GIDEON FARRIS

FARRIS

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/23/2020 at 13:40:00

GIDEON FARRIS, one of the old settlers of Adams county living on section 26 (Mt. Etna postoffice), was born in Claiborne county, Tennessee, June 10, 1825. His parents were Robert and Mary (Gentry) Farris, both natives of Virginia. The father was a farmer all his life. He moved to to Edgar county, Illinois, in 1833, rented land there, and made a reasonable success of his labors. He died in Illinois, in 1850, at over seventy years of age. His wife died in 1854 at the age of about seventy years. She was a member of the Protestant Methodist Church.

These parents reared eight children to mature years. Our subject is the only one now living. He began for himself at the age of twenty-six years. He followed the cooper's trade for several years, with farming, and later gave his whole attention to agriculture. He farmed in Illinois first, and came to Iowa in 1852, and settled on the place where he now resides and has been living ever since. There were seven families in the county when he came. They had to go to Savannah and to St. Joseph, Missouri, for their goods, quite a contrast with the present order of arrangement. He now owns 260 acres of good land, all of which is improved and fenced. He bought a portion of it from the railroad and a portion from the United States Government. He is nicely located on the old Wintersett road, has a good orchard, and grove, small fruits, etc. His house is 16 x 32 feet with an L 22 x 16 feet. He is in a good neighborhood, near church and school. He has been fairly successful, having made much of opportunities; coming here without means, with energy, industry and frugality he has acquired a nice home.

Mr. Farris was married, April 3, 1851, to Miss Eliza Carns, daughter of David and Mary Carns, of Vermillion county, Indiana. Their children are: William, married Nancy Cummins, and Lena was their only child; the mother died in 1880 at the age of nineteen years; his second marriage was to Carrie Stewart, by whom there are two children: George and Lucy; Harrison died at the age of thirty years; Frank married Martha F. Thomas; their two living children are Ella and Perry.

Mrs. Farris is a member of the Baptist Church. Politically our subject is a Democrat.