SQUIRE FARMER, senior member of the firm of S. Farmer & Son, is engaged in carrying on a successful trade as a general merchant in Patoka. Their establishment is fitted out with a full line of dry goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots, shoes, etc., and its owners are conducting affairs in such a manner as to win the respect and esteem of the entire community.
Squire Farmer was born March 24, 1832, in Fayette County, this state, and is the son of Benjamin and Zillah (Morris) Farmer.
The father was born in South Carolina, but grew to man's estate in Caldwell County, Ky., whither his parents had removed and where he was educated. When old enough to be of assistance he aided his father in the work of cultivating the home farm, and remained under the parental roof until reaching his twenty-second year. Then, commencing in life on his own responsibility, he operated a farm in Kentucky for a year, and at the end of that time, in 1829, came to Illinois and located in Fayette County, where he was residing at the time of his decease, in 1843.
The mother of our subject, who was likewise a native of South Carolina, was the daughter of Jacob Morris, a farmer in that state. Her father, although starting in life without means, later became a very wealthy man, and spent his last days in the Blue Grass State.
Benjamin and Zillah Farmer were married about 1820, and by their union was born a family of five children, only two of whom are living, viz.: our subject and Aaron R., a farmer of Marion County. Those deceased are, Morris, Absalom and Benjamin.
The last-named son met his death during the late war at Atlanta, Ga., while with Sherman on the march to the sea. He was a member of the One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Infantry, and served as a Union soldier.
Squire Farmer, of this sketch, was reared to mature years on his father's farm in Fayette County, and received a fair education in the district schools.
After his father's death he continued to reside with his mother, and cultivated the home farm until his marriage, which occurred April 10, 1850, at which time Miss Nancy Phelps became his wife. Their union was blessed by the birth of the following four children:
After the death of his first wife our subject was married, November 10, 1864, to Mrs. Mary (Foster) Smith, the widow of William Smith, who was killed during the late war. Mrs. Farmer is the daughter of Hilliard Foster. To Mr. and Mrs. Farmer have been born two children,
In 1871, Mr. Farmer opened up a general merchandise store in Patoka, associating with him in business his son, C. Virgil. They carry a complete line of carefully chosen goods, suited to the growing needs of the people of the section over which their trade extends, and which is unsurpassed both in quality and reasonableness of price, in social affairs our subject is a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, being connected with Patoka Lodge No. 297. He is greatly interested in the temperance movement, and at the polls always casts a Prohibition ballot if there is a candidate in the field. With his family he is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 394 - 394
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer