GEORGE FARNSWORTH OF DETROIT
(See Elon E. Farnsworth)
Stephen III, born at Luenberg in 1715, was Samuel's fifth child. He married Eunice Hastings of Luenberg, Dec. 22, 1741. They had two children, Oliver and Stephen. (See «Matthias Farnsworth and Descendents», page 97, regarding Oliver, «Farnsworth Mémorial» p. 301).
Stephen was born in Charlestown, N. H., 1764 and married Deborah Bennett. (F. M. p. 301, 302, 306).
They had 9 children ; John, Elon, Terah, Stephen, Harriett, Fanny, Laura, Aurilia and Enos. Terah, was a bachelor, Stephen married Avaline Myrick, Harriet married John Frink of Chicago, Fanny married Silas Massey, Laura married Samuel IMyrick and Aurélia married Russell Damon. Elon married Harriet Blake. John, Frances Bowen Pratt of Fredonia, Ohio, where the Bowens
234 LA FAMILLE PHANP:UF-FARNSWORTH
and the Pratts were of excellent old Puritan stock — -Francis was a talented writer and a very cultured woman.
John and his young wife came to Détroit from New York •State, with a personal letter, introducing him to General Lewis Cass, from De Witt Clinton, later governor of New York. He was a fine student and teacher, lived only a short time in Détroit with his brother, Elon, later Chancellor Farnsworth. Then he moved to Galena, Illinois, the possibilities of the West luring him from Détroit. John and Francis Farnsworth had three children, Terah, Belle and George. Shortly afterwards John died, his widow and iier three children returning to Détroit, where they were educated. Belle married Thos. W. Mooney, then engaged in the railroad business and moved to Ohio, where she still lives with her son, Grandeville W. Mooney, and her daughter Sadie Belle Mooney. Terah went to New York to school and after finishing his éducation, entered into business — his tastes were aesthetic.
He belonged to the New York Society of Ethical Culture and wrote many essays and books, which he presented to the Society. He was unmarried and lived in New York, until his death in 1890.
George Farnsworth, the youngest son, was born in Galena, Illinois, Nov. 26, 1835. He received his éducation in Détroit Old Capitol School, where when after his mother and sister left Détroit, he made his home with his uncle, the Chancellor Elon Farnsworth and their family, in the Farnsworth homestead on Jefferson Avenue, where the close affection in which he was held by the family and the associations of many famous men, was a great influence on the young man's career. Early in life he was interested in the possibilities of the electrical engineering telegraph and to this he gave his untiring efforts. While in Cleveland in 1848, he discovered the electric carbon arc which has since developed into the Universal Lighting System. FoUowing is a list of his achievements, which covered a great many states, having built practically ail the Postal Telegraph lines between Pittsburg and New Orléans.
1848-1850 Manager Cleveland and Erie Telegraph Co.
1850-1858 Purchasing Agent, Détroit and Milwaukee Ry.
1858-1861 Builder.
VUES DE VEULETTKS, NOUMANDIE, FRANCE, l'AVS d'origine des charpentier. — 11° 3.
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1861-186-1: Military lines betvveen Cincinnati and the South.
1861-1866 Builder of United States, Flint, Toledo, Père Marquette lines in Michigan.
1866-1869 Builder Atlantic and Pacific lines and manager.
1869-1871 Builder of P. and A. lines between Memphis and New Orléans.
1871-1880 Manager P. and A. lines Memphis and Orléans.
1880-1883 Builder Mutual Union, between Chicago, Toledo and Détroit.
1883-1886 Builder Bankers and Merchants and Michigan Postal to 1891 — General Manager.
He married Mary Agnes Walker McVey, daugter of Henry and Isabel Walker, of New York, — ^in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 29, 1879. The then new Mrs. Mary Farnsworth came from a splendid old Knickerbocker family, and whose friends and business associâtes were New York's brightest citizens.
Mrs. Farnsworth is a devotee of music and literature and was alwaj's a confidante and inspiration to her husband in ail his undertakings.
Very simple in his mode of living, yet always a great scholar, a linguist Mr. Farnsworth was a philanthropist in the truest meaning.
Among his personal friends were — the elder John Jacob Astor, Jay Gould.^who was interested in his telegraph enterprises — and Russell Sage.
When King George's father, then the Prince of Wales, made his famous world tour, and came from Toronto to Détroit, George Farnsworth was appointed one of his suite to attend him during the Royal visit hère.
George Farnsworth died March 23, 1906, after an illness of nine weeks.
The following is from the Deiroii Free Press of March 24, 1906 :
« Another gap in the ranks of Detroit's distinguished citizens was opened yesterday by the death of George Farnsworth, who for the last half century had been prominent in railroad, telegraph, téléphone and newspaper circles. At the time of his death, Mr.
Farnsworth was associated with the Michigan State Téléphone Company.
« While at work in his office January 26, he was taken suddenly ill. Mr. Farnsworth seemed to realize that the sudden attack presaged his end, and as he fell over on his desk on that occasion he was heard to remark : «l hâve done my work».
« George Farnsworth was born November 26, 1835, at Galena, m. The family returned to Détroit almost immediately and the boy grew up in this city attending the old Capital school.
« In his early youth George became interested in telfgraphy, then a new invention. He made rapid strides in his chosen vocation, becoming manager of the Cleveland and Erie Telegraph Co., which he was also interested in building. He built the first telegraph line from Pittsburg to New Orléans and restored Chicago's télégraphie communication with the outside world after the great fire.
(( In 1859, he took a prominent part in building the Détroit and Milwaukee railroad, and during the Civil war built varions military lines Connecting Cincinnati with the South. In 1865, he succeeded Henry M. Utley as city editor of the Détroit Free Press. This was his only déviation from railroad and telegraph work. After leaving the Free Press, he built and managed the Atlantic and Pacific lines, and later built the Mutual Union lines between Chicago, Toledo and Détroit. In 1866, Mr. Farnsworth built the Michigan Postal telegraph Co's lines and became a stockholder in that concern, when this company was absorbed by the Postal Telegraph Ce, in 1891.
« Shortly after this he supervised the construction of the Public Lighting System of Détroit, which when this was completed, Mr. Farnsworth became associated with the Michigan State Téléphone Company, where he remained fourteen years until his death.
« In Mr. Farnsworth, Détroit lost one of it's most noble citizens and a man whose sterling character and splendid traits endeared him to a host of friends.»
His fanerai was held in St. John's church, which was attended by Détroit 's most prominent citizens, and many others from every
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walk of life, some men now prominent in Detroit's Business life, wliom Mr. Farnsworth had encouraged or helpcd as boys to pursue their career.
Mrs. Farnsworth and threc chiidren survive him — the children are : George, Elon, Amy Louise and Grover Dickinson — ail of Détroit.
George Elon received his éducation in the public shools and in a splendid collège preparatory school, and went East to an Episcopalian school for boys. After completing his studies, he worked with his father for a time, and has since been identified with Automobile business, now the District Manager for Willys Overland. He is a member of several clubs, among them is the Wolverine Automobile Club.
In 1909 he married Joséphine HuU, daughter of Caroline Worcester, and Charles HuU — a member of another of Detroit's old familles. They hâve no children.
Amy Louise, is prominently identified with the literary and Musical life in Détroit — ■ she received her éducation in Détroit, first in the Public Schools and later in a school of Girls — then spending four years in New York City in pursuing musical and studying dramatic art for which she is conceded to be of Detroit's cleverest amateurs and appears frequently for varions philanthropies, in which she is interested. — She is an active member of the Twentieth Century Club — was an organizer of the Détroit Center of the Dramatic League of America, The Mt. Vernon Society, The Three Arts Club of New York. Amy Louise Farnsworth résides with her mother, Mrs. George Farnsworth and her brother Grover Dickinson Farnsworth.
Grover Dickinson Farnsworth, the youngest son of George and Mary A. Farnsworth, received his éducation in the Detroit's Public Schools, then went to the Syracuse University, being a member of the class of 19n. He was always active in the High School and University athletics. Immediately after finishing his collège éducation, the automobile business attracted him and he became first assistant, then advertising Manager of the Everett-Metzger-Flanders Company, until 1912, when he organized Détroit Enclosed
Body Company, Automobile Parts Manufacturing Co., of which he is Vice Président and General Manager.
Among his clubs are : The Psi Upsilon Fraternity, the Détroit Boat Club, and The Country Club, Détroit Tennis Club. He has been a very conspicuous figure in the amateur rowing events of America, the last four years, being a member of the Détroit Boat Club crew, which won the Championship of America, and has several times been a prominen^ competitor at the Annual Canadian Henley, which is held at St. Catharines.
He is active in St. John's Episcopal church and is unmarried, living with his mother and sister.
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