Ethan Bennett Farnum (1826 - aft. 1900)

Born 10 Nov 1826 in Cheshire, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah Mary (Rouse) Farnum — married 1850 in Geneva, Walworth, Wisconsin, United States of America

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Biography

Ethan Farnum was involved in the "Wild, Wild West," part of the westward expansion of the United States. Join the Wild Wild West Project.

Ethan Farnum is Notable.

E.B. Farnum was one of the first residents of Deadwood (then in the Dakota territory) who was not a miner or prospector; he was the owner of a general store, and Deadwood's first mayor.

Farnum was married to Hannah Mary Rouse and they had three children: Sylvia Marie, Ethan Willis and Ezra Lyle. He was the first mayor of the town of Deadwood.

Farnum came to Deadwood from Wisconsin and opened his store in 1876. He then acquired other Main Street properties and invested in some of the mining operations such as the Laura Mine and the Prince Oscar Lode. He also partnered with other camp entrepreneurs to have the Deadwood to Centennial Toll Road constructed to ease the flow of supplies to their businesses.

On August 18, 1876, he was elected mayor, winning 672 votes out of 1,139. He was active in convincing the Dakota Territories to officially recognize the town and establish a nearby Army post, as well as instituting a pest house to quarantine those with communicable diseases, and a system of street cleaning, all to be funded out of licensing fees for town businesses. In December 1876, Farnum established the town's fire department and sent the town's first telegram to the mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming. His position also included duties as head of the school board and Justice of the Peace and judge; he established the town's first school. In November 1876 he presided over the town's first marriage, Fannie Garrettson to Daniel Brown, and presided over numerous trials.

Further records are scarce, due to the great fire of September 26, 1879. When these duties became separate positions from the mayoralty, Farnum ran for Justice of the Peace but lost. Afterwards, he left for Chicago, Illinois. He is listed in 1888 as a printer in Chicago.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._B._Farnum

• (CAUTION) "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:SBGB-H6Y : accessed 21 May 2018), entry for Ethan B /Farnham/; file (2:2:2:MMWC-HS7), submitted 15 May 2011.

• Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1850; Census Place: Geneva, Walworth, Wisconsin; Roll: M432_1007; Page: 253B; Image: 183

• 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Year: 1860; Census Place: Geneva, Walworth, Wisconsin; Roll: M653_1434; Page: 263; Family History Library Film: 805434

• Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971. NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls. Records of the Post Office Department, Record Group Number 28. Washington, D.C.: National Archives. Name: Ethan B Farnum; Post Office Location: Springfield, Walworth, Wisconsin; Appointment Date: 11 May 1868; Volume #: 31; Volume Year Range: 1864-1878

• 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Year: 1870; Census Place: Hudson (Lyons), Walworth, Wisconsin; Roll: M593_1741; Page: 134A; Family History Library Film: 553240

• Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C. Year: 1880; Census Place: Chicago, Cook, Illinois; Roll: 197; Page: 292A; Enumeration District: 166

• Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census. Official Register of the United States, Containing a List of the Officers and Employees in the Civil, Military, and Naval Service. Digitized books (77 volumes). Oregon State Library, Salem, Oregon. Name: Ethan B. Farnum; Residence Date: 30 Sep 1873; Station or Residence Place: Walworth, Wisconsin, USA; Year: 1873; Title: Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval in the service of the United States; Volume: Volume 1

• United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls. Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 12, Maury, Tennessee; Page: 12; Enumeration District: 0081; FHL microfilm: 1241588