John R. Farris of Texas County, Missouri

Hon. John R. Farris, merchant and farmer, is a native of Missouri, born on Big Piney Creek, Texas County, April 24, 1842, and is a son of James and Caroline (King) Farris, natives of Scott County, Mo., and North Carolina, respectively, and grandson of John Farris, who was born in Tennessee. The Farris family were of Scotch-Irish descent, and trace their ancestors back to before the Revolutionary War. These ancestors made settlements in Virginia and Tennessee, and the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch served with distinction in the War of the Revolution. Hon. John R. Farris, after reaching man's estate, followed the occupation of his father, that of a farmer and stock raiser. June 21, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, McBride's First Regiment Infantry, State service, and served six months. He then entered Freeman's brigade, Confederate service, cavalry, serving all through the war; was commissioned the last two years of the war as captain and aid-de-camp of Gen. Freeman. After the war Mr. Farris returned to Missouri and carried on farming, to which, in 1883, he added merchandising. He was married in Crawford County, Mo., to Miss Missouri Snelson, daughter of John Snelson, a native of Missouri, originally from Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Farris were born five sons and three daughters: Rosa, wife of A. M. Turner; Albert (deceased), Della, Lee, Walter R., Ferdinando, Maggie and Johnnie. Mr. Farris, wife and daughter Della are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church; the wife and daughter are active workers in the same, and Mr. Farris is an elder. In 1884 he was elected to represent Texas County in the Thirty-third General Assembly, and served on the committee of insurance. He is a Blue Lodge Mason. He pays considerable attention to the fine stock breeding of jacks, horses, cattle and hogs. His fine farm of 120 acres adjoins Cabool.