Biography of Sebastian Fares (1871-1939)
Portrait and Biographical Record:  St. Charles, Lincoln, and Warren Counties, Missouri (Chicago : Chapman Publishing Co., 1895), p. 455.

Sebastian FARES, one of the most extensive and successful farmers of Lincoln County, is the owner of twelve hundred acres, and until recently, when he sold a tract of six hundred acres, his broad domain comprised one of the largest farms in the county. He started out in life with no capital save the sturdy and ambitious qualities common to natives of the Fatherland, and has slowly but surely built up a fortune. His home is on a Spanish claim in township 48, range 2, and the structure is one of the most imposing and modern ones to be found in the neighborhood.

The birth of our subject occurred in Bavaria, Germany on July 9, 1818. He is the fifth in a family of eight children born to Michael and Sylvania (Roots) FARES. The following of the family still survive: Mary, Mrs. MILLER; Margaret, Mrs. METZ; Frank; Valentine and our subject. Michael FARES, likewise a native of Bavaria and born about 1783, followed agricultural pursuits in order to make a livelihood for himself and his family. In 1835 he crossed the Atlantic, his eldest son having preceded him by a year to prospect for a home. Going to Ohio, he entered two hundred and sixty acres of Government land near the village of Wapakoneta. The country was then a vast wilderness, the Indians had left for the West but two years before, and deer and other wild animals abounded in the forest. The present home of our subject was built by the man who was in charge of removing the redmen from Ohio, namely: Col. David BAILEY. In the comfortable home which the senior Mr. FARES provided for his family, he remained until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty-three years. His faithful wife survived him about ten years. Jacob FARES, the grandfather of our subject, was an intimate friend of the grandfather of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, and many a jolly sleighride did the two have together. Grandfather FARES kept a public house on the Saxony line, which was patronized by the nobility. He was a great lover of fine horses, and not only kept a number of pure Arabian steeds in his stables at all times, but imported and sold them to nobles and wealthy men of his section. 

Sebastian FARES lived under the parental roof until sixteen years of age, receiving the benefit of a good common school education. Soon after coming to the United States, he went to live with William ANDERSON, who was at that time a contractor on the Miami Canal. The young man was commissioned to purchase supplies for both men and horses, being a sort of quartermaster. February 18, 1843, he went to Cincinnati and became salesman for the stove firm of W. E. Childs. He held this position for four years and a half, and desiring to better prepare himself for life's duties, he attended Bartlett's night school for some time. A better opportunity offering, he became interested with FRENCH and WINSLOW, also dealers in stoves and with them he remained for nearly fourteen years, during which time the firm was changed two or three times. At last he bought an interest in the business, which was then carried on under the style of FARES & MILLER. The new firm continued business until the fall of 1876 and were very prosperous. 

From time to time, Mr. FARES invested money in land located in Lincoln County, and by 1876 was the owner of fifteen hundred acres on a portion of which he still makes his home. Then, selling out his stove business, he came West, and has since been engaged in agriculture.  September 24, 1859 Mr. FARES was married in Cincinnati to Alma C., daughter of Isaiah and Dianna (KINGSBURY) BACON. She is one of nine children, of whom seven have been called to the silent land, Francis H. being the only survivor of her brothers and sisters. Mr. BACON was a manufacturer or finisher of cloths, his home being in Tunbridge, Vt. He came from good old Puritan stock in New England. His death occurred when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. His son Francis is still managing the old homestead and is now a prominent dealer in men's furnishing goods in Boston, where he established himself in business thirty-five years ago.  In politics Mr. FARES supports by his ballot the Democratic party. Upright and honorable in all his business transactions, he has ever borne a most enviable name for fairness and justice, and stands high in the affection of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

Contributor's Note:  Sebastian and Alma (BACON) FARES had no children.

(See also the Bailey/Fares Mansion where Sebastian and Alma FARES lived.)

File submitted to HERITAGE PAGES of LINCOLN COUNTY, MISSOURI by Betty Lavy Krieg, 15 August 1998.  Link change or update: 23 May 2000

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