Union County, SD Biographies.....Farley, P. H. 
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Author: Geo. A. Ogle & Co. (1897)

P. H. FARLEY occupies a prominent place as a well-to-do and progressive member
of the farming community of Union county, in Prairie township, of which he has
an elegant farm of 240 acres. Since his residence here he has placed upon it
such improvements as entitle it to rank among the finest pieces of property
devoted to agricultural pursuits to be found throughout the community, and has
been instrumental in developing and promoting the growth of this section of the
county.

    Our subject was born in County Meath, Ireland, and in 1850 came to America
with his parents. They first settled in Stephenson county, Ill., on a farm, and
there Mr. Farley was raised to manhood, receiving his education in the common
schools of the same county. He enlisted in 1863, to take a position in the
quartermaster's department at St. Louis, where he served for seven months. After
his discharge he hired out to a farmer near Jacksonville, Ill., for a year, and
then returned to his home in Stephenson county, where he followed agricultural
pursuits for another year. He then took up lumbering on the Mississippi river in
Wisconsin, and devoted his time to that occupation for six or seven years. Mr.
Farley had been to Dakota territory in 1870, and took up land, but it was not
until 1876 that he came and settled permanently. His original farm was in
Prairie township, and when he settled upon it it was wholly unimproved. He built
a frame house, started in to break up his land, and in time had it in a good
state of tillage. In 1878 he moved to his present place, which at that time was
also little better than raw prairie land. He is now the fortunate owner of 240
acres in section 4, and has put on himself all the present improvements, hiring
nothing done. He had a good capacity for labor, and shows it in the immense
amount of hard work he has done in bringing his estate to its present fine
condition. He has devoted his time and attention exclusively to general farming
and stock raising, and has succeeded admirably. He has also operated a threshing
machine in connection with his agricultural interests, and increased his
financial standing some in that way. Politically he affiliates with the Populist
party, though he was formerly a Democrat, and takes an active interest in the
administration of local affairs. He organized his school district, and was the
first director of the school board. Has also served as justice of the peace for
his township but resigned the office.

   The marriage of Miss Catherine Maher to our subject occurred in 1871, and
this union has been blessed to them by the birth of nine children, viz: Mary,
Francis, Jennie, Kittie, Adelle, Thomas, Julia, Clara and Rose. They are all
members of the Catholic church at Beresford, and have been very active there.
Mr. Farley takes special pains in the education of his children, giving them
every advantage for obtaining a thorough and practical knowledge in the best
schools. Five are graduates and three now hold teachers' positions in various
institutions of learning. Miss Mary is a young lady of rare musical talent, and
is a teacher of that art, both vocal and instrumental.

    Mr. Farley is a student of literature, and has been a great reader in a
general way. He peruses the newspapers and the best magazines and publications
of this and other countries, and keeps well abreast of the times in current
thought. He is posted on all subjects of local interest, political economy,
etc., and uses his knowledge of ways and means unstintedly in the cause of good
government.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF 
Turner, Lincoln, Union and Clay Counties,
SOUTH DAKOTA.

Containing Biographical Sketches of Hundreds of Prominent Old Settlers and
Representative Citizens, with a Review of their Life Work; their Identity with
the Growth and Development of these Counties; Reminiscences of Personal History
and Pioneer Life; and other Interesting and Valuable Matter which should be
Preserved in History.

ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO.
GEO. A. OGLE & CO.
Publishers, Engravers and Book Manufacturers.
1897.


Biography is the only true history.—EMERSON.

A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
generations.—MACAULAY.


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