THE FARLEY FAMILY. The oldest member of the family of this name, of whom there is any record, was Joseph Farley, a farmer by occupation, a native of County Armagh, Ireland, who there married Sarah Carr, a resident of the same county, and reared the following children: Joseph, William, Robert, James, Samuel, John and Rebecca (Mrs. John Kennedy). Mr. Farley was a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which Rev. James Harvey was the pastor. JOSEPH FARLEY was born in 1779, in County Armagh, Ireland, and received his education in the schools of that country. In early manhood he was married to Nancy Lindsey, a resident of the same neighborhood, and the children born to them in Ireland were: John, Mary (Mrs. Samuel Palmer), James, William, Rebecca, and Samuel. In 1824 Mr. Farley and his family embarked at Warrenspoint, Ireland, for America, and after a voyage of five weeks and three days landed at Quebec, Canada, in which city they remained eight weeks, and thence traveling slowly by boats and carriages, arrived at Pittsburgh with but $15 with which to begin a new life. They pushed bravely on however, and finally reached Washington county, Penn., where Mr. Farley rented a farm in Chartiers township. Here he remained four years, and then moved to South Strabane township, where he lived five years, at the end of which time he returned to Chartiers township, where he resided nineteen years, afterward purchasing a farm in South Strabane township, to which he soon added the place now occupied by the family, and hither he moved. After settling in Washington county, two daughters were born to them: Sarah and Nancy J. Mr. Farley was another example of what success might be achieved by patient industry, for from small beginnings he became a prosperous farmer and stock raiser. In politics he was a leading Democrat, and in religious faith he was a member of and liberal contributor toward the United Presbyterian Church at Cross Roads, in Chartiers township. In June, 1857, he was laid to rest by the side of his wife, who had preceded him to the grave in November, 1856. JAMES FARLEY was born in Ireland, March 2, 1814, and when a small boy came with his father to Washington county, Penn., where he imbibed the fundamental principles of education in the common schools, becoming a good reader, well-in-formed on current topics. On August 28, 1851, he was united in marriage with Jane Ross, who was born January 12, 1814, daughter of Thomas Ross, a native of eastern Pennsylvania; they afterward adopted Rebecca Ann McLaughlin, who remained with her foster parents till 1877, when she was united in marriage with Rev. Lycurgus Mechlen, of New Athens, Ohio, and their children were James F., George, Robert D. and Jane Rebecca. Mr. Farley was a successful farmer, and engaged extensively in the live stock business. He was a leading member of the Democtatic party. On April 14, 1891, he died, and was buried in the cemetery at Washington. His widow still lives on the farm. WILLIAM FARLEY (a brother of James) was born in May 1816, in Ireland, and coming with the family to America in 1824, received the greater part of his education in the common schools of this country. He is an eager reader, and an enterprising member of the community. In political life he is a Democrat, and though never caring to assume a prominence in the arena of politics, still he is ever ready to advance the cause of his party.

Text taken from page 724 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Bobbi Steele of Indianapolis, IN as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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