FARNHAM, Lucy - Putnam

The following from a paper published at Paloa, Kan is of local interest, Mrs. Farnham having been a resident here some years ago.  Mrs. Lucy J. Farnham died at the residence of her son, Wm. Farnham in Rich Hill, Mo last Sunday the 14th inst; aged 66 years 11 months.  Mrs. Farnham was born near Shelbyville, Tenn in March 1825 and moved with her parents to Greencastle, Ind when 16 years of age. Then she was married to Prof. AC Farnham in 1842. The following year Prof. Farnham accepted a position as instructor in the Shawnee Mission south of Kansas City and after continuing in the work for a while he removed with his wife to Arcadia, Mo where he taught in the female seminary till 1861 when he went to Lawrence. After the Quantrill Raid he went into the Army, Mrs. Farnham remaining with the children at home. In 1866 Prof. Farnham and family moved to Paola and bought a small farm adjoining the city on the north. From that time till 1875 when he died, Mr. Farnham was identified with the educational interests of this county, serving as Spt of the Paola schools and County Superintendent. Disposing of the farm Mrs. Farnham bought property in Paola in 1881 and made her home in town. For some time past she had been in poor health and much of the time made her home with her children. The grippe went hard with her this winter and though she had recovered enough to visit her son, William, a few weeks ago she relapsed on the 10th inst and bade farewell to a long, active useful and noble life. She was the mother of 9 children – three dead, six living. The eldest son, William resides at Rose Hill; Richard and Hamlet at Joplin; George at Ft. Smith. The two daughters live in this county – Mrs. Emma v. Crowell in Paola and Mrs. Anna Boyle at Louisburg. They all were here this week to attend the last sad rites of their mother’s departure. From far and near friends gathered at the Paola cemetery Wed the 17th inst to attend the burial. Mrs. Farnham was a true type of the good mother who is in the main stay of the country. Industrious, pure-minded, self-denying and ever-hopeful, she labored for those she loved, directing their footsteps always onward and upward. The sons and daughters of such a woman can well rise up and call her blessed.