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Ethan Bennett Farnum 1826 - 1889

Ethan Bennett Farnum of Chicago, Illinois United States was born on November 10, 1826 in Cheshire, Berkshire County, MA to John Allen Farnum and Chloe Farnum. He had siblings Alonzo Farnum, Edgar J Farnum, Samantha B Farnum, Ezra C. Farnum, Lucy Wharton, and Mary B Farnum. He was in a relationship with Hannah Mary Farnum, and had a child Ethan Farnum. Ethan Farnum died at age 62 years old on January 1, 1889 in Chicago, IL.

Ethan Bennett Farnum

Chicago, Illinois United States

November 10, 1826

Cheshire, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States

January 1, 1889

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Male

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Ethan Bennett Farnum Ethan Farnum (1826 - 1889)

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Ethan Bennett Farnum's History: 1826 - 1889

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Introduction

E.B. Farnum was married to Hannah Mary Rouse and they had three children: Sylvia Marie, Ethan Willis and Ezra Lyle. He was the first mayor of the town of Deadwood. Farnum came to Deadwood from Wisconsin and opened his store in 1876. He then acquired other Main Street properties and invested in some of the mining operations such as the Laura Mine and the Prince Oscar Lode. He also partnered with other camp entrepreneurs to have the Deadwood to Centennial Toll Road constructed to ease the flow of supplies to their businesses. On August 18, 1876, he was elected mayor, winning 672 votes out of 1,139. He was active in convincing the Dakota Territories to officially recognize the town and establish a nearby Army post, as well as instituting a pest house to quarantine those with communicable diseases, and a system of street cleaning, all to be funded out of licensing fees for town businesses. In December 1876, Farnum established the town's fire department and sent the town's first telegram to the mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming. His position also included duties as head of the school board and Justice of the Peace and judge; he established the town's first school. In November 1876 he presided over the town's first marriage, Fannie Garrettson to Daniel Brown, and presided over numerous trials. Further records are scarce, due to the great fire of September 26, 1879. When these duties became separate positions from the mayoralty, Farnum ran for Justice of the Peace but lost. Afterwards, he left for Chicago, Illinois. He is listed in 1888 as a printer in Chicago.
11/10

1826

Birthday

November 10, 1826

Birthdate

Cheshire, Berkshire County, Massachusetts United States

Birthplace

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01/1

1889

Death

January 1, 1889

Death date

Unknown
Cause of death

Chicago, Illinois United States
Death location

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