James Farley, b. 5 Aug 1823

GORMAN, SPRAGUE, BLODGETT, MEANS

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 3/16/2004 at 12:22:29

James Farley is not only one of the earliest settlers of Van Buren Township, but also of this county, which he first looked upon in 1837. His father, Andrew Farley, came to this region in 1836, took up a claim, built a house, then went back to Pennsylvania and returned with his family, May 15, 1837. Their location was in the backwoods, three miles from the nearest school and the boyhood and youth of our subject was spent in a manner similar to that of the son of other pioneer farmers.

Andrew Farley was a native of Ireland and came to America when twenty-two years old. He married Miss Ruth Gorman in Warren County, Pa.; she was born in Westmoreland County, that State. In Pennsylvania they became the parents of eight children; one child, Andrew, was born after the death of the father who was killed by the Indians on the 1st day of April, 1840, while at mill in Bellevue. The nine children lived to mature years. James was the second boy and child, and was born Aug. 5, 1823, in Warren County, Pa., He was fourteen years old when coming to Iowa. He greatly enjoyed the journey hither, which was performed in the most primitive style, the family going down the Alleghany River on a raft to Pittsburg. At that point they took a steamer to Galena, Ill., but landed, however, at the wood-yard docks at the mouth of the Maquoketa.

At this point two Indian canoes were lashed together, and loaded with the household goods, were pushed up into Deep Creek a little above the present site of Alexander's mill. The progress of the craft was retarded by trees, which had fallen across the creek, but the goods were finally landed in safety and carried to a cabin, which was the first dwelling in the township occupied by a white man. The mother rode up the river in a canoe, and from the landing point walked to their new home. The Black Hawk and Masquokees Indians were still here, and the name which has since been transformed into Maquoketa, means Black Bear River, from the fact that these animals were once here in abundance. The prairie grass grew about five feet high, and wild flowers, together with wild strawberries and onions abounded, also wolves and prairie chickens, and these latter became more numerous as immigration and agriculture advanced. The father of our subject broke his first land in 1836. The Indians became very troublesome and after the death of the father, the eldest brother being away from home, the responsibility of the family then devolved upon our subject.

The news of the calamity which had befallen the family in the death of the father reached them the day following, and the son James, our subject, went to Bellevue on foot to bring back the remains. There were teams in the neighborhood but the people were afraid to visit the place of the tragedy. The father has assisted in building the first school-house in the township. Our subject occupies the land which the elder Farley entered from the Government.

James Farley was married in 1851 to Miss Harriet Sprague, daughter of Lawrence and Lydia (Blodgett) Sprague. The town of Spragueville was named in honor of her father. He was born at New Marlboro, Mass., while the mother was a native of Brattleboro, Vt.; they were married in Vermont. The father was by trade a wagon and carriage maker, and upon removing from the Green Mountain State settled first in Chautauqua County, N.Y., whence later he removed to Erie County. Thence he emigrated to DuPage County, Ill., where the family lived three years and from there came to Iowa in the fall of 1838.

The father of Mrs. Farley entered a claim and built the first grist mill and dam on Deep Creek. The stage line ran through this place, and this, together with the existence of the grist mill, was instrumental in establishing the town of Spragueville. The home of Mr. Sprague was made a rendezvous for settlers for many miles around and between Charlestown and Maquoketa. Mr. Sprage in 1849, went to California, but died one month after his arrival there and was buried at Stockton. The mother died when Mrs. Farley was a child. Their children were all daughters - Laura, Juliet, Ellen, and Margaret.

To our subject and his wife there have been born seven children; namely: Nathan, John, Jennie, Henry, Laura, Grant, and Christopher. Mr. Farley, politically, is a stanch Democrat, and has served as School Director. He contemplates in the near future taking up his home in Preston. Miss Juliet Sprague, a sister of Mrs. Farley, now Mrs. Means, taught the first school in Van Buren Township, which Mrs. Farley attended.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)