Shawnee County KS Archives Biographies.....McFarland, Noah C. 1822 - 1897
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Author: James L. King (1905)

HON. NOAH C. MCFARLAND.

    HON. NOAH C. MCFARLAND, deceased, was one of the distinguished men of
Kansas, whose name will go down to history with her other statesmen, jurists and
broad-minded, steadfast, useful citizens. Judge McFarland was born April 23,
1822, in the State of Pennsylvania, being a member of one of the substantial old
families of Washington County.

    Completing a collegiate course at Washington College, at the age of 23
years, Noah C. McFarland turned his attention to the study of the law, and in
1846, at Bucyrus, Ohio, he entered the law office of Judge Scott, who afterward
became a member of the Supreme Court of Ohio. When Judge Scott removed to
Hamilton, Ohio, Mr. McFarland became his law partner and resided there until he
removed to Kansas in 1870. Prior to this, Mr. McFarland's ability and capacity
had been recognized by his fellow-citizens in Ohio. In 1865 he was elected to
represent Butler and Warren counties in the Ohio State Senate, where he served
as chairman of the judiciary committee. He was also a member of the Ohio
delegation at the Chicago National Republicon [sic] Convention, in 1868, which
nominated General Grant for the Presidency.

    Within three years of settling in Kansas, Judge McFarland was elected to the
State Senate from Shawnee County, and also in this body served as chairman of
the judiciary committee. His eminent qualifications brought about his
appointment as a member of the Ute Indian Commission, and he also served as
regent of the Kansas State University. In 1881 he was appointed United States
Land Office Commissioner at Washington, by President Garfield, an office to
which he was reappointed by President Arthur.

    Politically, Judge McFarland was a stalwart Republican, beginning campaign
speech-making as early as his 18th year, first in the interests of the Whig
party and later ardently supporting the principles of the Republican party.

    Judge McFarland died April 26, 1897, at the Copeland Hotel, Topeka, after an
illness of but three weeks duration. He is vividly recalled by his business and
political associates and by scores of personal friends, his Abraham Lincoln
style of appearance and stature making him a conspicuous figure in any assembly,
while his personal attributes in a like manner recalled Lincoln's rugged
honesty. In all his years of public life and his familiar association with his
fellow-men he markedly showed the possession of the clear, keen judgment of a
thinker, and the sincere and unselfish devotion of a patriot.

    The death of Judge McFarland followed that of his cherished wife within a
year. She was one of the most highly esteemed ladies in Topeka, beloved for her
personal character and admired for her philanthropies. She was one of the
founders of Topeka's Free Public Library and of Ingleside Home. James M.
McFarland, the only son, survives.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY, KANSAS
AND
REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

EDITED AND COMPILED BY
JAMES L. KING
TOPEKA, KANSAS 

"History is Philosophy Teaching by Examples"

PUBLISHED BY
RICHMOND & ARNOLD,
GEORGE RICHMOND; C. R. ARNOLD.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,
1905.

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