Aaron Freeman Farr, Jr. was born on the 1st of November 1850 in a log cabin in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was the son of Aaron Freeman Farr, St. and Persis Atherton.
When he was six years old his sister Persis died of a accidental ingestion of a poison sego lily, at the age of eight. A few days later the family moved to Ogden, where they lived in a three room adobe house.
Aaron his father, went to work with his Uncle Lorin as a miller. His sister Ladornia Gilkey was born a few months after their arrival in Ogden on June 20, 1857.
In the spring of 1858, he and his family moved south with the people of Weber County following the threat of Johnston's Army and the "Echo Canyon Wars". Here, his family was the main campe at the Provo River bottoms. Although the conditions were almost intolerable, it was probably a big adventure for a seven year old boy.
January of 1859, his father was elected by the Legislature, Probate Judge of Weber County. He filled a short mission in 1860 to the Eastern States.
During this time his mother Persis left his father and took Aaron, his brother Lucian, sisters Celestia (Lettie) and Ladornia and returned to Salt lake City. His sister Lettie met and married Moses Thatcher in April of 1861.
On March 3rd 1864, his sister Ladornia died of Scarlet Fever. She was buried the same day in the Salt Lake Cemetery for fear of further infection to the rest of the family. Shortly afterwards Pesis moved with Lucian and Aaron, Jr. to Logan to live next the Lettie and Moses. They lived in a small house on the Thatcher property.
Aaron met and married Mary Maria Nebeker on June 4th 1871 in Salt Lake City. They made their home in Logan. Aaron managed Z.C.M.I. in Logan for many years.
He was appointed Counselman on March 29, 1882 under Mayor Robert S. Cambell. He was elected Mayor of Logan on March 6, 1886 and resigned in February 1889. He served as Logan's Fire Chief in 1890.
Aaron and Mary had seven children. He died April 2, 1907 at the age of 56. He was buried April 4th in the Logan Cemetery.
Published in "The Journal" Logan City, Utah April 6, 1907
FARR FUNERAL SERVICES - OBSEQUIES OF WIDELY KNOWN AND HIGHLY RESPECTED CITIZEN
The funeral services over the remains of the Hon. A.F. Farr on Thursday afternoon at the Tabernacle had quite a large attendance, many friends from various parts of the valley joining those of Logan in paying the last sad tribute of respect to a man who was widely known and highly respected. Many other friends from the outside would have been present had notice of his death reached them in time and many more from Logan had they not gone to conference in Salt Lake before receiving notification.
The floral offerings, including a number of set pieces from various organizations were numerous, beautiful and fragrant.
The handsome polished oak, silver trimmed casket was accompanied into the building by Messrs. I.C. Thoresen, William Edwards, Hyrum Hayball, Benjamin and William Bingham, William Andrews, John Quayle and Frank Price, all old friends and intimates of the deceased who were also the pall-bearers, followed by the members of the family.
During the services the choir, under the leadership of Chorister Thatcher, rendered "Nearer My God to Thee", "Gently Lord, Oh Gently Lead Me", "Rest for the Weary Soul", and another suitable selection in a fine and sympathetic manner.
Elder Lorenzo Hansen offered the invocation.
President Kimball was the first speaker. He said he felt as if he had lost a brother, as his intimacy with the deceased had begun in boyhood and they had been more or less closely associated although life and he knew him to be a good man; a man whose faith was unquestionable; a man of foresight, wisdom an fact; a good adviser and one whom it was a benefit to associate with and the community at large, the speaker said, owed Aaron Farr a debt of gratitude for having taken an active part in producing many of the temporal blessings and comforts we are surrounded with. The speaker referred to the high public esteem in which the bereaved family is held and the sympathy felt for them, and expressed his willingness to aid and assist them in any manner within his power. Elder Kimball joined the deceased in abiding firm the faith regarding the plan of life and salvation. We may be weak and subject to temptation, but so long as we abide firm in the faith and offer resistance to the powers of evil, salvation and reunion with our loved ones is sure. God knows our temptations and weaknesses, and is a righteous judge. Referring to the opening hymn, the speaker remarked that occasions of this nature truly bring us nearer to God than at any other times. The uncertainty of life, he saidg, had been twice illustrated within a few days by the death and obsesquies of Mrs. Langton and the present occasion. The thoughts created by these sad departed ones we might meet the "well done good and faithful servant" welcome of our father and God, whose blessings in closing, the speaker invoked in behalf of the family.
Elder B.M. Lewis, within whose bishopric Elder Farr had lived during the greater part of this residence in Logan, expressed his high esteem for the deceased, based upon a long acquaintance, and expressed his sympathy for the family. As expressed by the former speaker, occasions of this kind bring us into a nearer and more tender intimacy than those of everyday life, and remembering that this must be the lot of all, should lead us to be charitable and sympathetic toward each other, as we are all here to work out a salvation, and will all be called in the due time of the Lord. The precious dead in this, as in other cases, would form an anchor to testing upon the further shore, for the souls of the family, whom he asked God to bless.
President C. H. Hart had been acquainted with the deceased for seventeen years, at which time Mr. Farr had been pointed out to him as the confident adviser of Z.C.M.I. who solved many of its inticate problems. The speaker paid tribute to Mr. Farr's business acumen and what he had done in a material way for the city and county; also to his moral worth, declaring him to have been a better man than he assumed to be; had never known him to propose or participate in anything dishonorable. A proof of his high moral plane is the integrity and worth of his family, for whom the speaker expressed the deepest sympathy, which extended also to her husband, to whom the deceased was very close. Might they prove the truth of the passage of scripture which declares; "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted".
Elder A.G. Barber remarked that the frequency with which we have been called together of late for a purpose similar to the present one, by no means lessons the poignancy of the grief when called upon to part with other loved ones. Which makes death the most solemn thing within the range of human experience. The speaker expressed sorrow the one man of all others present who by reason of his closer intimacy with the deceased and his brilliant powers of oratory could best pay tribute to his memory -- referring to Hon. Moses Thatcher -- was unable to do so on account of his own illness. Elder Barber['s acquaintance with Aaron Farr dated by more than thirty years, having first met him at the home of Bishop Ira Nebeker in Lake Town. It was evident to him that Mr Farr's educational advantages had been superior to that of the majority of the Utah young men of his time, and he admired his facility of expression and his keen understanding of business Mrs. Moses Thatcher, his sister, twice bereaved within a week, and to questions. Lately he had joined the bookkeeping class organized by Mr. Farr, and he had profited in a commercial way since by the intimacy. But it was in later years, when both members of the High Council that he learned to appreciate Elder Farr's sterling moral worth. The members learned to respect his keen insight and sound judgment displayed in the unraveling of complicated cases, and to love him for his unfailing charity of the erring, particularly for women, for whom he always demanded that justice and charity should go hand in hand. His judgment was formed quickly and expressed freely, regardless of what others might conclude, and he would vote alone if he believed himself right. There was no crooking of the servile knee before any human being in his makeup. Elder Barber corraberated the statement of a former speaker that the deceased was a better man than he professed to be. No man in Cache was more widely or favorable known. He was a man of experience and sound judgment in the affairs of life and death in these or in matters of religion was ever ready to give his friends wise council. Born in the early days of the State when young men were early thrown upon their own resources, he was self reliant and made the most of his opportunities for self-improvement. He afforded a supreme test of his bravery at the end, meeting illness, a should trying operation, even death, without shrinking. To witness the early death of such heroes as Aaron Farr makes a person sad. Referring to the lesson taught by such deaths the speaker declared that the faithful Saints are not as those without hope; that in their hearts dwells the abiding conviction of eternal life; that there's a God, the father, and that to those who have, as did the deceased, performed his will, death is victory. This faith is so firm in the hearts of the Latter-day Saints that they perform vicarious work for their dead, and believe that even beyond the grave the work of redemption of the race is continued; a labor in which, no doubt friend Farr would be found doing his part. Elder Barber concluded by invoking the choicest blessings of the Lord and comforter upon the stricken hearts of the bereaved.
Following the singing if "Rest for the Weary Sou" by the choir, Elder S. B. Mitton pronounce the benediction.
At the cemetery Elder Lorin Farr, uncle of the deceased, dedicated the grave.
CENSUS: Age 18, a Book Keeper.
CENSUS:
Household:
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Aaron F FARR Self M Male W 29 Utah Cattle Dealer
Mary M FARR Wife M Female W 27 Utah Keeping House Delaware
Harry FARR Son S Male W 6 Utah Utah
Winston FARR Son S Male W 4 Utah Utah
Aquilla FARR Son S Male W 2 Utah
CENSUS: Indexed as NA??? Farr, age 49, w. Mary M. 47, d. Persis M. 16, d. Ivy 14, s. Keith 11.