William C. Farr
Encyclopedia
William C. Farr was the fifth mayor of Bayonne, New Jersey
from 1891 to 1895.
Born on March 13, 1844 in Gettenbach, an old (since 1252), but small village in a large forest Buedinger Wald, former district Kreis Gelnhausen, former province Provinz Hanau, former state Kurhessen, near Frankfurt-am-Main, in Germany
, Farr immigrated to the United States
in 1861. After arriving in Baltimore
, Farr moved to Bayonne in 1862. On May 31, 1863, he married Mary Dorethea Schmidt; they had five children together. After a time operating a canal boat, Farr became successful in business running a contracting firm in Bayonne.
A Republican
, he was nominated by both the Democratic Party
and the Independent Party and was elected mayor of Bayonne, defeating incumbent Republican mayor John Newman
in a highly contested election in 1891. Farr, who received the nomination of both the Democrats and the Republicans in 1893, easily won a second term. In Farr's two terms as mayor, he was instrumental in bringing water and electricity to Bayonne. Nominated for a third term in 1895, he lost the to Democrat Egbert Seymour
in 1895. Farr retired from business a wealthy man. He donated money to a number of charities including the German Lutheran Hospital in New York City
.
Farr died on February 14, 1921 in his home at age 77 of influenza
. He is buried in Moravian Cemetery on Staten Island
. Coincidently, Seymour, his successor, had also died of influenza only eight days before.
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
from 1891 to 1895.
Born on March 13, 1844 in Gettenbach, an old (since 1252), but small village in a large forest Buedinger Wald, former district Kreis Gelnhausen, former province Provinz Hanau, former state Kurhessen, near Frankfurt-am-Main, in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Farr immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1861. After arriving in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Farr moved to Bayonne in 1862. On May 31, 1863, he married Mary Dorethea Schmidt; they had five children together. After a time operating a canal boat, Farr became successful in business running a contracting firm in Bayonne.
A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he was nominated by both the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and the Independent Party and was elected mayor of Bayonne, defeating incumbent Republican mayor John Newman
John Newman (Mayor)
John Newman was the Mayor of Bayonne, New Jersey from 1887 to 1891.Newman was born in England around 1829 and immigrated here with his family to New York City when he was a baby. As a boy, he worked in a dry goods store. He spent ten years working in the New York harbor transportation business. He...
in a highly contested election in 1891. Farr, who received the nomination of both the Democrats and the Republicans in 1893, easily won a second term. In Farr's two terms as mayor, he was instrumental in bringing water and electricity to Bayonne. Nominated for a third term in 1895, he lost the to Democrat Egbert Seymour
Egbert Seymour
Egbert Seymour was 6th the mayor of Bayonne, New Jersey from 1895 to 1904.Born December 15, 1850 in Walkill in upstate New York, Seymour came to Bayonne, New Jersey in the 1880s and became active in Democratic Party politics. He was elected Mayor in 1895, defeating incumbent Republican mayor...
in 1895. Farr retired from business a wealthy man. He donated money to a number of charities including the German Lutheran Hospital in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Farr died on February 14, 1921 in his home at age 77 of influenza
Influenza
Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae , that affects birds and mammals...
. He is buried in Moravian Cemetery on Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
. Coincidently, Seymour, his successor, had also died of influenza only eight days before.