Biographical Sketch of Hon. J. W. Farris, Laclede County, Missouri

>From "History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, 
Pulaski, Phelps and Dent Counties, Missouri" The Goodspeed Publishing
Company, 1889.
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Hon. J. W. Farris, attorney at law and insurance agent at Lebanon, was
born in Marion County, Ill., January 20, 1846, and is the son of Hiram
K. and Abigail Farris, the father a native ofKentucky and the mother of
Indiana.  Hiram K. Farris was a resident of Marion county, Ill., for
many years, and came there from Indiana in 1840.  He was a very promi-
nent man of both Marion and Clay counties, being elected county clerk 
of the former county and county judge of the latter.  He died in Clay
county, Ill., in June, 1865.  J. W. Farris remained in Marion county,
Ill., until five years of age, and then moved with his parents to Clay
county, of the same state.  He received his education in the common
schools, and October 28, 1861, with the consent of his father, he en-
listed in Company K, Forty-eighth Illinois Regiment, and served until
1865, being discharged August 31 of that year.  At the time of enlist-
ment he was quite young, and was very anxious to go to the war.  His
father, thinking of course that he would be rejected when applying, 
gave his consent, but the lad was so enthusiastic and courageous that
he was mustered in.  He participated in the battle of Shiloh, where he
was slightly wounded in the head with a gunshot; was at the siege of
Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., Missionary Ridge, Atlanta,
and was with Sherman on his march to the sea.  At Scottsborough, Ala.,
on April 22, 1864, he was promoted to second lieutenant, and April 11,
1865, he was commissioned adjutant of his regiment, which position he
held until his discharge.  He was mustered out at Little Rock, Ark.,
and discharged at Springfield, Ill., August 31, 1865.  He then returned
home, and remained there until January, 1867, when he moved to Lebanon,
Mo.  After moving to Lebanon Mr. Farris engaged in the newspaper busi-
ness, which he continued for one year.  In 1870 he was elected county 
assessor, and in 1874 he was elected circuit clerk, holding the office
for four years.  He was appointed probate clerk, and held the office 
from 1872 until 1880.  In 1882 he was elected to the State Senate from
the Twenty-second district, and served four years.  He was admitted to
the bar in 1883, and has since been engaged in the practice of his pro-
fession, together with the insurance business.  He represents the 
"American Central Insurance" of St. Louis, "Springfield" (Mass.);
"Phenix" of Brooklyn, "North British and Merchants" of Liverpool,
"Fireman's Fund" of San Francisco, "Phoenix" of London, "Connecticut"
of Hartford, "Hibernia" of New Orleans, "Southern" of New Orleans,
"liverpool" of London, "Globe" of Liverpool, "Queen" of England and
"Fire Association" of Philadelphia.  Mr. Farris has been and is a
prominent man of the county, and his character is without a stain.  He
is a Mason and a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery; has
also served as Worshipful Master and High Priest of the Chapter.  He
is at present Eminent Commander of the Commandery, and has been a
member of the Grand Lodge since 1876.  He is also a member of the G. A.
R.

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