My Genealogy Hound

HON. WILLIAM SMYTHE FARMER was born in Charleston, Montgomery County, N. Y., May 24, 1815. In the district schools of that day he acquired a practical education, and at the age of seventeen he entered a country store in Minaville as clerk, and was later similarly engaged in Fultonville, Montgomery County, N. Y. In 1839 he formed a partnership with his former employer, Henry P. Voorhees, and embarked in a general mercantile, grain and lumber business. Coming to Berrien County, Mich., in December, 1848, he settled in the woods of Pipestone Township and commenced opening a farm in the heavy timber, clearing one hundred acres a year for the first three years. This work he has continued, until on his farm of some sixteen hundred acres over one thousand acres have been changed from dense forests to cultivated fields.

To the cultivation and management of his farm, Mr. Farmer has given his personal attention and has devoted the place to the growing of grass and grain, and the raising of cattle, horses and sheep. At the same time he has been engaged in the purchase and sale of real estate on his own account and as agent for others. An active participator in all public improvements, he procured the establishment of the first mail route from Niles to St. Joseph, on the north side of the St. Joseph River, via Eau Claire, Pipestone, Sodus and Benton Harbor (giving to Eau Claire its name). Mr. Farmer was one of the originators and incorporators of the Elkhart & Lake Michigan Railroad, and spent time and money to secure the opening of the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan Railroad via Elkhart to Benton Harbor. Having property interests in Benton Harbor, he established his residence there in 1881, and entered with his accustomed energy into all measures having for their object the prosperity and moral advancement of the city.

Before becoming a voter, Mr. Farmer had decided views on the political questions of the time. Being a general reader, a student of history, a close observer, he reasoned from cause to effect and became an advocate of the American, or Protection, policy, casting his first Presidential vote for Henry Clay. Assuming as a fundamental principle that every man has a right to himself, he has always been opposed to slavery, but could see no wisdom in a political anti-slavery party. Acting with the Whigs (as the party nearest in accordance with his views), he cast his vote for Henry Clay in 1836, William Henry Harrison in 1840, Henry Clay in 1844, Zachary Taylor in 1848, and Gen. Scott in 1852.

On the organization of the Republican party in 1856, Mr. Farmer united with it, endorsing most fully its principles, and acting with it to the present time. As a member of the committee on the Elective Franchise in the Constitutional Convention of 1867, he favored the extension of the suffrage without regard to race or sex, and in the committee of the whole moved to strike out the word “male” from that article. It was stricken out by vote of the committee, but restored by the final action of the convention. Of firm convictions, zealous for principles, believing that party organization is necessary for the successful carrying forward of principles, Mr. Farmer has worked and voted for the nominees of his party. Unwilling to incur political obligations or hamper his freedom of action, he has steadily refused to be a candidate for office (with two exceptions). During the War of the Rebellion, from a feeling of duty, and anxious to care for the families of the absent soldiers, he accepted the office of Supervisor of his township. Again, at the urgent solicitation of friends, he consented to the use of his name as a candidate for the Constitutional Convention of 1867. Berrien County being entitled to three delegates, Mr. Farmer was nominated on the first ballot, with four candidates in the field. At the election there was but one vote cast against him in his township of Pipestone.

October 15, 1862, Mr. Farmer married Miss Hannah Deuel, who at that time was a resident of Urbana, Ohio. Three children were born to them, two sons and one daughter. Their elder son died in early childhood, leaving to them the daughter, Sara L., and son, Roscoe D. Mr. Farmer’s paternal grandfather was of Norman-English birth, was educated in Germany and married a German. About 1750 he emigrated to the United States and settled in New Jersey, a few miles from New Brunswick. Holding a commission in the Continental army, he left his family to the care of his slaves. When the British troops occupied New Brunswick, the slaves deserted the family and loaded themselves with chickens for the “red coats,” but on the evacuation of the city by the British, the “darkies” were very glad to come home.

The father of our subject, Samuel Farmer, was born in New Jersey in 1780, and removed to Montgomery County, N. Y., in 1809. During the following year he married Huldah Burton, and died in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1837. His wife was born in Charleston, Montgomery County, N. Y., in 1790, and died in Berrien County, Mich., in 1883. Judah Burton, her paternal grandfather, held a Major’s commission in the Continental army. His ancestors were of English origin and were among the earliest settlers of the Hudson River Valley. Her maternal ancestors (the Smythes) were among the early emigrants from England, and settled in the Connecticut Valley, where they endured the privations incident to pioneer life. On one occasion their buildings were burned and stock destroyed by the Indians, the family saving their lives by hiding in the forest.

At a meeting of a State Convention of the Patrons of Husbandry at Lansing Mich., December 14, 1876, Mr. Farmer, being Chairman of the committee on resolutions, drew up the resolutions which were adopted by the committee and ratified by the convention. It may here be proper to state that Mr. Farmer was in favor of the resumption of specie payments by the Government, and the resolution which follows showed that he anticipated the action of the Secretary of the Treasury by one year.

Article 6th. Resolved That, recognizing the fact that a mixed currency, that of the lowest value, will be the circulating medium, we therefore recommend that the precious metals (gold and silver) should be placed on an equality as legal tender; and that the Government should not discredit its own paper by refusing to receive it at any time or for any purpose.

It may be well to state for the benefit of the present reader that gold was required by the Government for custom dues, and silver was not a legal tender in sums above $5.

Recognizing man’s freedom of choice and action, yet holding him closely accountable for the result of his action Mr. Farmer is an Arminian in principle and for some years has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For the last four years he has acted as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Niles District, and in 1878 was with the Rev. S. T. Cooper the building committee. That committee planned and erected an auditorium or tabernacle building on the Crystal Springs Camp Ground, which is said to be the best of the kind in the State, seating about four thousand people. Mr. Farmer, believing that success is the result of properly applied effort and labor, and the present the time for action, has adopted as his own the motto on the Farmer family crest, “It is time.”