Farwellg
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
GEORGE H. FARWELL, who is one
of the most successful fruit growers in Chelan county, resides but a short
distance from Wenatchee. He was born in the Province of Quebec, August
27, 1862. His parents, Benjamin W. and Susan M. Farwell, also Canadians,
are still living, and at the present writing are visiting their son at
Wenatchee.
George H. remained in Canada and attended
district school, then graduated from an academy, and at the age of twenty-two
removed to Thompson, North Dakota, coming thence to Ellensburg, Kittitas
county, where for six years he was engaged in railroad work, in the shops
and as fireman and engineer. Subsequently he was interested in the
transfer, wood and ice business. Coming to Wenatchee in 1900, Mr.
Farwell filed on the homestead upon which he now resides, fifty acres of
which are devoted to orchard, vineyard, alfalfa and so forth. In
1899 he joined the rush to Nome; was thirty-three days on the trip, which
was a perilous one, and here he passed one season. While in Ellensburg
our subject, in company with five others, built a boat and endeavored to
reach Yakima, but they were capsized, losing their baggage and three months'
supply of provision, and it was this serious mishap that anchored him at
Ellensburg. For a period he found it hard sledding, but as a result
of industry and excellent business sagacity his present place is worth
at least ten thousand dollars. Mr. Farwell has taken several gold,
silver and bronze medals at general exhibits of fruit, both at the Pan-American
Exposition at Buffalo and in other places. In 1902 he captured the
first prize for the ten best packed boxes of apples and eighteen first
prizes for plate exhibits at Spokane. In the fall of 1902 he was
awarded twelve first, and six second prizes for apples, pears, peaches,
prunes and plums at the Wenatchee fair. During the spring of 1903,
Mr. Farwell shipped twenty-one boxes of apples to Japan and fifty boxes
to Dawson.
Our subject has two brothers living, Harley
E., and Arthur D. In October, 1899, at Ellensburg, he was united
in marriage to Lottie B. Ricker, a native of Michigan. She has one
sister, Annie, wife of Charles Becker, Wenatchee. They are the parents
of four children, Hugh B., Roy M., Harley E. and Madie B. Mr. Farwell is
a member of Wenatchee Lodge, No. 57, I. 0. 0. F., and the A. 0. U. W.
He is a Republican, has been delegate to the county convention, but is
not an active politician. It is for most excellent reasons that he
has occasion to feel a certain degree of pride in his achievements as a
fruit grower, for his career in this line has been marked with the greatest
degree of success.
On August 18, 1903, Mr. Farwell was appointed
delegate to the Mississippi Congress which held a session in Seattle.
BACK