Occupations

Occupations of the Farr’s

Last of the Farmers – William Henry Farr was the last of our family to earn his living as a farmer. The Farr’s as most Americans had been involved in agriculture as a way of life for generations. It is difficult today for most Americans to know what it was like to grow up on a farm. In our family those members who were involved in farming have long since passed from our lives. In 1917, Ray Baker wrote about the farmer’s life. More than likely William Henry, his father Samuel and previous generations shared this view.

“It is astonishing how many people there are in cities and towns who have a secret longing to get back into quiet country places, to own a bit of the soil of the earth, and to cultivate it… If one has drained his land, and plowed it, and fertilized it, and planted it and harvested it – even though it be only a few acres – how he comes to know and to love every rod of it. He knows the wet spots, and the stony spots, and the warmest and most fertile spots, until his acres have all the qualities of a personality, whose every characteristic he knows…”

William H. Farr was born on January 24, 1874 in Ipava, Illinois on his parents farm. He died February 15, 1965 in Industry, Illinois at the age of 91. He was the son of Samuel Farr and Sarah Elizabeth Lindsey. He married Della Maude Thomas on August 21, 1876 in Ipava. She was born on January 24, 1876 and died on January 26, 1916 in Industry, Illinois. Della was the daughter of George Calvin Thomas, a Civil War veteran and Rebecca A. Beers. William was a farmer and later owned and operated a Bronze Oil gas station in Industry. He was involved in harness racing as a sport. By nature, William was a very quiet man. The local Industry newspaper stated, “He is an industrious and thrifty farmer, a liberal provider, a man of good report, who has made a success in life so far.”

Della Maude Thomas 1878