Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Farnam, Lyman W 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 3, 2007, 4:54 pm

Author: Genealogical/Biographical Publishing Co

LYMAN W. FARNAM, who owns and occupies a pleasant little homestead of ten 
acres near the village of Crete, was born in Franklin County, Mass., January 
14, 1834. His father, William, a native of Massachusetts, born March 1, 1804, 
spent his entire life on a farm in that state, and died there July 7, 1869. 
Politically he voted with the Democrats until the antislavery agitation arose, 
when he sided with the Republicans, and always after 1860 voted the Republican 
ticket. He was a son of Heman and Mary (Field) Farnam, natives of 
Massachusetts. The former, born on Christmas day of 1761, was a fur trader and 
dealer, bringing his furs to Boston for sale. He died November 8, 1847. His 
wife was born March 30, 1764, and died August 12, 1846. The mother of our 
subject was Orpha Hartwell, born in Massachusetts, November 26, 1805, and 
there deceased, April 17, 1835, at less than thirty years of age. In religion 
she was a Baptist. She was a daughter of Ward Hartwell, a New Englander.

The subject of this sketch was the only child of his parents. He remained on 
the home farm until he was twenty, when he left home and secured work in a 
cutlery factory. After three years in the factory he came west in 1858, and 
secured work on a farm in Bureau County, Ill. Nine months later he went to 
Kane County, and later worked on farms in Christian and Morgan Counties, this 
state. In 1860 he came to Crete and rented a farm near the village. During the 
Civil war he was an enthusiastic Union supporter. September 26, 1864, he 
enlisted in Company F, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, with which he went to the 
front and in which he served, mostly on guard duty, in Maryland and Virginia. 
At the close of the war he returned to this county and for two years rented a 
farm in Richland Township. From there he came back to Crete Township and 
bought a part of his father-in-law's farm, where he has since made his home.

August 20, 1861, Mr. Farnam married Miss Sarah M. Haner, who was born near 
Syracuse, N. Y., May 10, 1835, a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Mogg) Haner, 
natives of Schoharie County, N. Y. Her father, who was born April 20, 1811, 
farmed in the east until September, 1851, when he brought his family to this 
county, settling on a farm near Crete. In 1878 he moved to Missouri and there 
died August 2, 1879. His wife was born October 31, 1815, and died February 19, 
1885. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are still 
living. Mrs. Farnam was sixteen years of age when the family settled in Crete 
Township. Prior to this she had received a fair education in New York. She is 
an estimable lady, and has many friends among the people of the township where 
from girlhood she has made her home. Of her three children one died in 
infancy; Lillian and Mary make their home with their parents and are popular 
and active in the work of the Congregational Church at Crete. For some years 
Miss Lillian has been a successful teacher in the Chicago schools, where her 
ability has won for her recognition among the teachers of that city.

Mr. Farnam has never forgotten his days of active service in the army, and 
often calls those times to mind when in the companionship of the members of 
Chicago Heights Post No. 759, G. A. R., to which he belongs; or when he meets 
other veterans of that long and fierce struggle.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present

Biographical Publishing Company; Chicago 1900

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