Biography of William Farr

Treasurer of Grand Haven Township, School Inspector and a representative general agriculturist of Ottawa County, Mich., is along-time resident of the State, but, a native of Merrie England, was born under British rule in the year 1834. Our subject is the son of Charles FARR, who, leaving his native land emigrated to America in 1848, and, locating in the Empire State, made his permanent home in Oswego, there residing for over two-score years, passing peacefully away in 1889. The father was a successful farmer and was about forty-one years of age when, bidding farewell to the scenes of his childhood, he sailed for the United States. In England he had managed three different stage routes and was a man of more than ordinary business ability. Our subject received his education and early business training in the Old Country, and at the age of thirteen apprenticed to the firm of Austin & Son, learning the trade of casting and wire-drawing jewelry, stamping and refining. He attended the free schools of England and well improved his opportunities of instruction. The home of his youth was in the city of Birmingham, Warwickshire. Mr. FARR had not long attained his majority when he decided to follow his father to America, and in 1855 crossed the broad Atlantic to the land of promise beyond the sea. Arriving in New York, our subject soon rejoined his father, from whom he had been separated by an absence of seven years. William FARR remained in Oswego County for a twelvemonth, and then journeyed to Canada, which he made his home for the five succeeding years. While a dweller in Canada our subject learned and engaged in the cooper's trade and some length of time was profitably devoted to coopering. In the Dominion of Canada Mr. FARR met and married Miss Frances Maria LONG, the two being united in marriage in 1859. The estimable wife of our subject was a native of Canada, her parents being of English birth. The seven sons and daughters who blessed the happy home were Addie C., the eldest, who married John H. SHIRE; Charles Frederick, deceased; William, deceased; Herbert Reed; Nellie, deceased; Walter and Bruce. In 1882 Mr. FARR removed to the United States and, journeying to Michigan, located in Ottawa County, settling at once upon his present valuable homestead, then wild timberland. Of the one hundred and forty acres, one hundred are under cultivation, yielding bounteous harvests of grain and fruit. In addition to farming here in Michigan, our subject also engaged on his own farm in the cooper business, profitably conducting the same for over four years. Vitally interested in educational advancement, Mr. FARR has, as a School Director for ten years, materially aided in the upward progress of the district schools of his home locality, and for four years Township Treasurer has discharged the duties of the office to the great satisfaction of the general public. Mr. and Mrs. FARR are both devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are active aids in benevolent enterprises and religious work. Politically a Republican ever since making his residence in Michigan, our subject is deeply interested in both the local and national management of the great trusts involved, and, thoroughly appreciating a Republican form of government, is in the highest sense of the term a loyal and public-spirited citizen.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & Ottawa Counties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company Pg. 275

Created: 12 August 2002
URL: http://ottawa.migenweb.net/biographies/1893/farr.html