- Isaac FARNSWORTH, treasurer of the Janesville Machine Company,
was born in Fairfield,
- Franklin Co., Vt., on the 18th day of August, 1837, and is
a son of Joseph A. and Eliza H. (BURR) FARNSWORTH. His parents
were born in the same town. The parental [paternal] grandfather
of our subject was a prominent man of his state, a physician
by profession, and for many years judge of the circuit court.
He came of an old New England family of English origin. Mr. FARNSWORTH's
mother's family was of English Puritan descent, and the family
name is prominently identified with the early history of the
American Republic. His parents came to Wisconsin at the same
time he did, and settled at Lancaster, but came to Janesville
with him in 1864. The father died in January, 1883, but the mother
still survives him.
- When Isaac was twelve years of age, the family removed to
St. Albans, Vt., where he was
- educated at the public schools and at Hampton Institute,
at Fairfield, that State. He was engaged in farming until shortly
after the breaking out of the late war, when, in the fall of
1861, he enlisted as a private of Company D, 5th Regiment, Vermont
Infantry. In July, 1862, he was commissioned second lieutenant
of Company A, of the same regiment, but was subsequently made
quartermaster sergeant, and served until the late fall of 1862,
when he resigned on account of physical disability. He returned
to Vermont, and in 1864 came to Wisconsin, locating at Lancaster,
Grant County, where he was engaged in general merchandising,
until the fall of that year, when he removed to Janesville. Here
he formed a partnership with R. L. COLVIN in the dry goods business
under the firm name of COLVIN & FARNSWORTH. That connection
continued until 1869, when he purchased his partner's interest,
and continued the business alone until 1878. In the spring of
that year, and prior to going out of the dry goods business,
Mr. FARNSWORTH bought a half interest in the Janesville Gazette
office, but was not actively engaged in the management of the
paper. He retained his ownership in that establishment for five
years. In the fall of 1878 he accepted the position of secretary
of the Harris Manufacturing Company, continuing in that office
until the new company was formed in 1881, when he bought an interest
in the business, and was chosen to the same position with the
Janesville Machine Company, the successor of the Harris Manufacturing
Company. On the 1st day of July, 1885, he bought a half interest
in the jewelry firm of WEBB & HALL, and devoted a portion
of his time to that business until March, 1887, when he sold
out, and has since given his time entirely to the business of
the Janesville Machine Company, of which he is the present secretary,
and which has now attained important proportions.
- Mr. FARNSWORTH was married at Lancaster, Wis., on the 27th
day of December, 1858, to
- Miss Eliza BARNETT, daughter of Andrew BARNETT, of that city.
Mrs. FARNSWORTH was born at Brookfield, Pa., and came west with
her parents, in an early day. Five children were born of their
marriage, a son and four daughters. Catherine, the eldest, is
the wife of Frank C. HASELTON, of Rockford, Ill.; Frank B. lives
at Rockford; Mary E., Alice D., and Josephine A. are at home.
Mr. and Mrs. FARNSWORTH are members of the Congregational Church.
In politics he is a Republican, but in no sense has been a politician
desirous of public office. For upwards of a quarter of a century,
Mr. FARNSWORTH has been associated with the citizens of Janesville
as a merchant and business man, and has won a safe and honored
place in the esteem of his fellow-citizens.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 989-990.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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