John S. Farley Biography


	This biography appears on pages 684-685 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOHN S. FARLEY is one of the prominent merchants and 
representative citizens of Milbank, where he conducts a prosperous and 
extensive business in hardware, farming implements, etc. Mr. Farley is 
a native of Galena, Illinois, where he was born on the 28th of 
February, 1856, being a son of John J. and Lucina Farley, the former of 
whom was horn in the state of New York and the latter in Ohio. They 
were numbered among the early settlers of Illinois, and John J. was for 
a number of years a successful teacher, though he devoted the major 
portion of his active career to agricultural pursuits. He died in 
Milbank, June 11, 1893, and his wife passed away in Iowa in 1883, and 
their three sons and one daughter are still living. John S. grew to 
maturity under the sturdy discipline of the home farm in Howard county, 
Iowa, where his parents took up their abode in 1859, and there received 
his early educational training in the district schools. After leaving 
school he continued to assist in the management and work of the home 
farm until 1880, when he came to Milbank, and here established himself 
in the hardware business, being one of the pioneer merchants of the 
town. He began operations on a modest scale, and with the development 
of the county and the advancement of the town as a business center, he 
has prospered and now controls a large and flourishing business, 
drawing his trade from a wide radius of country. Correct methods have 
gained and retained to him the confidence and regard of all, the result 
being that his business has constantly grown in scope and importance. 
Mr. Farley has not hedged himself in with his personal interests and 
affairs, but has shown that potent public spirit which ever proves a 
factor in the upbuilding and advancement of any community. In politics 
he gives a staunch support to the Republican party, on whose ticket he 
was elected treasurer of the county in 1888, remaining incumbent of the 
office for four years and ably administering the fiscal affairs 
entrusted to his care. In 1899 he was elected a member of the board of 
aldermen of Milbank, and has served about four years in this capacity, 
having been elected for the third time in the spring of 1903. He is 
affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen, and both he and his wife are communicants of the 
Catholic church, holding membership in the local parish, of St. Laurens 
church.  

	On the 27th of June, 1883, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Farley to-Miss Minnie Dore. who was born in St. Croix, Wisconsin. being 
a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth Dore, the latter surviving upwards 
of thirty years. To Mr. and Mrs. Farley have been born nine children, 
those living being John E., George Stanley, Mary E., Francis and Earl 
S. Paul, Walter, Lucina and another boy died in infancy. The family 
home, at the corner of Fourth avenue and Fifth street, is one of the 
attractive residences of the town.