Yolo-Glenn County CA Archives Biographies.....Farnham, Erastus Sylvester 1844 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 5, 2005, 12:33 am

Author: Tom Gregory

ERASTUS SYLVESTER FARNHAM

    The history of E. S. Farnham, a Civil war veteran, is most interesting and
well worthy of the man it represents. His paternal grandfather, Benjamin
Farnham, fought in the Revolutionary, war and died in Van Bur en county, Mich.
Daniel Farnham, the son of this Revolutionary hero and the father of our
subject, was born in New York state in 1799 and when quite young removed to
Michigan and took up farming. In 1850, accompanied by his son Horace and
Theodore Dopking, now a resident of Woodland, he came west, crossing the plains
with oxen. He mined three years, then returning to his Michigan farm by way of
the Panama route. Leasing his farm in 1858 he again made his way to California
with his son Daniel, Jr. During the journey he acted as captain of the train.
Upon his arrival in the west Mr. Farnham took up mining, following it until
1865, when he engaged in farming in Yolo county. He died at the age of
eighty-two years. He was a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and
politically was a Republican. Naomi (Rice) Farnham, his wife, a native of Ohio,
died in Yolo county at the age of eighty-two years. Their children were: Amanda,
Mrs. Lee, now living in Michigan; Mary, Mrs. W. Wilkinson, who died in Michigan;
Erastus S.; Caroline, and Daniel, Jr. By a previous marriage, with Miss Myers,
Mr. Farnham had two children, Horace and Catherine.

    Erastus Sylvester Farnham was born November 1, 1844, in Cass county, Mich.,
where he spent his youth, receiving his education in the public schools. At the
age of sixteen, in the fall of 1861, he offered his services as volunteer in the
Civil war and entered Company K, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. After
being mustered in at Niles he went south with his company, thereafter engaging
in many battles, including Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing, and Little Rock. At the
close of the war, having been honorably discharged, he returned to his home in
Michigan, where he farmed about a year, after which, having disposed of his
land, he came to California, his mother and his sister Caroline (now Mrs. Thomas
Beckett) accompanying him. They came by way of Nicaragua, arriving in California
in the spring of 1866. Mr. Farnham purchased eighty acres two and one-half miles
southeast of Woodland, a portion of this farm having belonged to his father and
his brother Daniel. Mr. Farnham erected a house and other buildings upon it and
pursued farming activities. In addition to his home place he owns six hundred
and forty acres west of Orland, Glenn county, which is devoted to stock raising
and the cultivation of grain. He also has one hundred and seventy acres on Cache
creek, seven miles northwest of Woodland, seventy acres of which is planted in
alfalfa. Most of this tract is under irrigation. His dairy business, which he
established in 1871, has been making fine strides and is now an excellent asset.
Mr. Farnham was one of the organizers of the Woodland Creamery, having erected a
large plant in Woodland, and he is a member of the board of directors. In
addition to the property mentioned he also owns one hundred and sixty acres of
grain land in Hungry Hollow, Yolo county. He was among the first in this section
to venture in the raising of alfalfa.

    In 1870 Mr. Farnham married Miss Ella Myers, born in Milford, Ind., July 5,
1854. Her father, Martin Myers, a native of Ohio, came to California from
Indiana in 1850, his wagons being drawn by oxen. Taking up his residence in
Sacramento, he opened the "Watcheer House," but two years later, having a
longing for the old home, he returned to the Hoosier state and was married,
coming west again in 1860. The trip, which was made with horses; consumed five
months. He teamed in Nevada a short time before finally locating in this state,
and passed away in Woodland at the age of sixty-seven. His wife was formerly
Eliza Keightley, a native of Indiana and the daughter of a millwright. At the
age of eighty years she makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Farnham. The
three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Myers are: Charles, engaged in the
contracting business in Long Beach; Warren, manager of one of Woodland's
creameries; and Ella, Mrs. Farnham.

    Mr. and Mrs. Farnham have had nine children: Stella, formerly a teacher, and
now Mrs. T. J. Dinsdale, of Woodland; Mary E., who died when seventeen years
old; Minnie B., a teacher, who died at the age of twenty-eight; Edwin D., a
farmer in Oregon; Alta Mae, a graduate of the San Jose state normal and a
teacher until her marriage to H. N. Cunning, of Oakland; Elsie, who died when
eight years old; Elmer and Warren, who are farming on Cache creek; and Lloyd,
who is on the home place.

    Mr. and Mrs. Farnham are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They
assisted in erecting two churches in their city and are active in all public
affairs. Mr. Farnham is and has been clerk of the Spring Lake school district
for the past thirty years and in politics is a Republican. He is connected with
Woodland Lodge No. 156, F. & A. M., and is a member and past commander of
William H. Seward Post No. 65, G. A. R., of Woodland. He was also at one time a
member of the county central committee. He is president of the Woodland Cemetery
Association. The Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of which he was one of
the organizers and the first president, has over $1,000,000 worth of property
insured and has never yet had a fire.

    Mrs. Farnham is a member of the W. C. T. U. and of the William H. Seward
Relief Corps, of which latter organization she was president for two years. She
is much interested in plant life and has many fine specimens of cacti. The
excellent qualities of both Mr. and Mrs. Farnham have won for them a high place
in the esteem of friends and acquaintances.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]

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