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Asa Walton FARR [Parents] was born 1 on 28 Feb 1821 in Sharon, Windsor, Vermont, United States. He died 2 on 6 Oct 1863 in Baxter Springs, Cherokee, Kansas, United States. He was buried 3 in Lake Geneva, Walworth, Wisconsin, United States. Asa married 4 Elizabeth Green HADLEY on 13 May 1845 in Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States.
Asa resided 5 in 1860 in 2nd Ward Racine City, Racine, Wisconsin, United States.
From the research of Lina Farr Welch:
Elizabeth was a teacher in Lowell when they were married. Asa was a lawyer by profession, and was a partner in the law firm of Benjamin F. Butler in Lowell, Massachusetts. He served as district attorney of Middlesex County, appointed by Governor S. Boutwell. He also served as editor of a legal journal, Vox Populi. He and Elizabeth moved to Racine, Wisconsin where they were living in 1860. They had Fred Walton (b. 1846), and Ellen Elizabeth (b. 30 April, 1848). They moved next to Geneva (Walworth County) Wisconsin. Asa was a Democrat and represented his district in the State Legislature in 1856. On the outbreak of the rebellion, being a Democrat of the Ben Butler stamp, he accepted a position where he thought he could be of service to his country, and in the execution of that trust he lost his life, stating, but a few days before his death, that it "was not ambition nor gain that prompted him to enter the army, but only that he might do his mite towards crushing the rebellion; that he did not seek promotion, but was willing to serve where he could do the most good." He joined as a Lieutenant of Company "A" Third Wisconsin Cavalry. He was promoted Regimental Quartermaster of the Third Regiment of Wisconsin Cavalry. He was mustered in 28 Jan., 1862 at Janesville, Wisconsin. The circumstances of his death were written up in the history of his regiment as follows: "On the 4th of Sept. 1863, General Blunt left Fort Scott for Fort Smith to establish district Headquarters at Fort Smith. He was accompanied by several members of his staff, among them, Major Benjamin S. Henning, and Lieutenant Asa W. Farr, Quartermaster and Judge Advocate, both of the Third Cavalry. They traveled with the brigade band which was composed of Wisconsin men They were escorted by forty men of Company I, Third Wisconsin Cavalry under Lieutenant H. D. Bannister; and forty-three men of Company A, Fourteenth Kansas Cavalry, under Lieut. Pierce. The whole escort was under command of J. G. Cavart, Third Wisconsin Cavalry. They traveled in a train of eight wagons full of gear, equipment and essentials for establishing the new district headquarters. At noon, on the 6th of September they were within a short distance of camp near Baxter's Spring in the Cherokee Nation. Here, the command was halted to permit the train to come up. Soon after, a column of men was seen coming out of the woods about eighty rods to the left, and forming into line. The escort was immediately formed in line of battle, and the train took up its position in the rear. A scout soon came in, informing General Blunt that the force in front disguised in Federal uniforms, were enemies, and that an engagement was taking place at the camp of Lieutenant Pond, who was in command at Baxter's Springs. Of the men comprising the escort, twenty were acting as rear guard to the train, leaving but sixty-five to form a line of battle. They receive the charge of a force of from 300 to 500 men. The lines were not more than 200 yards distant. The enemy advanced at a walk, firing. The men of Company A, Fourteenth Kansas, began to break. The enemy saw this coming and ordered a charge. The whole Rebel line advanced with a shout. The remainder of Company A broke, and could not be rallied. In the meantime, a full volley was fired by Company I of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry. The enemy, however, continued to advance. Company I stood, firing their revolvers till the enemy was within twenty feet of them. They saw they were totally outnumbered, and they turned to escape, but before any distance could be made, the enemy were in their midst. The men were shot down while fleeing. Those that fell wounded but were still moving, were murdered on the spot. Of the forty men of Company I, who composed part of the escort, twenty-two were killed, and four were wounded and left on the field for dead. During the attack, the band wagon attempted to escape, and had made about half a mile when one of the wheels came off, the Rebels rushed upon its occupants and commenced indiscriminate slaughter of the whole band. Many of them were shot while in the wagon. The bodies were gathered and thrown in or under the wagon, which was set fire to. Many of them were much burned and brutally mutilated. About the time of the appearance of the enemy on the left, a fight was ensuing on the opposite side of the ridge. A portion of the Rebel band were attacking the position of Lieutenant Pond. The Lieutenant had sent off the greater portion of his force foraging, but still made a gallant defense. The enemy, however, was drawn off to the attack of General Blunt and his party, and Lieutenant Pond prepared himself to meet still further demonstration from them, not dreaming that a bloody massacre was being enacted in close proximity to his camp. After plundering the wagons, and making sure that their victims were dead, Quantrell and his bloody band left the field. The scene was devastating."
Asa died near Baxter Springs, Indian Territory, 6 Oct., 1863.
The Regimental History added: "Major Gillis, the Assistant Adjutant General, and Lieutenant Asa W. Farr were found dead, evidently murdered in cold blood." All the soldiers killed in this engagement were buried in a cemetery at Baxter Springs, and a single monument was erected in their memory. Elizabeth applied for a Widow's Pension, 20 April, 1864 (App# 50096, Cert# 33621).
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