Son of William Farrell and Alice Sadler Bird

Married Amanda Adaline Steele, 29 Apr 1860, Logan, Cache, Utah

Married Mary Charlotte Lundberg, 11 Apr 1863, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Married Lydia Ann Alvira Anderson, 25 Jun 1878, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Married Elizabeth Croshaw, 12 May 1887, Logan, Cache, Utah

"Utah Since Statehood"
Historical and Biographical Published: 1920

George Lionel Farrell, one of the patriarchs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a resident of Smithfield, was born February 16, 1829, in Hewelsfield, Gloucestershire, England, being the third son of William and Alice Sadler (Bird) Farrell. The father died when the son was about nine years of age and therefore his opportunity for securing an education was very limited, as he had to assist in the support of the family. He was apprenticed to the tailor's trade and after seven years' work in the shop, believing it to be too confining, he found employment as a gardener and nurseryman.

Becoming a convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was baptized March 1. 1850, by Elder James Edmonds and in the following September was ordained to the priesthood and sent out to work as a missionary. In January, 1853, he was ordained an elder by John Van Cott and in February of that year sailed for America with his mother and three sisters on the ship International, while his affianced bride, Jane Williams, was also of the party.

After his arrival on this side of the Atlantic he secured employment for his mother, his sister and himself. In March, 1854, the lady whom he expected to marry passed away. At Council Bluffs, Iowa, Mr. Farrell took up a half section of land, which he improved and cultivated for six years. By that time he and his mother had accumulated enough money to enable them to start for Utah, and after disposing of his property he joined Captain James S. Brown's company as assistant captain and captain of the guard. After they had been on the road for two weeks Captain Brown was taken ill and Bishop Farrell was called to take his place.

On reaching Utah on the 12th of August, 1859, they went to Farmington, where he lived for a quarter of a year. In the fall of 1859, he removed to Logan, Cache county, where he proceeded to build a house. Apostle Ezra T. Benson and Orson Hyde visited Logan in November of that year and on the 9th of the month ordained and set apart William B. Preston as bishop and George L. Farrell as ward clerk. In December, 1859, the latter was chosen tithing clerk for Cache valley.

From 1874 until 1876 he filled a mission to England, where he baptized one hundred and seven people and organized a number of branches and Sunday schools. He labored in the Nottingham conference first as elder and afterward as conference president. On his return in 1876 he was ordained high priest and set apart to preside over the High Priests' Quorum of Cache stake and was also called to preside over the Young Men's Mutual Improvement Association in the Cache Stake of Zion, filling the latter position for four years.

In May, 1880, he was ordained a bishop and set apart to preside over the Smithfield ward, which position he filled until April 30, 1900, when he resigned and was ordained a patriarch by Apostle Francis M. Lyman and so continues.


His military experience covers many years' service with the Nauvoo Legion, in which he rose from rank to rank until he became lieutenant colonel of the regiment.

In 1860 he was elected county recorder of Cache county and so continued until 1874. He became a life member of the Deseret Agricultural and Manufacturing Society, July 1, 1864. He was appointed postmaster of Logan, January 4, 1867, and held that position until 1874.

On the 29th of April, 1860, Mr. Farrell was married to Amanda A. Steel, a daughter of William and Margaret (Goodwin) Steel, who were pioneers, arriving August 12, 1859.

On the llth of April, 1862, he married Mary Charlotte Lundburg, of Salt Lake City, daughter of Solomon and Christina (Anderson) Lundburg.

On the 25th of June, 1878, Mr. Farrell was married in Salt Lake City to Lydia A. Anderson, daughter of Andrew and Sophia (Sorenson) Anderson.

On the 12th of May, 1887, he married Mary Elizabeth Groshaw, of Logan, Utah, daughter of Charles and Hannah (Atkins) Groshaw.

The life record of Mr. Farrell has been a most active and interesting one, his activity covering military, civil and ecclesiastical service. He is today one of the venerable representatives of the church, having passed the ninetieth milestone on life's journey.