History of Painted Post, (Steuben County) New York United States of America

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Charles Benjamin Farwell, senator, was born near Painted Post, Steuben county, N.Y., July 1, 1823. His first ancestor in America left England for Massachusetts in 1640. He attended Elmira academy and engaged in land surveying and farming until 1844, when he removed to Chicago, Ill., where he was a clerk in the county clerk's office, teller in a bank, and from 1853 to 1861, clerk of Cook county. In 1861 he entered into the dry goods business in partnership with his brother John Villiers Farwell, under the firm name, John V. Farwell & Co. He was a member of the state board of equalization in 1867; chairman of the board of supervisors of Cook county in 1868, and a national bank examiner in 1869. He was a Republican representative from Illinois in the 42d and 43d congresses, 1871-75. His seat in the 44th congress was successfully contested by J. V. Le Moyne in 1876. He was again a representative, serving in the 47th congress, 1881-83, declining re-election. In 1887 he was elected to the U.S. senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Gen. John A. Logan and served until March 4, 1891. In 1887 he built with his brother the Texas state capitol, for which they received three million acres of land which they turned into a ranch and stocked with 150,000 cattle. He died in Chicago, Sept. 24, 1903.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Painted Post, (Steuben County) New York

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