Barbara A. (Charles) Farrow (1819 - 1905)

Born 18 May 1819 in Montgomery County, KY

Wife of Thomas Farrow II — married 26 Apr 1839 in Boone County, IN

Descendants

Died 6 Apr 1905 at age 85 in Jamestown, Boone Co., IN

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Following her husband’s untimely death in 1855, “Barbary” and her cabin full of kids remained together for a number of years. She is listed in a published 1860 census index as "Farror, Barbary, age 40 bp Kentucky BOJA” (Jackson township, Boone co), but the original document image has not yet been located.

Barbara’s first born died in childhood. The Civil War took the next two sons and Sarah married. When the census taker called on 11 Aug. 1870 he listed “Barbary A. Farrow, age 51, and two sons James and John A. ages 22 and 20 (farm laborers) still at home with Nancy age 14.

The 1880 enumerator found "Brbra A. Farrow" living with her son-in-law William A. White in Eel River Township, Hendricks County, IN. Other household members included her daughter Nancy A. White, Marty M. White age 6, listed as William's daughter, and a Henry L. Walker, not related. It is noteworthy that "Brbra" was shown as "Farrow" although she had been married to Samuel Hemphill since 1873. He died 28 August 1880, presumably before the census taker called. Samuel Hemphill had been in the Civil War and was entitled to a pension. After he died she received a pension check each month and went on a shopping spree, buying groceries.

When the census taker called on June 5, 1900 he found Barbara living with her daughter Nancy White (head of household) and Nancy's son Earl in Ward 4, Jamestown, Indiana. He recorded Barbara’s birthplace as Kentucky, and her mother and father as born in Vinginia. According to a descendant of James Farrow, Barbara was always known as “Granny Farrow” even though she had remarried and a note in the Jamestown Press reported, “Grandma Farrow, living in the north part of town with David Wyatt and wife Nancy (Farrow) is very low and not expected to live. Old age is the cause of her illness”. She died at her daughter’s home on 6 April 1905 and was buried April 8th in the IOOF Cemetery in Jamestown, IN. At this writing, although other family members are buried there, I have been unable to locate her grave and the question of her gravestone markings, whether Farrow or Hemphill, remains unanswered.

Biography adapted from unpublished family history manuscripts of R.P. Farrow retained in digital files.

Sources

Indiana State Library 1860 Census Index. Barbary A. (Charles) Farrow obituary, RPF files. Jamestown Press, Friday, April 7, 1905, page 2, column 3. Supplied by Vivian Bokash, Lebanon IN Public Library.