Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/434

410 Maniac's Dream, and Other Poems " (New York, 1819). His " Essay on Taste " includes an appeal to "Croaker.'" His verses indicate considerable facility in composition, a poetical taste, kindly feeling, and occasionally sound the louder notes of the lyre. It was the intentionofSimms, the novel- ist, to publish a complete edition of Dr. Farmer's poems, the material for which he had obtained from the family. But his death prevented, and the poems have since been scattered and lost.

FARMER, John, genealogist, b. in Chelmsford, Mass., 13 June, 1789 : d. in Concord, N. H., 13 Aug., 1838. After teaching for ten years, and subse- quently engaging in business, he finally devoted himself to antiquarian investigation with extraor- dinary zeal and success. He was elected a mem- ber of various literary societies, and at his death was corresponding secretary of the New Hampshire historical society, of which he was one of the found- ers. Among the more important of the works in which he condensed the results of his researches, are his edition of Belknap's " History of New Hampshire " and the " Genealogical Register of the First Settlers of New England " (1829). The latter is a remarkable example of the author's in- dustry and talent for historical investigation. He also published histories of Billerica (1800) and Am- herst (1820), and, with the assistance of J. B. Moore, a " Gazetteer of New Hampshire " (1823). Besides contributing to the " Collections " of the historical societies of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and to the " American Quarterly Register," he compiled the " New Hampshire Register." In 1822, in connection with Jacob B. Moore, he began the liistorical, biographical, and topographical " Col- lections of New Hampshire " (3 vols.).

FARMER, John, cartographer, b. in Half Moon, Saratoga co., N. Y., 9 Feb., 1798; d. in Detroit, Mich., 24 March, 1859. He was educated in the vicinity of Albany, N. Y., and taught a Lancas- trian school in that city. By invitation of Gov. Cass and the trustees of the University of Michi- gan, he removed to that state in 1821, and, after teaching for a time, engaged in surveying and drew the first published map of Michigan.. In 1825 he issued one on his own account, and afterward pub- lished twelve different maps of Michigan, Wiscon- sin, Lake Superior, and Detroit, most of which he engraved. In 1831 he compiled and drew for the gov- ernor and judges of the state the first and only map of Detroit, transmitted by them to congress. It was accepted by that body as authoritative, and was reproduced among the American state papers. His early maps are conceded to have been largely in- fluential in promoting the extensive emigration to Michigan that occurred between 1825 and 1840. During his residence in Detroit, Mr. Farmer filled many important city offices. Before leaving Al- bany he published the first " Gazetteer of Michi- gan " (1830). — His son, Silas, publisher, b. in De- troit, Mich., 6 June, 1839, was brought up to his father's business, and continued the publication of maps. In 1882 he was chosen historiographer of the city of Detroit. Mr. Farmer claims to have been the first to suggest in print the summer gatherings that have resvdted in the Chautauqua, N. Y., movement, and he is also the founder of the Young Men's Chjistian association of Detroit. He has issued a series of religious tracts under the titles of the " Royal Railroad " and " The Truth- Teller," of which several large editions have been printed. He has published a " History of Detroit and Michigan " (1884 ; 2d ed., 1887).

FARMER, John W., philanthropist, b. in 1819 ; d. in Brooklyn, N. Y., 23 Oct., 18(39. Mr. Farmer was a generous and philanthropic resident of the city of New York, who took a deep and practical interest in the condition of the poor and laboring classes. He was active for several years in the organization of co-operative societies in New York and vicinity, and was ever fertile in expedients to help the poor to help themselves. In this good work he was never sparing of his own means, and in the winter of distress that followed the financial panic of 1857 he not only gave out provisions with a liberal hand, but established soup- houses for the benefit of the needy. In this way those in want were able to procure nutritious food for less than it would have cost them to prepare it at home, even had tlie raw material been given them. He pursued the same course during the winter of 1801-'2. The example of opening soup- kitchens was quickly followed in Philadelphia, Boston, and other cities.

FARNAM, Henry, philanthropist, b. in Scipio, N. Y., 9 Nov., 1803 ; d. in New Haven, Conn., 4 Oct., 1883. His early years were spent on his father's farm and in attending the district school. He afterward studied mathematics by himself, and became a surveyor. He was engaged on the Erie canal, west of Rochester, about 1820. became assist- ant engineer of the New Haven and Northampton canal in 1825, and its superintendent in 1827. He removed to New Haven in 1839, and in 1846-'8 built the railroad that took the place of the canal. He went to Illinois in 1850, and with Joseph E. Sheffield built the Chicago and Rock Island road, of which he was president in 1854-'63. He then retired from active life, and, after spending about five years abroad, returned in 1868 to New Haven, where he remained till his death. Mr. Farnam gave freely to New Haven charities, especially to the state hospital, and built for Yale, Farnam Hall, one of its best dormitories. He contributed largely for the development of East Rock park, and pro- vided in his will that his residence, one of the finest in the city, should be given, after the death of his immediate heirs, to Yale college for a " president's house." — His son. Charles Henry, b. in New Haven, Conn., 12 Sept., 1846, was graduated at Yale in 1868, and at Columbia law-school in 1871. Pie has been for several years assistant in archae- ology in the Peabody museum of Yale, and has published a " History of John Whitman and his Descendants" (New Haven, 1887). — Another son, Henry Walcott, b. in New Haven, Conn., 6 Nov., 1853, was graduated at Yale in 1874, and received the degree of R. P. D. at Strasburg, Germanv, in 1878. He was a tutor in Yale from 1878 till 1880. when he was appointed professor of political econ- omy in Sheffield scientific school. In 1881 he be- came a member of its governing board. Prof. Farnam has contributed to periodicals numerous articles on his specialty.

FARNHAM, Horace Putnam, physician, b. in Salem, Mass., 7 May, 1822 ; d. in New York city, 9 June, 1886. He was graduated at Harvard in 1843, studied law with Rufus Choate, and. after graduation from the Dane law-school in 1846, was admitted to practice in 1847. After a visit to Europe in 1855-'6, he began the study of medicine, and obtained the degree of M. D. from Jefferson medical college in 1860. He at once settled in the city of New York as a general practitioner, but paid especial attention to diseases of tlie tliroat and nose, in which he was deemed an expert. In 1861-'3 he was attending physician to the Northern dispensary of New York. He was a member of various professional bodies, having been president of the New York medical association in 1865, and treas-