ROSWELL FARNHAM, Esq., AND FAMILY

In the first place, a brief sketch of his ancestry. And here it seems appropriate to remark that there has been a change in the spelling of this family name, from Farnum to Farnham, by general consent, as will hereafter be seen.

The Farnums are of English descent. The first of the name in this country came from England, settled in Andover, Mass., where he was married in 1658, only fifteen years after the first settlement of that township. His name was Ralph Farnum. Roswell Farnum, a descendant of the sixth generation from that early emigrant, was born in Plymouth, N. H., in 1792. He married first, Ruth Bixby, of Piermont, by whom he had one son, Cyrus Conant Farnham, born at Haverhill, N. H., June 27, 1818.  This son died at Memphis, Tennessee, February 26,1863, while in the employment of the United States Government, in the Military Telegraphic Department.  After the decease of his first wife Mr. Roswell Farnum married Nancy Bixby, a sister of the deceased, April 29, 1822, by whom he had a son, Roswell Farnham, born in Boston, Mass., July 23, 1827, and a daughter, Laura Ann Farnham, born in Haverhill, Mass., who now resides in Boston.

In 1830 Mr. Farnum removed with his family from Boston to Haverhill, in that State, where they resided about ten years, and in 1840 became residents of Bradford, Vt. where the parents spent their remaining days. Mrs.  Nancy B. Farnum, a pious lady and worthy member of the Congregational church, died here January 30, 1860,  in the sixty-sixth year of her age. The sermon preached at her funeral by her pastor was published. Mr. Farnum, her husband, a worthy citizen, died December 20, of the same year, at the age of sixty-eight.  About this time, or not long after, by mutual understanding and agreement among the younger members of the Farnum family, through nearly all of its branches, What they believed to be the original and correct spelling of their name was resumed ; that is, Farnham, instead of Farnum; and this spelling has since been followed.  Mr. Roswell Farnham, Jr., fitted for college at Bradford Academy, and in 1847 entered the junior class of the Vermont University, where he graduated in 1849.  On leaving the University he went immediately to Dunham, in the Province of Quebec, and taught the Academy there for a little over a year. While in Dunham, he was married to Miss Mary F. Johnson, eldest daughter of Ezekiel Johnson, of Bradford, Vt. From Dunham they were called to Franklin, in this State, where they taught the Academy for more than three years, having a very prosperous school. In 1854 they were called to take charge of Bradford Academy, which they taught for somewhat over two years.

In 1857, Mr. Farnham was admitted to the practice of law, at the bar of Orange County. In 1859, he was elected State Attorney for Orange County, and held that office for three years.  At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, in 1861, Mr. Farnham was a Corporal in the company of Bradford Guards, but when the company was reorganized, to go into the field, he was elected and commissioned second Lieutenant, and served as such, during a term of three months, at Fortress Monroe and Newport News, Virginia, in the First Vermont Regiment, of which the Bradford Guards formed a part. He was present at the battle of Big Bethel, and acted as Provost Marshal of all the forces at Newport News, all the time he was there.  On his return to Vermont, in August, 1861, he resumed the practice of law; but in 1862 he resigned his position as State Attorney, was elected Captain of the Bradford Guards, and recruited that company to the full number required by Government. Upon the organization of the Twelfth Regiment, the Guards enlisted into that Regiment, and were styled Company H, of Regiment Twelfth.  Captain Farnham was then appointed by Governor Holbrook, of Vermont, Lieutenant Colonel; and, there being some question raised whether the Governor had the right to appoint the field officers of a Militia Regiment, an election was held, and Captain Farnham was duly elected to the same position, and in that capacity acted during the service of this Regiment. Mrs. Farnham, influenced alike by patriotism and concern for her husband's comfort, spent several months with him amid the exciting scenes of active warfare. At the close of this, his second term of service, he returned to the practice of law in Bradford, where he has ever since resided. He was elected to the State Senate in 1868 and 1869.  Colonel Farnham and wife have for years been active members of the Congregational church in this place, and persevering advocates and promoters of the best interests of society generally.   In 1868 the Colonel built for his family residence one of the best houses in this village.

These parents have at this date three children, namely: Charles Cyrus, born May 9, 1864; Florence Mary, born October 30, 1866 ; and William Mills, born July 5, 1869.  Biographie Index

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