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William Levi Farrell

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William Levi Farrell

Birth
Liberty, Casey County, Kentucky, USA
Death
28 Oct 1903 (aged 73)
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA
Burial
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA Add to Map
Plot
Section OS, Block 40, Lot 2 N½
Memorial ID
View Source
Bio is taken from a family book:

A general farmer and potato grower who was achieved marked success in Multnomah county is William L. Farrell, sole architect of his growing fortunes, and dependent from earliest youth upon his own unaided efforts. Born in Casey county, Ky., September 24, 1830, he was six years of age when the family removed to Lafayette county, Mo., where he was educated in the subscription schools, and attained his majority on the paternal farm.

Equipped with a fair common school education and a practical knowledge of farming, Mr. Farrell started overland for California April 14, 1850, accompanied by four other men, and six yoke of oxen. The dangerous journey was accomplished in ninety-six days, and at its expiration the courageous overlanders went to work in the mines on the American river, at Horse Shoe Bend. After a short experiment, Mr. Farrell engaged in placer mining at Placerville, Cal., and in February, 1851, engaged in street grading in San Francisco. May 1, 1851, he boarded the old steamer Sea Gull, bound for Portland, fare $80, and upon reaching his destination found employment in teaming for a sawmill company. At the expiration of a year, he located near the land which constitutes his present home, but eventually found that the farm of one hundred and sixty acres was practically worthless on account of the high water. Therefore, in 1857, he disposed of his property and bought the one hundred and sixty acres upon which he now lives, and which is a part of the McChung donation claim. There were no improvements on this property, but a heavy growth of timber presaged an enormous outlay of personal effort before seed could be planted or a yield guaranteed. After realizing satisfactorily as a result of his industry he began to sell off his land, until at the present time he owns about thirty acres. He has made a specialty of potato growing, his land yielding abundantly of this much wanted commodity. While developing his land, Mr. Farrell has gained a reputation for devotion to the public welfare which is altogether commendable and argues a wealth of shrewd common sense and progressiveness. A Democrat in politics, he was one of the very early supervisors of this county and has served as school director for several years.

Married February 1, 1853, to Mary Logsdon. One child was born to Mr. Farrell, Mary O., who is now deceased. Mrs. Farrell died in March, 1853, and in February, 1860, Mr. Farrell was united in marriage with Eliza Sunderland, of which union there was born one daughter, Harriet L., who is now deceased. Mr. Farrell bears an honored name in the community of which he is a resident and his success furnishes an example to all who rebel at early obstacles and the absence of visible encouragement.

Bio submitted by: Elisa Donovan, June, 2003
Bio is taken from a family book:

A general farmer and potato grower who was achieved marked success in Multnomah county is William L. Farrell, sole architect of his growing fortunes, and dependent from earliest youth upon his own unaided efforts. Born in Casey county, Ky., September 24, 1830, he was six years of age when the family removed to Lafayette county, Mo., where he was educated in the subscription schools, and attained his majority on the paternal farm.

Equipped with a fair common school education and a practical knowledge of farming, Mr. Farrell started overland for California April 14, 1850, accompanied by four other men, and six yoke of oxen. The dangerous journey was accomplished in ninety-six days, and at its expiration the courageous overlanders went to work in the mines on the American river, at Horse Shoe Bend. After a short experiment, Mr. Farrell engaged in placer mining at Placerville, Cal., and in February, 1851, engaged in street grading in San Francisco. May 1, 1851, he boarded the old steamer Sea Gull, bound for Portland, fare $80, and upon reaching his destination found employment in teaming for a sawmill company. At the expiration of a year, he located near the land which constitutes his present home, but eventually found that the farm of one hundred and sixty acres was practically worthless on account of the high water. Therefore, in 1857, he disposed of his property and bought the one hundred and sixty acres upon which he now lives, and which is a part of the McChung donation claim. There were no improvements on this property, but a heavy growth of timber presaged an enormous outlay of personal effort before seed could be planted or a yield guaranteed. After realizing satisfactorily as a result of his industry he began to sell off his land, until at the present time he owns about thirty acres. He has made a specialty of potato growing, his land yielding abundantly of this much wanted commodity. While developing his land, Mr. Farrell has gained a reputation for devotion to the public welfare which is altogether commendable and argues a wealth of shrewd common sense and progressiveness. A Democrat in politics, he was one of the very early supervisors of this county and has served as school director for several years.

Married February 1, 1853, to Mary Logsdon. One child was born to Mr. Farrell, Mary O., who is now deceased. Mrs. Farrell died in March, 1853, and in February, 1860, Mr. Farrell was united in marriage with Eliza Sunderland, of which union there was born one daughter, Harriet L., who is now deceased. Mr. Farrell bears an honored name in the community of which he is a resident and his success furnishes an example to all who rebel at early obstacles and the absence of visible encouragement.

Bio submitted by: Elisa Donovan, June, 2003

Inscription

Pioneer of 1851

Gravesite Details

Oregon Pioneer



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