Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-08-22


years the enterprising young man occupied
positions OF minor importance with various
firms, performing his duties cheerfully, but
always on the lookout for "somethinR bet
ter" In 1s45 he entered the employ of
NadsWorth a Phelps, then the largest dry
goods hrm In Chicago, and made himself so
useful that he was admitted as partner in
the firm in 1850 Mr.. Wadsworth. one of
the senior members Of the concern. with
drew In 1862 and the firm became Cooley.
Farwen a. Co., Marshall Field being the
company" In 1864 Mr. Faryvell. by the
withdrawal Of Mr.. Cooley, became the head
OF the firm, which was known as Farwen,
Field q Co, Levi Il. Letter and s. N. Kel-
logg forming the company" A few years
later Field a Letter retired for the purpose
OF establishing new house, and the firm of
John V. Farweu q Co was formed, consist
ing Of the subject of this sketch, Charles q.
Farwel, now United States Senator from
Illinois, W. ID. Farwell, s. n. Kellogg and
J. II. Harmon. The fire Of 1871 DESTROYED
the building and stock owned by the con-
Germ, but, owing to the energy Of its senior
member, suffered but brief interruption
OF business
When Mr.. Farwen became a member Of
the firm OF Cooley, Wordsworth & Co, that
concern did business OF $4,000, an
amount which In those early DAYS was con-
sidercd fabulous. Animated by legitimate
ambition and strong faith in the future Of
tho West, Mr.. Farwcn extended the trade
OF his house IN every direction, and built up
strictly hrst-class constituency whose
purchases in 1881 exceeded SIS, 1000, 900.
While building up his business and ac-
cumulating a handsome fortune, Mr.. Far
wen contributed Literally to benevolent
objects. His strong religious convictions
lod him 70 take an active interest in the or
ganization Of the Young Mems Christian
Association Of Chicago, which he presented
with the valuable real estate upon which its
building-Farwell Hall-now stands. When
Evangelist Moody was In doubt whether he
could make his famous Chicago Avenue
Church a success, Mr.. Farwen came to his
rescue with many thousands Of dollars,
and the Presbyterian church at Lake For
est, pretty suburb Of Chicago, and Lake
Forest Seminary owe their existence largo
~ to his liberality and Christian zeal
To politicians the charitable dry-goods
merchant is known az the first Indian Com
missioner, filing that ONCE when IL was
created under Grants Administration. II
would be impossible to pay fitting tribute
70 Mr.. Farwelrs generosity in . newspaper
article. bis deeds Of charity have been 80
numerous and so unostentatiously per-
formed that publication Of the list would
surprise even his interesting family, which,
by the way, consists of u wife and Eve chill
dren. two Of whom are married A close
study Of well-spent life is not only in
structive, but elevating 10 a high degree,
and the lesson taught by the career OF John
v Farwell should convince the social grum-
blers and professional malcontents that en-
ergy, when rightly applied and supported
by good principles, win lead to financial as
well as moral SUCCESS.
Hon. s. Corning Judd, at present
writing postmaster Of Chicago, Is q fair
representative Of the ~