Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 04.djvu/59

 FARMER

FARMER

Oliver and Abigail (Johnson) and great^ gi-and- son of Edward Farmer, born in England about 1640, who came to New England prior to 1670 and settled in Billerica, Mass. He was educated in the district schools, and taught school for about ten years. In 1821 lie settled in Concord, N.H., where lie engaged in business as a druggist. He also served as a tutor and became interested in historical and antiquarian research, to which he devoted the most of his life. He was a member of several literary societies and was one of the fountlers of the New Hampshire historical society, acting as its corresponding secretary, 1825-38. He published town histories of Billerica (1806) and Amherst (1820): with the aid of Jacob B. Moore a Irazetteer of Xew Hampshire ( 1823) ; and the Genealogical Berjisler of the First, Settlers of Xew England (1829). He contributed to the Col- lections of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire historical societies and to the American Quarterly Register; compiled the JSIew Hampshire Register; edited Belknap's History of Xew Hampshire ; and in 1822 with Jacob B. Moore, he commenced the historical, biographical anil topographical Collec- tions of Xew Hampshire (3 vols). He died in Con- cord, N.H., Aug. 13, 1838.

FARMER, John, cartographer, was born in Half Moon, Saratoga county, N.Y., Feb. 9, 1798; son of Jolm and Catherine Jacokes (Stouten- burgh) Farmer, and a descendant of Paul Farmer. He attended school near Albany, N.'V.. and for a time had charge of a Lancasterian school there. In 1821 he removed to Detroit, Mich., where he first taught school and then engaged in survey- ing. He drew the first published map of Mich- igan and subsequent to 182."> published twelve different maps of Lake Superior, Detroit, Michi- gan and Wisconsin, engraving nearly all of them liimself. In 1831 he drew the first map of De- troit, Mich., for the governor and judges of the state. This map was submitteil to congress and afterward published in the American state papers. He filled city offices in Detroit and pub- lished the first Gazetteer of Michigan (1830). He died in Detroit, Mich.. March 24, 1859.

FARMER, Lydia Hoyt, author, was born in Cleveland, Ohio; daughter of James M. and Mary Ella (Beebe) Hoyt, and gi-anddaughter of Alex- ander M. Beebe, LL.D., a celebrated New York lawyer. She was married to Elihu Jerome Farmer in 1864; their son, James Eugene (Yale, 18'.)1). became an educator and author; another s^n, Ernest M., a musical compo.ser and violinist, and their daughter, Ethel F., an author and musi- cian. Mrs. Farmer's books include: -4 Ston/ Book of Science (1886); TJte Prince of the Flaming .Star (operetta, 1889) ; Boy's Book of Famous Rnlers (1886) : Girl's Book of Famons Queens (1887) ; The Life of La Fayette (1888) ; A Short His-

tory of the French Revolution (1889);^ Knight of Faith (1889); A Moral Inheritance (1890); What America Owes to Women (World's Fair Book, ed- ited by Mrs. Farmer, 1893) ; Aunt Belimhfs Points of View (1894) : The Doom of the Holy City : Christ and Cwsar (1895) ; The Xero of the Xineteenth Cen- tury (1897).

FARMER, Moses Qerrish, pioneer electri- cian, was born in Bo.scawen, N.H., Feb. 9, 1820; son of Col. John and Sally (Gerrish) Farmer. His earliest ancestors in America were Isabella (Barbage) Farmer (widow of John Farmer) and her son Edward who was born in Ansle}^ War- wickshire, England, in 1641 and came to Billerica, Mass.. 1670- 73 : and Capt.William Gerrish who was born in Bristol, Somerset- shire. England, in 1617, came to New- England in 1639 and' was married to Jli>. Joanna Oliver, widou of JohnOli verof New- bury. Moses attended Phillips academy, y/ ,^-^y-/^—-^

Andover. Mass., 1837- Y^U^l^J ^ytH^fmi. 40, and Dartmouth

college, 1840-43, illness preventing his graduation from the latter. He taught school at Eliot, Maine, and at Dover, N.H., imtil 1847. In 1845 he began the study of electrical science with reference to its industrial apiilication and laid the foundation for electrical engineering in the United States. He invented several electro-motors and in 1846 constructed a minature railroad track and elec- tro-magnetic engine which he exhibited for the first time, July 26, 1847, in Dover, N.H., and later in various towns, lecturing upon the subject of electro magnetism and its api^lications. In December, 1847, he was employe:l at South Fra- mingham, Mass., with F. O. J. Smith, who was engaged in constructing the telegraph line from New York to Boston, and in July, 1848, he re- moved to Salem. Mass., where he had charge of the telegraph oflfice till 1849, when he left it to open some new offices on the Vermont and Boston line, beginning at Manchester, N.H. While there he invented the open circuit automatic repeater. In South Frainingham he invented an electric striking device for fire-alarm service which he exhibited in Bo.ston in 1849. In 1851 he planned and constructed the telegraph fire-alarm system in Boston and was its superintendent till 1853. In 1849 he made an electromagnetic clock with dead beat escapement and continuity-preserving circuit-breaker, which was in use in the Boston fire-alarm office many years. Prior to 1850 he