Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/435

Rh iirer and vice-president of that and other societies at different times. He gave largely to the New York academy of medicine, was elected its treasurer in 1877, and subsequently its vice-president. He stood in the front rank of his profession for over twenty years, but was compelled, on account of failing health, to retire in January, 1884.

FARNHAM, Luther, clergyman, b. in Concord, N. H., 5 Feb., 181(5. He was educated at Dartmouth and at Andover theological seminary, where he was graduated in 1841. He has since held pastorates at Northfield, Marshfield, Concord, and Linnfield, Mass., and at other places (1844-'69). but has made Boston his permanent residence, serving as one of the editors of the "Christian Alliance," and also of the " Massachusetts Ploughman." In 1855-'01 he was secretary of the Southern aid society, a missionary association having for its especial object the spreading of the gospel among the poorer classes, white and colored, of the south and southwest. In 1802 he was chosen secretary of the General theological library of Boston. Mr. Farnham has succeeded in raising for the Library an endowment of $32,000, and funds with which he has purchased for its use over 11,000 volumes. He has published "A Glance at Private Libraries," a pamphlet (1855), and has also prepared a "History of the Massachusetts Ilorticidtural Societv."

FARNHAM, Noah Lane, soldier, b. in New Haven, Conn., 4 June, 1829; d. in Washington, D. C, 14 Aug., 1801. His ancestor, Henry Farnham, came from Kenilworth, England, and settled in Roxbury, Mass., in 1044. In 1833 Noah's parents removed to tlie city of New York. He was educated in New Haven and at Cheshire, Conn., and entered business in New York at the age of sixteen. When eighteen years old he joined the city guard, and was present with that corps at the Astor place riot. He subsequently joined the fire department, and was soon chosen foreman of a "hook and ladder " company, where he introduced new methods of drill, and practised his men in climbing, jumping, and other athletic exercises. In 1850 he was elected assistant engineer of the New York fire department, and in 1857 joined the 7th regiment, soon attaining the rank of 1st lieutenant. He became acquainted with Col. Ellsworth on the arrival of the latter from Chicago in April, 1801, was persuaded by him to accept the lieutenant-colonelcy of the New York fire zouaves, and succeeded to the command after Ellsworth's death. When the regiment was ordered to march on Manassas, Col. Farnham was confined to a sickbed, but left it, and rode into action at the head of his men. He was wounded early in the engagement and removed to a hospital in Washington, where he died a few weeks afterward.

FARNHAM, Ralph, soldier, b. in Lebanon, York CO., Me., 7 July, 1750 ; d. in Acton, Me., 20 Dec, 1800. He was the last survivoi- of the battle of Bunker Hill. In 1780 he settled in Acton, being the first wliite inhabitant of that township. In 1800 he was invited to Boston, where a concert was given for his benefit in Tremont Temple.

FARNHAM, Roswell, governor of Vermont, b. in Boston, Mass., 23 July, 1827. When he was thirteen years of age his family removed to Brad- ford, Vt. He was graduated at the University of Vermont in 1849, was admitted to the bar in 1857, and was state attorney from 1859 till 1802. He then entered the army as lieutenant of the 1st Vermont regiment, and was provost-marshal at Newport News, Va. He afterward became lieu- tenant-colonel of the 12th Vermont during its service in the field. He was in the state senate in 1858-'9, a delegate to the Republican national convention in 1870, and a presidential elector on the Hayes ticket the same year. He has served on the state board of education, and has been one of the trustees of the University of Vermont and the State agricultural college since 1878. He was governor of Vermont from 1880 till 1882, having received the largest vote ever cast, and defeating Edward J. Phelps, afterward minister to England.

FARNHAM, Thomas Jefferson, author, b. in Vermont in 1804; d. in California in September, 1848. He was a lawyer, but in 1839 organized and took the command of a small expedition across the continent to Oregon. He went to California the same year, and was instrumental in procuring the release of a large number of American and English citizens who had been imprisoned by the Mexican government. He is the author of &ldquo;Travels in Oregon Territory&rdquo; (1842); &ldquo;Travels in California, and Scenes in the Pacific&rdquo; (1845); &ldquo;A Memoir of the Northwest Boundary-Line&rdquo; (1845); and &ldquo;Mexico, its Geography, People, and Institutions&rdquo; (1846). &mdash; His wife, Eliza Woodson, philanthropist, b. in Rensselaerville, N. Y., 17 Nov., 1815; d. in New York city, 15 Dec., 1864. Her maiden name was Burhans. She removed to Illinois in 1835, and was married there in 1836, but returned to New York in 1841. In 1844 she accepted an appointment as matron of the female department of the State prison at Sing Sing, that she might prove the possibility of governing such an institution by kindness alone. She met with unqualified success, and retained the office till 1848, when she removed to Boston, and was for several months connected with the management of the Institution for the blind. In 1849 she visited California, and remained there until 1856, when she returned to New York. For the two years following she devoted herself to the study of medicine, and in 1859 organized a society to assist destitute women in finding homes in the west, taking charge in person of several companies of this class of emigrants. She subsequently returned to California. While matron at Sing Sing, she published her &ldquo;Life in Prairie-Land,&rdquo; and edited Samson's &ldquo;Criminal Jurisprudence.&rdquo; She is also the author of &ldquo;California, Indoors and Out,&rdquo; and &ldquo;My Early Days&rdquo; (1859). Her most elaborate work is contained in &ldquo;Woman and Her Era&rdquo; (2 vols., 1864).

FARNSWORTH, Benjamin Franklin, educator, b. in Bridgeton, Me., 17 Dec., 1793; d. in Louisville, Ky., 4 June, 1851. He was graduated at Dartmouth in 1813, studied for the ministry, and was pastor of the Baptist church at Edenton, N. C., for two years. From 1821 till 1823 he was principal of the Bridgewater, Mass., academy, and then took charge of a girls' high-school at Worcester, Mass. He next edited the &ldquo;Christian Watchman,&rdquo; of Boston, which he left, in 1826, to take the chair of theology at the New Hampton, N. H., theological institute. Here he remained until 1833, when, after teaching school for a time in Providence, R. I., he was elected president of Georgetown, Ky., college, from which he afterward received the degree of D. D. The following year he was chosen president of the University of Louisville, where he remained until his death.

FARNSWORTH, John Franklin, legislator, b. in Eaton, Quebec, Canada, 27 March, 1820; d. in Washington, D. C., 14 July, 1897. He removed with his parents to Michigan in 1834, studied and practised law, and afterward went to Chicago, Ill. He was elected to congress as a Republican, and served from 1857 till 1861, when he became colonel of the 8th Illinois cavalry. He subsequently raised