FARQUHAR, George R.

FARQUHAR, MARSHALL

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/25/2014 at 06:51:24

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 366-68. Chicago. 1915.

George R. Farquhar

George R. Farquhar, who is proving an able and progressive mayor of Leon, Decatur county, has been for many years actively engaged in business in that county and has met with a fair measure of success. He was born on the 16th of February, 1862, at Garden Grove, Decatur county, of the marriage of Samuel and Mary (Marshall) Farquhar. The father, a native of Ireland, came to the United States when eighteen years of age and located in New York state, there apprenticing himself to the tinner's trade. After mastering it he went to Columbus, Ohio, and worked there for two or three years, later removing to Garden Grove, Decatur county, Iowa, where he followed his trade for about four years, after which he located in Leon and was one of the first tinners in that city. He engaged in business on his own account and later added a fine line of hardware and sheet metal, becoming one of the most successful business men of the city.

In 1887 he retired from active life and passed his remaining days in leisure and rest from toil. He was a member of the Leon town council and in that capacity voted for measures that he deemed would prove of benefit to the community. Fraternally he was a blue lodge and Royal Arch Mason. His demise occurred on the 4th of November, 1909, and there were many who felt that in his death they had sustained a personal loss. To him and his wife were born two children, Horace and George R.

The latter was educated in the common schools of Leon and in the high school, which he attended for some time. Upon putting aside his textbooks he became an apprentice to the tinner's trade and on completing his term continued in the employ of his father until 1887, when he and his brother, Horace, took over the business upon the retirement of their father. The firm name then became Farquhar Brothers, hardware, etc., and the concern gained an extensive patronage as it was known that a stock of goods of high quality was always on display and that the work done was thorough and reliable. As the years passed our subject's capital increased and in 1908 he retired from business life although he still retains an interest in the firm. In the spring of 1914 he was elected mayor on a non-partisan ticket and is now serving in that capacity, giving the same careful attention to the management of the affairs of the municipality that he gave to the direction of his business interests. His administration has been efficient and has advanced the interests of the community along several important lines of civic development.

Mr. Farquhar is well known in local fraternal circles as he is identified with both the Masonic blue lodge and the Knights of Pythias and in the latter organization has held all of the chairs. Throughout his life he has been characterized not only by energy and sound judgment but also by unswerving honesty and integrity, and he has not only won financial success but also the goodwill and respect of all who have been associated with him.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014