Robert E. Farnam Biography, Genesee County, Michigan

This Biography extracted from “Portrait and Biographical Record of 
Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan…”, published be Chapman 
Bros., Chicago (1892), p. 

This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives.




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p. 991-992

ROBERT E. FARNAM. The largest and finest jewelry establishment in Flint 
is owned by the gentleman whose name appears above. Mr. Farnam is a man 
whose chief characteristic is his originality. He is a man who is 
independent of the estimation of others, who reads what he likes to 
read, wears what he wants to wear and professes no formal creed. He was 
born in West Bloomfield, Oakland County, this State, December 11, 1839, 
and is a son of Joseph S. Farnam, a native of New York State. His 
paternal grandsire, Philo Farnam, was born in Western New York and 
served in the War of 1812. In 1830 he came to Michigan with his family, 
locating in East Bloomfield.

   Our subject's grandfather, who was of English descent, improved a 
farm which was Government land. He died when seventy-two years of age. 
Joseph Farnam was about twenty years of age on coming to this .State 
and he then took up a tract of eighty acres of Government land. He was 
in the Toledo War. He died May 19, 1881, having been an invalid for the 
last twenty-five years of his life. He came to Davisburg, where he 
resided for seven years. Thence he came to Flint where lie lived until 
his decease. Our subject's mother was Miss Mary A. Irwin, a native of 
Newburg, N.Y. Her father, James Irwin, was a boot and shoe merchant and 
an early settler in West Bloomfield.

   Our subject is the only child born to his parents. He remained at 
home until about seventeen years of age and then went to Ypsilanti 
Normal School and in 1858 entered the college, which he attended two 
years, afterward locating in Flint, making his advent here in March, 
1860. While a youth he had learned the jewelry business and also 
telegraphy and on coming to Flint he entered the employ of Mr. True, 
jeweler and telegrapher. He used to take messages and send them to 
Saginaw by the mail stage. After six months with that gentleman he 
entered the employ of M. S. Elmore, remaining with him until 1865, when 
he launched into business for himself in the jewelry trade, locating at 
No. 320 Saginaw Street, where he began on a small scale. In 1868 our 
subject entered into partnership with W. L. Gibson, with whom he 
remained until 1870. This gentleman was succeeded by our subject's 
father, who acted as silent partner until his death. Since then he has 
been running the business alone. In 1879 he located at No. 425 Saginaw 
Street, where he carries a large line of the choicest novelties in 
jewelry. He has also dealt quite extensively in sewing machines. He 
also carries sporting goods and a fine line of guns.

   Mr. Farnam has ever refused to hold office, either political or 
social. The time that is spared him from his business, to which, 
however, he is closely devoted, is spent in association with literary 
and scientific people and works. He aims to elevate the ego to the 
highest possible mental point. Our subject was married in Flint, 
September 27, 1864, his bride being Miss Isabella L. Gibson, a native 
of Rochester, N. Y. They have one child, a son, whose name is Arthur A. 
and who is in business with his father. Mr. Farnam is a Master Mason 
and belongs to the Royal Arcanum. His wife, who is a most estimable 
lady, is a member of the Presbyterian .Church. The Republican 
principles are to him the most reasonable and promising.



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