Major James Sweringen Farrar, 1837–1888

Maj. James Sweringen Farrar, the youngest son of Dr. Bernard Gaines Farrar and Ann Clark Thruston, was born on 1 December 1837 in St. Louis. He served during the Civil War as a major in the 30th Missouri Infantry. He was a judge in St. Louis and later worked as a real estate agent. James and his nephew, Charles T. Farrar, owned the Farrar & Company real estate firm located at 624 Chestnut Street in St. Louis City.

James and Elizabeth Morgan Christy were married on 30 April 1861 in St. Louis. Elizabeth, daughter of William Tandy Christy and Ellen Patience Morgan, was born in 1842 in St. Louis. She died on 8 February 1866 in St. Louis at the age of twenty-four. James S. Farrar and Elizabeth Morgan Christy had one son, James Christy Farrar.

James and Adelle “Ada” Rutherford were married on 27 October 1870 in St. Louis. Ada was born on 5 April 1851 in St. Louis. She died on 8 February 1935 in the District of Columbia, at the age of eighty-three. James S. Farrar and Ada Rutherford had the following children: Marie Lucille, Royal Bernard, and Adele Rutherford Farrar.

James died on 24 September 1888 at the age of fifty in St. Louis. His death was noted in an area newspaper:

DEATH OF JUDGE FARRAR

James S. Farrar, familiarly known as “Judge” Farrar, died at 6 o’clock yesterday morning at his late residence, 2916 Lucas Avenue . . . He was during the war a faithful soldier, being a major on Gen. Frank Blair’s staff, and afterward fighting under Grant at Vicksburg. After the war he was elected Associate Judge of the County Court from his district, and served two terms . . . Judge Farrar then entered the real estate business, and served as President of the Real Estate Exchange one term.

Written by Ted Steele
February 2021

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Last Modified: 23-Oct-2021 11:11