WPA Interviews

Farwell, Grace Mathews

INTERVIEW, Leslie L. Haskin, 21 Nov 1938

Grace Mathews Farwell, Brownsville, Oregon

Mrs. Farwell, widow of Richard C. Farwell, formerly of "Boston" on the Calapooia, a few miles east of Shedd, Linn County, gave the following information concerning her husbands life and ancestry. Mrs. Farwell is not herself of pioneer extraction, but could give much of her husband's history.

My husband was Richard C. Farwell. He was born on his father's donation land claim on the Calapooia, at the town of "Boston" or "New Boston" as it was sometimes called, in the year 1854. He went to school in the country district at that place. "Boston" was the site of now defunct community which was platted about the old "Boston" mill, built by Richard C. Finley in the early 1850's. That mill is still in operation being now under the management of the Thompsons and is generally known as Thompson's Mills. For a time it seemed as though a good sized town would be built up at "Boston" but that hope failed entirely and it was never more than a village. When the railroad came through and the town of Shedd was built it took all hopes away that Boston would have any important place in the country's future. Only the good water power, developed by R. C. Finley the mill builder, is responsible for there being any trace of the old town left.

I was born at Albany, Oregon. My people were not pioneers and I know little of their antecedents. I was married to Richard C. Farwell in 1891.

We have 3 children as follows:

Clarence Merle Farwell, now of Rainier Wash., born 3 July 1901.

Esther Ann Farwell. Her married name is Grove. She lives at Eugene. She was born 15 July 1896.

Richard Farwell, named after his father and grandfather. Lives near Shedd, Linn County, Oregon. Born in 1892. He has a son Richard George Farwell who was born 5 March 1938, being the fourth "Richard Farwell" to live in that community.

My husband died 1 Feb 1927.

My husband's father, the first Richard Farwell stated that he was related to the Farwell family of Chicago, the founder of a great mercantile house of that name. There was also a well-known Senator Farwell of Illinois. Father Farwell was born in New Hampshire 29 March 1822. He was the son of a doctor who was an early pioneer in Illinois. Father Farwell lived with his father in Ill; until 1848 when he was married to Esther N. Paugh, a native of Pa.

My husband's father crossed the plains to California, to the gold fields in 1848 or 1849. While on this search for gold he left his wife with her father and mother in Mercer Co., Illinois. He took some cattle with him to Cal. But lost several on the way west, stolen or killed by Indians. In California he mined for 3 years after which he returned to Illinois by way of the Isthmus of Panama.

In 1852 he returned to the west with his wife, traveling with horse and mule team. This time he directed his journey to Oregon and settled in Linn County, taking up a donation land claim near the previously mentioned town of Boston. On that claim he continued to reside until the time of his death, 24 Nov 1899. At the time of his death he was 87 years of age.

The children of Richard Farwell, Sr. were as follows:

Richard C. Farwell, husband of the informant.

M.E. Farwell. Married John Duncan. Lives 1 mile north of Shedd on Hiway 99. (First house north of Shedd on the highway.

Sarah W. Farwell. Married Walter Wright. Lived at Eugene, Lane County, Oregon. Died 1906.

Edward D. Farwell. Made his home with his father on the original donation land claim. Still resides there. Married, Mabel R. McElroy.

Iva M. Farwell. Wife of Charles Farrow, formerly of Eugene, Oregon, now of Spokane, Wash.

Hiram J. Farwell. Lives at Portland, Oregon.

(Mrs. Matthew Farwell, the informant was unable to give further information due to lack of records and failing memory. She is a helpless invalid, a sufferer from paralysis and unable to lift herself from her bed, even to sit up. In spite of her infirmity her mind appears quite clear and rational but her memory of facts is at times uncertain.

Copyright © 2000 Patricia Dunn. All rights reserved. This transcription may not be reproduced in any media without the express written permission by the author. Permission has been given by the Transcriber to publish on the LGS web site.