SeanPaulMurphyVille: My Family: The Honorable George Farber

Sunday, May 27, 2018

My Family: The Honorable George Farber

I usually reserve this periodic genealogical series for people who had a parental relationship to me. However, since Memorial Day is upon us again, I want to honor my 2nd great-granduncle, the Honorable George Farber.

I became interested in genealogy in the late 1990s. One of my first goals was to travel to Scranton, Pennsylvania, and visit the graves of my paternal ancestors. My father told me to be sure to visit the grave of George Farber. My father proceeded to give me a highly exaggerated history of uncle George and his wartime exploits, but the truth was actually more interesting than his inventions. It turns out that George, and two other hometown Scranton boys, George Burkee and George Schultz, had the distinction of firing the last shots of the Civil War. But we're getting ahead of ourselves.

John George Faber,* hereafter called George Farber, was born in Allenbach, Prussia, on May 28, 1840. He was the oldest son of Joseph Farber and Sophia Elizabeth Engel. He came to the United States with his family in 1843, making them the first of my ancestors to step foot upon these shores. The family first settled in New York before moving to the Scranton area in 1845.

The family was relatively undistinguished until the outbreak of the Civil War. Prior to the war, George, who was five-foot-eight-inches tall with hazel eyes, auburn hair and a fair complexion, worked as a common laborer. He joined B Company, 9th Cavalry Regiment, Pennsylvania, on October 7, 1861 -- a mere six days after the unit was formed. Fighting was in his blood. His father, my third great-grandfather, Joseph volunteered to fight for the Union with C Company of the 107th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Joseph was forty-two-years-old when he volunteered, but his war would be a short one. Joseph fell sick and spent two months in a Washington, D.C. hospital before being discharged. George, on the other hand, had a very long and eventful war.

The long list of engagements in which the 9th Cavalry Regiment, Pennsylvania, participated are listed in the material below. Between September and December 1863, George was hospitalized in Nashville, Tenn. (In his request for an invalid pension, George says he was hospitalized during that period for rheumatism and chronic diarrhea. He also claimed this condition later effected his heart and liver.) He was discharged on December 31, 1863, at Massy Creek, Tenn., and reenlisted on January 1, 1864 in accordance with General Order No. 191 War Department. He received a $100 bounty upon reenlistment. On April 1865 in Mount Olive, N.C., he was attached to the 23 Independent Battery NY Artillery. He was mustered out of the Army on July 18, 1865 at Lexington, N.C. Of the 2296 officers and men who served in the 9th Cavalry, six officers were killed or mortally wounded, two officers died of disease or accident, 66 enlisted men were killed or mortally wounded, and 155 enlisted men were killed by disease or accidents.

It was while George and his comrades were detached to the 23 Independent Battery NY Artillery that they rose to notoriety by firing those final shots of the war at General Johnston's Confederate Army. With Johnston's surrender, the Civil War was officially over -- though skirmishing and bloodshed would continue in the west.

I believe this building is the old Farber homestead on Farber Court.

The war proved to be good to uncle George in particular and the Farber family in general. (Farber Court in Scranton is named after the family.) Their prestige in the community definitely rose. George worked as a miner and a carpenter and later became the proprietor of the Fairview Hotel at 1319 Ash Street. He also entered politics. He was a staunch Republican and held many offices, including a seat as a delegate in the State Legislature. However, I fear he may have engaged in some political chicanery at times since one of his elections was overturned by a judge!

George applied for a military invalid pension under the general law of July 1891, alleging rheumatism, and was pensioned for the sum of $2 per month, which rate was increased to $6 from March 2, 1895, by operation of the law. At the time, he underwent an examination to bolster his claim. He was described to be 5 feet 6 1/2 inches tall and weighing 182 pounds at 51 and 5/12th years of age. He was well-nourished with normal skin, a clean moist tongue, and normal lungs. His heart was normal in size and rhythm. His rectum was normal with no fissures or piles and no evidence of chronic diarrhea. However, he showed great stiffness in his shoulders resulting in a lack of mobility. He couldn't raise his arms above a horizontal position. His ankle joint also showed damage from rheumatism. There was enlargement in some joints and some atrophy of muscles. They considered the disability from rheumatism equal to 6/18. No other disability was found to exist.

George took a trip to his hometown in Germany with his wife Caroline Goerlitz before his death from dropsy in 1900. He had no children, but he is currently survived by a 2nd great-grandnephew who is keeping his name and exploits alive!

Thanks for your service, Uncle George!

Read more about him below:

Biography of George Farber from "Portrait and Biographical Record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania." Published 1897.

HON. GEORGE FARBER. There is no element which has entered into our composite national fabric which has been of more practical straight value and utility than furnished by the steady persevering and honorable sons of Germany, and in the progress of our Union this element has played an important part. Intensely practical, and ever having a clear comprehension of the ethics of life, the German influence and this service can not be held in light estimation by those who appreciate true civilization and advancement.

The subject of this review comes from staunch German stock, and was born in Allebach Prussia, May 28, 1840, a son of Joseph Farber, also a native of the Rhine Province. The grandfather, Joseph Farber, who operated a grist and saw mill in Germany, came to America in 1843, and here lived retired until his death, which occurred after he had passed the one-hundredth milestone of life's journey. Joseph Farber, a carpenter by trade, also left the fatherland in 1843 with his family and arrived in New York after a long and tedious voyage of eighty-six days. There he remained until 1845, when he came to Scranton, where his brother-in-law, Louis Engle, was living. He worked at his trade for the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company until his enlistment in 1861 in Company C, the 107th Pennsylvania Infantry, which belonged to the Army of Virginia. He served faithfully until honorably discharged on account of physical disability. For a time he conducted a grocery store in Petersburg (now Scranton) and spent his last days here, where he died at the age of 69 years. He had married Elizabeth Engle, who was born in Allebach Prussia, May 28, 1812, and died in 1877. Her parents came to America in 1848 and died in the vicinity of Scranton. Our subject is the oldest of seven children, five boys and two girls, the others being Frederick, with the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company of Scranton; Louis, with the Pennsylvania Coal Company; Charles, who served through the Civil War as a member of the 77th Pennsylvania Infantry, and died in Scranton, May 28, 1892; Jacob, who died the same place in 1849; Mrs. Sophia C. Stark, now a resident of Dunmore, and Louisa, wife of A. Price of Scranton.

On the 12th of March, 1845, the subject of this sketch arrived in Scranton, where he was reared and educated, first attending the school that stood above the old grist mill and later on in Dunmore, then known as Bucktown. In 1848 he went with his parents to Greenville, but returned to Dunmore on completion of the Gravity road, and in 1851 removed to what is now Petersburg, the 10th Ward of Scranton, where he has since resided. He began business life in the employ of the Pennsylvania Coal Company, with whom he remained for two years, was the driver in the old Diamond mine for many years, and later served in the same capacity with Swartz & Spencer, now the Ronney Brookville Company, after which he was again with the Pennsylvania Coal Company until the outbreak of the Civil War.

Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, Mr. Farber enlisted in August 1861, in Company B, 9th Pennsylvania Calvary, and was mustered in at Harrisburg, October 7, 1861. With his command he participated in the following engagements: Thompkinsville and Paris Ky.; Richmond, Perryville, Carters raid in East Tennessee, Franklin, Thompson Station, Spring Hill, Brentwood, Harpeth Creek, Trinue, Rover, Middletown and Shelbyville, Tenn.; La Fayette, Ga.; Chickamauga, Sept. 19, 20 and 21, 1863; Newmarket, Ala.; Danbridge, Mosey Creek, second engagement at Danbridge, Seviersville, Fair Garden and Reedyville, Tenn; Lovejoy Station and Columbia, S.C.; Averysboro, Bentonville, Raleigh and Morrisville, N.C. He was present at the surrender of Johnston's army at Benton House, N.C., on April 26, 1865. He veteranized, January 1864, and after thirty days' furlough, rejoined the Army and served until the end of the war, being honorably discharged in July 1865, after four years of most arduous and faithful service.

Returning to his home in Scranton, Mr. Farber was captain of a boat on the Pennsylvania Canal for one season then operated in coal on a small scale for about a year. He then engaged in mining for Hunt & Davis and the Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company for some years, and subsequently conducted the Fairview Hotel at No. 1315 Ash Street in the Tenth Ward for 18 years, retiring from the business in 1889. He is still owner of a large store building on the corner of Ash and Irving Streets, and has a fine residence and other property in the city, all of which has been accumulated through his own industrious and well-directed efforts. He was married in Scranton to Miss Carolina Gorletz, a native of Germany, and a daughter of Philip Gorletz, who died in Scranton.

Mr. Farber has ever taken an active part in public affairs, was a commissioner and member of the select council of the city of Scranton from 1872 until 1878, representative of the 10th Ward, and in 1879 was first elected register of wills for Lackawanna County, but the supreme court decided against him as an illegal election. The following year, however, he was again elected to that position for three years, and at the same time was also a member of the select council, but resigned in December, 1884, to take his seat in the Assembly, being elected in 1884 on the Republican ticket by a majority of nine hundred votes. While a member of the legislature he introduced a bill for the appropriation of $25,000 to the Lackawanna Hospital, and the Bill was passed and signed for $15,000. In 1886, he was again the nominee of the party for state representative, but this time was defeated. In 1890, he was elected a member of the select council, in which he served for four years, and was an important factor in securing many useful and valuable improvements. He is also tax collector for the 10th Ward, and is one of its most public-minded and progressive citizens. For eighteen years he has been an influential member of the county Republican committee of which he has served as chairman. Fraternally he affliated with Union Lodge, F. & A. M.; the Knight of Pythais society, of which he is a past officer; and the Colonel Monies Post, N. 319, G. A. R., of which he is a charter member, and was also a charter member of the old post, No. 101. He is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church of Petersburg, and a distinguished citizen, upright, honorable man and honored veteran of the late war, he is assuredly worthy of representation in a work of this character. In 1894 he made a trip to Europe and spent three delightful months in visiting his old home, and different parts of Germany, Italy and France. He also attended the Colombian Exposition at Chicago, Ill.

Excerpt from an article featuring going-ons in Dunmore from The Scranton Republican, March 2, 1884.

--Ex. Register George Faber, of Petersburg, has purchased the handsome span of matched mares of Mr. Irvin Nye, together with a considerable portion of the carriage and harness equipment of Mr. Nye's private stable.

Article from The Scranton Republican, September 6, 1900:

GEORGE FARBER IS DEAD

Prominent Tenth Ward Citizen

Passed Away Yesterday

George Farber, of Ash Street, died at his home about 5:10 o'clock last evening after having been ill for some time. He was prominent in lodge circles and numbered his friends by the legion.

Deceased was 60 years of age and is survived by a widow. He had been a member of the Relief Engine company ever since 1875 and for several years was president of the organization. He was also a veteran of the Civil war and member of Col. Monies Post G. A. R. He was a mason, and a Pythian, being a member of Fairview lodge, 800, of the latter order.

The funeral arrangements have not been made yet, but will be announced later. There will be a special meeting of the Relief Engine Company tonight to take action on the death and make arrangements for attending the funeral.

Article from The Scranton Republican of September 7, 1900:

EVENTFUL LIFE OF GEORGE FARBER

His War Record Was One To Be Proud Of --

Prominent In City Affairs

In the death of Geroge Farber, which was noted in yesterday's issue, Scranton loses one of its foremost citizens.

Hon. George Farber was born in Allebach, Prussia, on May 24, 1840, and was a son of Joseph Farber. He was the eldest of seven children and came to Scranton on March 12, 1848. Here he was reared and educated. In 1848, he went with his parents to Green ville but returned to Dunmore on the completion of the gravity road in 1851, removing to what is now the Tenth ward of Scranton where he resided until his death. His first employment was with the Pennsylvania Coal company where he remained for two years. After that for many years he was a driver in the old Diamond mine and later served in the same capacity with what is now the Rooney Brookville company. Going back to the Pennsylvania Coal company he remained there until the outbreak of the Civil War when he enlisted on August, 1861, in Company B, Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry, being mustered in at Harrisburg on October 7, 1861,

With his command he participated in the following engagements: Thompkinsville and Paris Ky.; Richmond, Perryville, Carters raid in East Tennessee, Franklin, Thompson Station, Spring Hill, Brentwood, Harpeth Creek, Trinue, Rover, Middletown and Shelbyville, Tenn.; La Fayette, Ga.; Chickamauga, Sept. 19, 20 and 21, 1863; Newmarket, Ala.; Danbridge, Mosey Creek, second engagement at Danbridge, Seviersville, Fair Garden and Reedyville, Tenn; Lovejoy Station and Columbia, S.C.; Averysboro, Bentonville, Raleigh and Morrisville, N.C. He was present at the surrender of Johnston's army at Benton House, N.C., on April 26, 1865. He veteranized Jan 1, 1864, and after a thirty days' furlough rejoined the army and served until the close of the war, being honorably discharged in July, 1865.

It was the Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry, of which he was a member, that fired the last shot in the Civil War.

After returning home deceased was for a year captain of a boat on the Pennsylvania canal and later operated in coal on a small scale for a year. Then for several years he engaged in mining, finally opening the Fairview hotel on Ash street which he conducted for 18 years, retiring from business in 1889. He married in Scranton to Miss Carolina Goerlitz.

Active in public affairs, Mr. Farber was a commissioner and member of the select council in Scranton from 1872 until 1878, representing the Tenth ward, and in 1879 was elected register of wills of Lackawanna county, the supreme court afterwards declaring the election illegal. On the following year he was again elected to the position for three years, being also a member of select council, resigning the later position in December, 1884, when he was elected to the House of Representatives at Harrisburg by a majority of 900 votes. While there it was through his efforts that the bill appropriating $15,000 to the Lackawanna hospital was passed. In 1890, he was elected to the city's select council, remaining there four years, in that time being instrumental in securing a number of valuable public improvements. He was also collector of taxes for the county in the Tenth ward. For 18 years he was a member of the Republican county committee, as well as chairman of the city committee at the same time.

Mr. Farber was connected with several orders, among them being the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Grand Army of the Republic, he being a charter member of Colonel Monies Post, No. 319. He was a member of the Petersburg Presbyterian church and was regarded on all sides as an honest, upright and honorable man.

Scranton Tribune, September 06, 1900, Morning, Page 5

Hon. George Farber Dead

-----

Petersburg's Leading Citizen Dies

After a Brief Illness -- Fired

the Last Shot of the Civil War.

-----

The man who fired the last shot in the civil war, Hon. J. George Farber, died last evening at 5.15 o'clock, at his home in Petersburg, after a three months' illness of dropsy.

The deceased was born in Allebach, Prussia, May 28, 1840, and was brought to his city by his parents in 1845. Since 1851 he lived in the Petersburg portion of the city. He worked in the mines until the breaking out of the civil war, when he and his brother Louis enlisted in Company B, Ninth Pennsylvania cavalry. His father had previously gone out with One Hundred and Seventh Pennsylvania Infantry. The deceased was discharged in July, 1865, after four years of the most active service.

The incident by which he won the distinction mentioned in the opening paragraph occurred at Edwardsburg, N.C., just previous to Johnson's surrender. Mr. Farber and George Burkee, who still lives on Phelps street, were detached from their company of cavalry and assigned to artillery work. They were operating a large gun in a wooded place some distance from the main body and in this way continued firing after hostilities had been called off, they not knowing of the surrender. Mr. Burkee and George Schultz, Sr., brother-in-law of the deceased Mr. Farber, are the only survivors of the seventeen sturdy young lads who went out from Petersburg with the Ninth Cavalry.

Mr. Farber was a commissioner and then a member of the select council from the Tenth ward from 1872 to 1878. In 1879 he was elected the first register of wills of Lackawanna county, but the supreme court declared the election illegal. In the following year, however, he was re-elected for the three years and served his term.

For twenty years he served on the Republican county committee and for a good part of that time on the city committee also, having once been its chairman.

He was a member of the Union lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and Colonel Monies post 319, Grand Army of the Republic.

The deceased is survived by his wife and the following brothers and sisters: Frederick Farber, L.J. Farber, Mrs. Jacob Stark, and Mrs. Alonzo Price, all of this city.

Article from The Scranton Times, September 7, 1900:

DEATH OF GEORGE FARBER

Died at His Home In Petersburg Yesterday -

A Prominent Character in the City.

Hon. J. George Farber died at 5:15 o'clock last evening at his home in Petersburg. He was aged 60 years. He came to this country in 1845 and since 1851 has lived in Petersburg.

Deceased is a veteran of the civil war, in which he served as a cavalry man for four years. He was prominent in local politics for some time. In 1872 and 1878 he served in the select council. In 1879 he was elected the first register of wills. the election, however, was declared illegal.

In the following years he was reelected and served for three years. In 1884 he was again in select council and later resigned to go to the house of representatives to which he had been elected. For twenty years he was a member of the Republican county committee.

During his term as legislator he secured an appropriation of $15,000 for the Lackawanna hospital. He was a member of the G. A. R., Knights of Pythias and of the Union lodge of Masons. He is survived by his wife and brothers, Frederick and L.J., and sisters, Mrs. Jacob Stark and Mrs. Alonzo Price.

Article from The Scranton Times, Monday, September 10, 1900:

GEORGE FARBER BURIED WITH HONORS

A Large Assemblage of Representative Citizens And

Delegations from Organizations at the Services on Saturday.

The attendance at the funeral services of the late George Farber, held Saturday afternoon from 1403 Ash street, was the largest held in this city for years. Rev. F. Steinmann, pastor of the Petersburg German Presbyterian church, conducted the services. There were many beautiful floral tributes, conspicuous among the offerings was a large bouquet and a wreath, presented by Capt. DeLacey on behalf of the G. A. R., a huge "Gate Ajar," with an arch, bearing a white dove, presented by E. Robinson; wreaths from the Masons, a pillow from the Relief Hose company, a design from Lodge 369, K. of P., a casket bouquet from Comrade George Schultz, and another from comrade George Burkel, were among the numerous presentations. The following lodges and organizations were well represented: Union lodge of the Masons, Fairview lodge, No. 369, of the Knights of Pythias, Relief Engine company, Col. Monies and Lieut. Ezra Griffiths posts, G. A. R., and the Scranton Hook and Ladder company.

Rev. Mr. Steinmann took his text from the thirty-ninth psalm, seventh verse, "And now, Lord, what wait I for; my hope is in thee?" And said in part: "Now, the foregoing verses contain limitations about the vanity of this life, about the shortness of the days, and the vanities of the possessions of this life. In consideration of these facts he exclaimed, 'And now, Lord, what wait I for; my hope is in thee?'

"Now the hope in God is the only true consolation. First the only hope for the mourning widow, he will be the protector, the consoler, the friend and helper. In him each widow should hope, whether she be rich or poor, during all her days, life and death. And this hope will not be in vain.

"The Lord is the hope for the mourning mothers and sisters. He, as our elder brother, who is not ashamed to call us his brethern, is alone able to substitute our loss. In this also the veterans should place their hope, if one after the other, out of the ranks of their comrades, is called away.

"When they see their strength diminishing so that they will not be able to endure the hardships of battle any longer. Under the banner of the cross they will find refuge and eternal life and the crown of honor, which Jesus will place in the hands of those that are faithful unto death in watching, praying and fighting for the captain of our salvation.

"And in him we all should hope for this. Death teaches us all the vanity of life and of the earthly hopes. We soon will be in the same condition as this dead husband, brother and friend, and the only hope is the Lord, as our Savior and Redeemer, will uphold us in the strife and sorrows of life, and in the hour of departure from this world."

The pallbearers were: George Schultz, George Burkel, Markus Bishop, Henry Ferber, Charles Blausius and Henry Weber. The flower bearers were: Philip Switzer, Edward Hartman and Albert Van Haullon.

Interment was made in Dunmore Cemetery.

*The Farber family spelled their surname Faber until the late 1890s at which point the spelling changed consistently to Farber.

Click here for more of my genealogical blogs:

My Family: Christmas 1967

My Family: My Granddaughter Emma Renee Schwalm

My Family: The Diaries of Mary Elizabeth McLane, Part 1
My Family: The Back River Tragedy

My Family: My Three Nuns
My Family: The Murder of Adam G. Robertson
My Family: Uncle Buzzy and The Boys In Company B
My Family: 1st Lieutenant Charles Edward Farber, KIA
My Family: Cousin Tillie's Balcony
My Family: The Public Suicide of Carl "Ernie" Stark
My Family: The Public Suicide of Frank Kostohryz
My Family: Mary Marshall Mirfin, Hero
My Family: Rita Cecilia Rosenberger Protani Pollock
My Family: Vincent Klima and the Spanish Influenza
My Family: A Festival of Fathers
My Family: The Honorable George Farber
My Family: A Celebration of Mothers
My Family: The Mystery of Frank John Murphy
My Family: Kristina Bednar Kostohryz
My Family: Great-Grandmom Assunta's Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

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Chapter 1 - A Photograph

Chapter 2 - My Death

Chapter 3 - Childhood

Chapter 4 - Saved!

Chapter 5 - The Promise

Chapter 6 - The Mission

Chapter 7 - Mission Accomplished
Chapter 15 - Quarter To Midnight

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