Biographical Sketch of W. R. Farnsworth, Johnson County, Missouri,
Rose Hill township

>From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell,
Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918.
**********************************************************************

W. R. Farnsworth, one of Rose Hill township's most substantial citizens,
is a son of one of the best pioneer families of Johnson county.  Mr.
Farnsworth is one of the boys of yesterday of Rose Hill township.  He
was born on his father's farm in Johnson county, in 1865, a son of Ben-
jamin J. and Eliza Farnsworth, who are well remembered by the older
residents of Rose Hill township.  Benjamin J. Farnsworth was a son of
Thomas Farnsworth, who lived his entire lifetime in Tennessee.  In 1854,
Benjamin J. Farnsworth, father of W. R., the subject of this review,
came to Johnson county, Missouri and settled on a farm in Rose Hill
township.  He engaged in general farming and stock raising and prosper-
ed, at one time owning fifteen hundred acres of land.  Mr. Farnsworth
attributed the larger measure of his success to his good fortune in
raising and feeding cattle and in handling mules.  He fed stock exten-
sively and perhaps a portion of his success was due to the care he
invariably gave, but most probably Mr. Farnsworth attained afficient
circumstances because of his splendid business judgement, perseverance,
thrift and industry.  He had a host of friends in this and adjoining
counties, who recall his kindly, jovial hand clasp and cheery voice.
He was a gentleman, a man of high moral principles and a keen sence of
honor and justice, one who made true friends wherever he went.  He died
in 1890.  Mrs. Farnsworth preceded her husband in death many years 
before.  She died in 1871.  W. R. Farnsworth attended school at Lincoln
Hall in Johnson county.  In his schoolboy days, the following men and
women wielded the ferule of authority at different times at Lincoln
Hall: Tom Quick, Cyrus Anderson, and Miss Lutie Umstadt.  He recalls
among the pioneer preachers, whom he often heard in his youth, Reverend
J. H. Houx and Mohler.  There was much open land in those early days
and prairie chickens were plentiful.  Mr. Farnsworth, when a lad, often
successfully set traps for these wild fowl.  He made his first money
raising flax and his first investment was in calves, which proved to be
a very profitable speculation.  He and his father owned jointly 196 
acres of land, which became W. R. Farnsworth's after his father's death.
He is the owner of the old Farnsworth homestead.  The son now owns one
thousand acres of valuable land, three hundred acres of which are in
bluegrass.  Mr. Farnsworth is an ardent advocate of crop rotation, 
clover growing, and pasturing as soil builders.  He is a well informed,
intelligent, and progressive agriculturist, whose opinions and judge-
ment are well worth weighty consideration.  He deals extensively in
stock and is raising Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs.  The 
Farnsworth residence is a handsome, eight room structure and modern
throughout.  Mr. Farnsworth recently installed a water system on his
place at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars, but which is well worth the
outlay for it is a model of convenience, requiring two wells and over
one mile or more of water pipe with two windmills.  In 1891, W. R. 
Farnsworth and Edna Farnsworth, daughter of C. L. Farnsworth, a sketch
of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, were united in marriage and
to this union have been born four children: Lena, Mrs. Flosie Raker,
Ruby and Ruth.  Mr. and Mrs. Farnsworth are highly respected among the
good citizens of Johnson county.  Both are valued members and earnest
supporters of the Baptist church.  Mr. Farnsworth is affiliated with 
the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.

         This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
         Archives by:  <>
		      Penny Harrell <Incog3678@aol.com>

====================================================================