The Garden Island. [volume] (Lihue, Kauai, H.T.) 1902-current, 1920-07-20
]. K. FARLEY
PASSES AWAY

In the passing of Joseph Kendall
Farley who died Friday morning at
his home in Koloa, Kauai loses q
prominent and valued citizen who has
been intimately associated with the
life and growth Of the Island for the
last 35 years or more. He was born
in 1858 at Ipswich. Mass. where his
mother and sisters still dive in the old
ancestral home. He came to the Is.
lands about 1882. remaining on Maui
a year or two and then came to Koloa
where he took a position with the
Smiths and where he has lived ever
since.
In 1900 he married Miss Juliet
Smith who died Q years later, and in
1916 he married Miss Gertrude PEPPER
who survives him.
He was made tax assessor for Kauai
in 1888 and has held that position ever
since. 80 years with the exception of a
few months during which E. Conant
held it.
The funeral service takes place at
Koloa this afternoon, Rev. J. M. Lyd.
gate, one of his Oldest and closest
friends, officiating. The ashes will be
deposited in the little family cemetery
under the old historic trees Of the
mission home. alongside of his first
wife.
Mr.. Farley was In many ways an
exceptional man, such as one does not
meet every day. OF old New Eng
land descent, he embodied in a re-
markable degree the fine traditions
that we read about, but do not always
find in that stock. He was a man Of
The most sterling and exacting in
tegrity, scrupulous to the last fraction
of cent, and the last ounce OF
strength, in every obligation or ser.
vice that was due from him. And with
this integrity there was that methodi.
cal and painstaking accuracy which
knew always just how everything
stood and where everything could be
found. For these reasons, as we'll as
because of his industry and efficiency,
he has been a very valuable man to
the country during all these years,
and has been retained through all the
changing administrations, And when,
couple of weeks ago he rendered his
resignation, the governor would not
hear OF it-"he was too valuable
man to lose" and promptly set about
arranging vacation for him instead,
including transportation to the coast
etc.
He was a man Of fine instincts and
high ideals, to which he clung most
tenaciously, even under the adverse
circumstances of a meagre life in
humble surroundings. A few good
friends, and few good books, and the
fine Inspiration Of high ideals and an
honest life,-these were the worth
while things for him, and these were
the things which kept him up where
many young man, in similar sur
roundings, slips down into the muck.
He was in many ways a fine example
of the old time tleman. He
was generous to fault,-oftentimes
far beyond his means; he was lavishly
and most graciously hospitable, not
only to his friends, but to every
chance stranger who happened along
anxious, even as a bachelor, to con-
tinue the fine traditions of the old
mission home which he assumed. He
was courteous and chivalrous in the
treatment of all who came to his
door, and specially kindly and gener-
Gus to the Hawaiians, whom he looked
on, in a way, as his wards, and who
owe him very many substantial favors.
He was public spirited man, and
felt it his duty. in default Of any one
else, to represent Koloa in public mat
ters; and, being willing, he was often
called upon in this way,-and he al
ways gave careful and conscientious
service.
A great sufferer all his life, with
seldom an hour free from pain or dis
comfort, and seldom an unbroken
nights sleep-he was the most cheer
fully patient and uncomplaining man
in the world-no matter how sharply
the lines of suffering showed in his
face, to any solicitous inquiry as to
how he was feeling today, it was al
ways pretty fair!" and then he was
ready to take up the subject in hand,
whatever It might be, that you were
interested in, as though his own feel
ings were neither here nor there.
He had a fund Of wit and humor
that no amount of suffering seemingly