New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-07
THE LATE HENRY F4RNAM.

NEw-HAyEN, Conn, Oct. 5.-Henry Farnam,
who died yesterday from he effects OF stroke Of par
Bysis suffered last Saturday, was born III the town OF
ecpio Cayuga County, n y November l, 1903, His
father Jeffrey Amherst Farnam was born IN the town
of KiniugIy, in this State, and his mother, Mercy
Tracev in Norwich The parents Of his father and
mother emigrated to Orange County N Y, when the
latter were children The parents OF his father ded IN
Orange County, while those OF bis mother removed TO
Cayugs County, where they died His father went to
scpio when about twentyone years OF age Immediately
after his marriage and settled upon land which was
uncleared jeffrey Amherst Farnam had eleven chill
dren Of whom Henry was the SIKH
Henry Farnam spent his childhood and early youth
,pon his farm in the summer and attending tho
public schools for four months Of every year Though
strong for labor and attaining manly growth at an IN
uspaly carly period ne especially interested IN
books and study and easily mastered the branches OF
learning which were pursued at the common schools In
1921 he was rodman for David Thomas in finally estaD-
fishing the lines of the Erie Canal and served I'LL the
winter set H. when he taught school, In the spring Of
1922 he superntended the location and construction OF
q canal connecting the Tonawanda and Oak Orchard
creeks He cOntin red his services till the Erie Canal
was finished In 1925 arrangements were made by the
Pennington Canal Company for canal from TINS city TO
Northampton Mass. Mr. Farnam was persuaded 70
erve in the capacity OF assistant engineer He retained
this situation until 1927 when he took the place Of on
o,n4er and superutendent and subsequently finished
the canal from the state line NOrtha ptOn His con-
nection with this enterprise brought him into intimate
re,stons with the Hon. james HilhOuse and Joseph
bhefield. ,,-----,---, ,.oo =. All.
Ann whitman of Farmiu gtOn Conn.,, and lm medatey
residence in this city, where he renamed
nntil ne removed Chicago ILL., In 1916 II was DECIDED
10 substitute railway for the FarmlngtOn Canal In
is5O this railway leased 70 the New YORK and New
Haven Railroad Company and Mr. Farnam resigned the
acn which he nad held nom tue hrst as engineer ana
superintendent In the autumn Of tue same year be
" a. nyi,ed 10 Chicago by William b. Ogden, then presi
ami OF fhe Chicago aud Galena Railroad. Mr. FarOam
and Mr.. sbefeld built toe road from Rock Island to
Shieago com pletng It ia 1854 In 1922 the bridge at
Root Island com peted and the Father OF Waters
nanned for the time. In 1883 the Mississippi aud
Hissoun Railroad organized, aud IN 1884 Mr.
FaTnam aud other associates contracted Tor to con-
struciiou OF railroad trOm davenport 10 council Bllu5.
ps vas elected president OF the ROcK Island ROAD IN
eesA and held the ONCE until 1868, when he resgnei all
actiye connection with railway matters Early IN 1862
TIE Union Pacific Railroad was organized In which Mr.
Earnam fook an active part He declined share IN tue
and IN August, 1868 he sailed Tor Europe,
,etnrniug only season " see tue ciVu war cease
Air FsPua mas been since that time retired from &C
$50 nsiness pursuits. In 1868 ne gave $4,000 10 Yale
Ioege and seven years later $4,000 more. quite re-
csntIv the Yale Theological SOIOol received dOuatlOu
- al n 600 from him He Presidential eIoctOr on
a. Rennbcan ticket In 1868 lie leaves VIE aha hVe
ssSiIdTen: DR. George -. Farnam, Dr. W. w. farnam,
no b. now in Europe; Charles Ii. Farnam' Mrs. En
WIitneV Jr and Professor Henry w. fdrnan Ills
hsnd WAS ever open the CAL OF the needy ana the poor
aaa eli charitable objects found In him steadiast
friend and q liberal gtver.