Wm. Eugene Farnham died at his home on west Colfax Street, Monday afternoon, June 22, at the age of eighty-eight years.

Deceased was born in Hannibal, New York, May 27, 1837 and it was here that he grew to manhood. At about the age of twenty, he went to Pittsfield, Mass., where he was engaged in the woolen mills for a number of years. In this work he showed himself proficient and was given one of the most responsible positions.

While in Pittsfield he met Miss Catherine Elizabeth Atkinson and on October 29, 1862 they were married. Only one child, Mr. C. T. Farnham of this city, was born to them.

In 1886 the family moved to this county, having purchased the farm now occupied by Andrew Beck in the Cuming City school district.

??? Moved to Blair. The son purchased an interest in the drug store known so long as the Farnham and Samson Drug Store and the father took up the watch repair work which he followed practically until the business was sold.

For the past three years Mr. Farnham has been confined to his bed due to a fall from which he never recovered.

Mr. Farnham, as we all know, was a man of sterling character, quiet unassuming and a gentleman of the old school, who was always living up to his ideals of right and wrong.

He was a member of the Masonic fraternity of long standing, being in point of years the oldest Mason in the Blair lodge, he some twelve years ago, was awarded the Jordan medal, which is awarded for this honor.

Through all these years of patient suffering the devoted wife and son have made it their sole duty to make the suffering one as comfortable as possible and they succeeded in as much as it was humanly possible but old age gradually won the battle and he is gone, leaving the wife and son to mourn his loss with only a memory of a life well worth emulating. The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 at the Episcopal Church with Rev. Hering officiating while the ceremonies at the grave were in charge of the Masonic fraternity.

Note: Per Cemetery records, Wm is buried in Block 26 Lot 5 Grave 10

#2 24 June, 1925 - The Pilot

William Eugene Farnham passed peacefully away at 3 o’clock Monday afternoon, June 22nd, at the advanced age of 88 years. About three years ago he fell and broke his hip, and has been bedfast practically ever since that time. His wife, despite her years, has been his constant and ever watchful attendant during all that time and deserves great praise for her faithfulness and heroic endurance. The funeral will be held this afternoon at 2:30 at St. Mary’s Episcopal church, conducted by Rev. Chas. D. Hering, the pastor. The burial will be under Masonic auspices, he having been a Mason for over 64 years, being raised to the sublime degree in Pittsfield, Mass., in 1861. deceased was born at Hannibal, N. Y. May 27, 1837. At the age of 20 he went to Pittsfield, Mass., and went into the woolen mills, which line he followed until he came west in 1886. He was married to Miss Catherine Atkinson in Pittsfield Oct. 29th, 1862, and their only child, Charles T., was born there. Soon after coming west they settled upon a farm west of Herman where they lived until they moved to this city in 1894. Mr. Farnham worked at jeweler and watch maker’s trade for a good many years in what was then the Farnham & Sampson drug store, now the Stewart Pharmacy. He was a good careful workman, friendly and well liked by everyone, a very fine and high type of citizen whom the city and many friends will greatly miss. But the one who will miss him most is the little woman who has been at his side as wife, mother of their only sone, and companion for almost 63 years. She has the sincere sympathy of many loving and admiring friends in the hour of her greatest sorrow.

~~~Obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library ~~~

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