance companies. In the year 1899 about ninety counties in the State were organized under the plan.
Farmers' Institutes .- These are meet- ings of farmers and others interested in agriculture and its kindred interests, at which lectures are delivered and discussions had on cattle and swine-feeding, corn culture, the 11se of leguminous plants as feed and fertil- izer, horticulture, experimental work, veteri- nary, science, and any other matters con- nected with Missouri farming. The institutes are held under the auspices of the State Board of Agriculture, at various places, in the fall of every year. Farmers frequently bring their families with them, and they are occasions of pleasant social intercourse, as well as for interchange of experiences.
Farmington .- A city of the fourth class, the seat of justice of St. Francois County, situated in St. Francois Township, two and one-half miles from Delassus, its shipping point on the Belmont branch of the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad. It is pleasantly located in the center of the richest farming section of the county. The town was laid out in 1822 on fifty-three acres of land donated to the county, for the locating of a seat of justice, by David Murphy, and was surveyed and platted by Henry Poston. In 1823 a courthouse and jail was built. The same year the first store was opened by John D. Peers, who was first clerk of courts in the county, in a small log building on the west side of the public square. A few years later he moved to the east side, and in 1826 his old stand was occupied by Joseph Bogy, Jr., who had moved to the town from Ste. Genevieve. In 1833 a partnership was formed by Peers and M. P. Cayce, who, with Bogy,
were the only storekeepers in the town for some years. The first hotel was run by John Boyce in a building erected by Isaac Mitchell. In 1836 the town was incorporated, but made little progress until 1852, when the plank road from Ste. Genevieve to Pilot Knob was built. It ran through the town and brought it in- creased trade. In 1856 the first flouring mill was built by M. P. Cayce and C. E. Douthitt, and in connection with it a carding machine was run. The mill was later remodeled and enlarged, and in time became one of the flourishing business enterprises of the town. Other small business places were established, but up to 1860 the town did not have a popu- lation of more than 500. St. Francois County refused to issue bonds for the building of the Belmont branch of the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Railroad, and its projectors built it two and one-half miles west of Farmington. This, instead of injuring the town, assisted in its prosperity, and there was an activity in trade that stimulated the growth of the place. M. P. Cayce, who was a man of considerable energy, about 1842 started the Elmwood Academy. Later this was controlled by the Presbyterian Church, and from it evolved Elmwood Seminary. During the war, owing to the active working of the mines in the county, the town prospered. It contains about 125 business houses, including two banks, operahouse, two flouring mills, five carriage and wagon shops, a machine shop, electric light and ice works, three hotels, sev- eral general stores and miscellaneous con- cerns. There are eight churches ; three Meth- odist (one of which is for colored people), one each of Christian, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Catholic. There is a large pub- lic school and three colleges-Farmington Baptist College, Carleton Institute, under the direction of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Elmwood Seminary. The town has a telephone system and connections with sur- rounding villages. The first paper published in the town was the "Southern Missouri Argus," started by Nicol, Crowell & Shuck, in 1880. After changing ownership a few times, in 1869, it was changed to the "Her- ald," and in 1872 moved to De Soto. In 1871 "The New Era," started at Libertyville, was removed to Farmington, and in 1876 to Marble Hill. In 1872 the "Times" was started by C. E. Ware and J. H. Rodehaver. This is one of the leading papers of St.
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Francois County, and is published by Theo- dore D. Fisher. The "News" was established in 1884 by P. T. Pigg, who still conducts it as a Republican paper. The "Herald" was started in 1886 by Isaac Rodehaver, and is now published by Charles Pratt. Population, in 1899 (estimated), 2,500.
Farmington College .- An educa- tional institution established at Farmington, St. Francois County, in 1886. It is conducted under the auspices of the Baptist Church.
Farr, Finis Calvert, lawyer, was born May 20, 1849, in Johnson County, Missouri. His father, James K. Farr, was a native of Tennessee, and removed to Missouri in about 1835, locating in Johnson County, twelve miles southwest of Warrensburg. He was a farmer, merchant and contractor, a man of large affairs and prominence. In his ex- tensive operations following his removal to Missouri he amassed a large fortune, owning vast stretches of farm lands and various kinds of town property. As a contractor he built a good portion of the Missouri Pacific Rail- road in Missouri, and many miles of the Union Pacific in Kansas. He also accepted large bridge contracts and pushed to success- ful completion numerous projects which were intrusted to his skill and care. He was presiding judge of the Johnson County Court for four terms, and during his useful life, which ended in March, 1886, he. held other positions of honor and importance. The father of James K. Farr was a Presbyterian minister of the old school, but seceded from the parent organization in 1810, and was one of the organizers of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. Finis C. Farr attended the old subscription schools of early Missouri days and then entered McGee College, at Macon, Missouri, from which he was grad- uated in 1872. During his college days he had been reading law in the office of Judge R. C. Ewing, of Kansas City, formerly at- torney general of Missouri, and after his graduation resumed his reading and com- pleted the required course under the same able tutorship. He was admitted to the bar in December, 1872, at Warrensburg, Mis- souri, where he engaged in active practice until his removal to Jefferson City, Missouri, in January, 1881, as private secretary to Gov- ernor T. T. Crittenden. From 1876 until
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1878, while residing in Warrensburg, Mr. Farr edited the Warrensburg "Journal-Dem- ocrat," in addition to his law practice. The newspaper was owned by C. C. Morrow, his brother-in-law, long with Missouri politics and in close association with Senator Francis M. Cockrell. In 1878 Mr. Farr was elected to the State Legislature from Johnson County, Missouri, and was one of the first and most ardent supporters of George Gra- ham Vest, who was elected to the United States Senate in 1879 for his first term of service in that body. Mr. Farr was not de- sirous of occupying a seat in the General Assembly, but, as a Vest supporter, felt it a pleasant duty to accept the honor in order that he might participate in the movement that eventually resulted in sending so able and distinguished a man to the Senate. He served but one term, preferring to return to his private affairs after having discharged the duty which impelled him to accept office, and refused unanimous renomination in 1880. As private secretary to the Governor of Mis- souri, he remained in Jefferson City four years, and it was in his office in the State capitol that Frank James, the outlaw, sur- rendered on October 5, 1882. In January, 1885, Mr. Farr removed to Kansas City, Mis- souri, and accepted the position of clerk of the Kansas City Court of Appeals, being the- first incumbent of that office. That position was held by him until 1889, when he resigned and formed a copartnership with Alfred Henry Lewis, now the noted political writer of New York, and editor of the "Verdict," for the practice of law in Kansas City. This partnership existed until 1891, when Mr. Lewis gave up the legal profession and began to devote his entire time to literary work. In August, 1899, Mr. Farr was appointed by Governor Stephens to the office of license commissioner of Kansas City, the appoint- ment being made without solicitation upon the part of the recipient. Mr. Farr is still a resident of Kansas City, and is prominent in the practice of law there, his attention being devoted largely to civil cases. At War- rensburg he had a general practice and in Kansas City has figured in a number of noted cases outside the civil list, one of which was the famous trial of Jesse James, Jr., in February, 1899, on a charge of train robbery, in which he was senior counsel in behalf of the defendant. In 1894 he represented the
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defendants charged with election frauds in Kansas City, and was senior counsel for the Democrats in the contested election cases of that year. Mr. Farr is not only known as a lawyer of tact and ability, but finds keen en- joyment in the successful literary work which occupies the hours not devoted to legal lore. He has written many praiseworthy bits of fiction, as well as articles of a heavier class, for the leading magazines and daily and weekly periodicals. Many of his literary efforts appear over the nom de plume "Frank C. Frayne," and others bear the name of the author as it appears in the introductory line of this sketch. Mr. Farr is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which his grandfather helped to establish. He was mar- ried in 1873 to Miss Mary Margaret Whitsitt, of Pleasant Hill, Missouri. They have one living child, Mary Clay, now the wife of Wil- iam Leslie Stevenson, of Sioux City, Iowa. Mr. Stephenson is a prominent railroad man- ager of that place. The part which Mr. Farr has taken in the public affairs of the State makes him a loyal Missourian and a faithful believer in the future of the commonwealth. As a lawyer he has been highly successful, and in politics has seldom sought preferment, the honors which have been awarded him having invariably come unsolicited.
Farrar, Bernard G., Sr., physician, was born July 4, 1784, in Fauquier County, Virginia, and died in St. Louis in 1849. His parents were Royal and Jane (Ford) Farrar, and the family to which he belonged, one of the first of the Old Dominion, was planted in this country in 1621, in which year his immi- grant ancestors settled on what became known as Farrar's Island, in James River, just below Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Farrar came with his parents in his infancy to Ken- tucky, the family settling there near Lexing- ton. He was reared and educated in Kentucky, being graduated from Transyl- vania University. He then studied medicine and received his doctor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1807 he came to St. Louis and practiced his profes- sion continuously there for nearly thirty years, except for a time during the War of 1812, when he served as a surgeon in the United States Army. He retired from the practice of his profession in 1835 and lived quietly in St. Louis thereafter, enjoying the
high esteem of all his fellow-citizens until 1849, when he fell a victim to cholera. He married Ann C. Thruston, of Louisville, Ken- tucky, who was a niece of General George Rogers Clark and of Governor William Clark, of Lewis and Clark expedition fame, and one of the early Territorial Governors of Missouri. Their children were John O'Fallon Farrar, Benjamin Farrar, Bernard G. Farrar, Jr., James Farrar and Ellen Farrar, the last named of whom became the wife of Sam- uel Houser, at one time Governor of Mon- tana.
Farrar, Bernard G., Jr., who has achieved distinction both in military and civil life, was born August 5, 1831, in St. Louis, son of Dr. Bernard G. and Ann Clark (Thruston) Farrar. He was educated at St. Louis University, Norwich Military Academy of Vermont, and the University of Virginia. After completing his studies he returned to St. Louis and turned his attention to business affairs, and has ever since been identified with the real estate and kindred interests of that city. In April of 1861 he was mustered into the military service of the United States at the old arsenal at St. Louis, and was almost immediately appointed aid-de-camp on the staff of General Nathaniel Lyon. After the battle of Wilson's Creek and the death of General Lyon he was appointed by Major General' Halleck provost marshal general for the Department of Missouri, and served in that capacity until October of 1862. In that year he recruited and organized the Thirtieth Regiment of Missouri Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of General Frank P. Blair's brigade. He served under General Grant in the Mississippi campaign, and was in command of Blair's brigade at the siege of Vicksburg. After that he commanded the District of Natchez, and was brevetted brig- adier general March 9, 1865. In May of that year he resigned his commission in the army and resumed the duties of civil life in St. Louis. President Harrison appointed him assistant treasurer of the United States, and he served in that capacity in St. Louis during a period of four years with credit to himself and to the administration of which he was a part. He has been prominently identified with the Republican party since its organiza- tion, and for many years has been one of its most conspicuous representatives in Mis-
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souri. June 14, 1855, General Farrar married Miss Isabel J. Mitchell, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Farrar, John O'Fallon, physician, was born in St. Louis in 1821, and died in that city December 12, 1877. He was the eldest son of Dr. Bernard G. Farrar, Sr., mentioned in a preceding sketch ; was reared in St. Louis and educated at St. Louis University and at Mt. St. Mary's College, of Maryland. He took his doctor's degree from Jefferson Med- ical College, of Philadelphia, after which he pursued a postgraduate course of study in Paris, France. Returning from Europe in 1850 he practiced medicine for two years, and then retired from professional work to give attention to numerous and varied business interests. From that time until his death he was largely identified with the progress of St. Louis, and was in all respects an ideal citizen, as well as a cultivated and scholarly gentleman. He was twice married, first in 1850 to Miss Caroline Garland, daughter of Hugh Garland, of Virginia, who was the author of Garland's "Life of William Wirt" and other works of a like nature. The first Mrs. Farrar died in 1852, and in 1855 Dr. Farrar married Miss Sarah M. Christy, daughter of William T. Christy, of St. Louis. The second Mrs. Farrar survived her hus- band, as did also the following named chil- dren born of their marriage: Wm. Christy Farrar, Chas. Thruston Farrar, Ellen Farrar Duke, Benjamin O'Fallon Farrar, Calvin Christy Farrar, Eliza Christy Farrar, John O'Fallon Farrar, Arthur Barret Farrar, Frank Blair Farrar.
Farris, John W., lawyer and legisla- tor, was born January 20, 1846, in Marion County, Illinois, son of Hiram K. and Abigail Farris, the first-named a native of Kentucky and the last-named born in Indiana. His fa- ther removed from Indiana to Marion Coun- ty, Illinois, in 1840 and was a resident of that county for many years. He was prominent both in public and private life, and while a resident of Marion County served as county clerk. Later he became a resident of Clay County, Illinois, where he held the office of county judge. He died in the last named county in 1865. His son, John W. Farris, passed the first five years of his life in Marion County, and then went with the family to
Clay County, where he received his education in the public school, having as teacher at one time Sila L. Bryan, father of Hon. William J. Bryan, of Nebraska, the distinguished lead- er of his party in two presidential contests. When the Civil War began he was less than sixteen years of age, but he was a well de- veloped youth, of chivalrous nature, and beg- ged his father to allow him to enlist in the Union Army. The elder Farris consented, and he was mustered into Company K, of the Forty-eighth Illinois Regiment of Volun- teer Infantry, October 23, 1861. He partici- pated in the battle of Shiloh, where he re- ceived a slight gunshot wound; was at the sieges of Corinth and Vicksburg, participated in the battles at Jackson, Mississippi, Mis- sionary Ridge and Atlanta, and marched with Sherman to the sea. On the 22d of April, 1864, at Scotsborough, Alabama, he was pro- moted to second lieutenant, and April II, 1865, he was made adjutant of his regiment, which position he held until he was dis- charged from the service. He was mus- tered out at Little Rock, Arkansas, and received his discharge at Springfield, Illinois, August 31, 1865. Immediately afterward he returned to his home in Clay County, Illi- nois, where he remained until January, of 1867. He then removed to Lebanon, Mis- souri, and during the first year of his resi- dence there was engaged in the newspaper business. . In 1870 he was elected county as- sessor of Laclede County, and in 1874 he was elected to the office of clerk of the circuit court, which position he filled for four years. He had previously-in 1872-been appointed clerk of the probate court of Laclede County, and he held this office continuously until 1880. In 1882 he was elected to the State Senate from the twenty-second district and served four years as a member of the upper branch of the General Assembly, gaining dis- tinction as an able and conscientious legis- lator, and a faithful guardian of public in- terests. While serving as a public official lie read law, and in 1883 was admitted to the bar. Since that time, when not in the public serv- ice, he has been engaged in the practice of his profession and in the management of in- surance business at Lebanon, Missouri. After his admission to the bar he served as prose- cuting attorney of Laclede County, and later was returned to the General Assembly as a member of the lower house. His previous
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experience as a legislator and his high stand- ing as a man caused him to be elected speak- er of the House in the Thirty-ninth General Assembly, and he retired from that position with the record of having been one of the ablest and fairest presiding officers who have controlled the deliberations of that body. In politics Mr. Farris has always been a Demo- crat, and he is one of the recognized leaders of his party in Missouri. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and has served as eminent commander of the com- mandery, high priest of the Royal Arch Chapter, and worshipful master of the subor- dinate lodge with which he affiliates. He has been a member of the Grand Lodge of Mis- souri Masons since 1876. He is also a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Farris, Frank H., lawyer and legisla- tor, was born August 8, 1867, at Lebanon, Missouri, son of Honorable John W. Farris, who has achieved well-merited distinction in public life. The younger Farris was educated in the common schools of his native county, and after completing the course he engaged in teaching school, one year of this service being in the public high school. In the mean- time he applied himself assiduously to read- ing law, pursuing his studies so successfully that in 1887 he passed a creditable examina- tion before Judge Bland and was admitted to the bar. In 1885 he occupied the responsi- ble position of bill clerk in the State Senate. In 1887 he was måde docket clerk of the same body, and reading clerk in 1889. He was elected assistant secretary of the Sen- ate in 1891, and re-elected in 1893. This po- sition he afterward resigned to accept appointment as prosecuting attorney of Crawford County at the solicitation of Gov- ernor Francis. In 1898 Mr. Farris was elected State Senator from the Twenty-fourth sena- torial district. In the following session of the Legislature, Senator Farris became promi- nent at once, on account of the importance of the measures which he advocated, as well as for the high ability which he displayed on the floor and in the committee room at all stages of their consideration. He was active in his advocacy of two acts of vast impor- tance to the State, and which were viewed with great interest throughout the country. One was that popularly known as the "Anti- Trust Bill," the purpose of which was to
limit the aggregation and consolidation of large masses of capital in manufacturing and commercial business. The other measure was the Beer Inspection Bill, to insure the pur- ity of the product and at the same time make it a source of larger revenue to the State. Senator Farris' ability as a lawmaker found well-deserved recognition in his appointment as a member of the revision committee, which sits during the legislative recess to recodify the statutes of the State. Ever since he be- came a voter he has been an earnest and consistent Democrat, clinging tenaciously to the foundation principles of the party and laboring with his highest ability for their ad- vancement. In his early life he was a Metho- dist, but in more recent days his preferences have been for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His genial nature leads him to in- timate companionships, and he affiliates actively and heartily with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Sena- tor Farris was married January 28, 1888, to Miss Anna M. Miller, daughter of a promi- nent Methodist divine, who was actively en- gaged in the ministry for fifty years prior to his decease in 1899. To Senator and Mrs. Far- ris have been born two children, Bessie, aged nine years, and Josephine, aged three years. Mrs. Farris is a lady of refinement and fine literary attainments, who has attracted to herself a large circle of congenial friends. She takes a commendable pride in the bril- liant career of her talented husband, and the inspiration of her interest will doubtless lead him to even greater effort and more con- spicuous successes.
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