John M. Farquhar
Encyclopedia
John McCreath Farquhar (April 17, 1832 – April 24, 1918) was a United States Representative
from New York
and a recipient of the United States
military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
.
. He immigrated to the United States as a boy and settled in Buffalo, New York
. He was a printer, editor, and publisher for 33 years. He served as president of the International Typographical Union
from 1860 to 1862.
During the Civil War
, Farquhar enlisted from Chicago, Illinois, into the Union Army
on August 9, 1862, as a private in Company B of the 89th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
. He was promoted to Sergeant Major and, on December 31, 1862, earned the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Stones River
, Tennessee
. His official citation reads: "When a break occurred on the extreme right wing of the Army of the Cumberland
, this soldier rallied fugitives from other commands, and deployed his own regiment, thereby checking the Confederate
advance until a new line was established." His medal was not awarded until several decades later, on August 6, 1902. Promoted again to Major
, Farquhar served as a judge advocate and inspector in the IV Corps
. After his military service he returned to Buffalo, New York, and resumed his business activities.
Farquhar was elected as a Republican
to the 49th
, 50th
, and 51st Congresses
(March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1891). He served as chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries during the 51st Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination to the 52nd Congress.
He served as a member of the United States Industrial Commission from 1898 to 1902, before retiring from public life and active business pursuits.
Farquhar died in Buffalo at age 86 and was interred there in Forest Lawn Cemetery
.
Citation:
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and a recipient of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.
Biography
Born near Ayr, Scotland, Farquhar attended Ayr AcademyAyr Academy
Ayr Academy is a non-denominational secondary school situated in the centre of the town of Ayr in South Ayrshire. It is a comprehensive school for children from the ages of 11 to 18 from Ayr. Ayr Academy's catchment area covers Newton-on-Ayr, Whitletts and the outlying villages of Coylton, Annbank,...
. He immigrated to the United States as a boy and settled in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. He was a printer, editor, and publisher for 33 years. He served as president of the International Typographical Union
International Typographical Union
The International Typographical Union was a labor union founded on May 3, 1852 in the United States as the National Typographical Union. In its 1869 convention in Albany, New York, the union—having organized members in Canada—changed its name to the International Typographical Union...
from 1860 to 1862.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Farquhar enlisted from Chicago, Illinois, into the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
on August 9, 1862, as a private in Company B of the 89th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
89th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 89th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, nicknamed the Railroad Regiment, was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
. He was promoted to Sergeant Major and, on December 31, 1862, earned the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Stones River
Battle of Stones River
The Battle of Stones River or Second Battle of Murfreesboro , was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. His official citation reads: "When a break occurred on the extreme right wing of the Army of the Cumberland
Army of the Cumberland
The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio.-History:...
, this soldier rallied fugitives from other commands, and deployed his own regiment, thereby checking the Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
advance until a new line was established." His medal was not awarded until several decades later, on August 6, 1902. Promoted again to Major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
, Farquhar served as a judge advocate and inspector in the IV Corps
IV Corps (ACW)
There were two corps of the Union Army called IV Corps during the American Civil War. They were separate units, one serving with the Army of the Potomac and the Department of Virginia in the Eastern Theater, 1862–63, the other with the Army of the Cumberland in the Western Theater,...
. After his military service he returned to Buffalo, New York, and resumed his business activities.
Farquhar was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the 49th
49th United States Congress
The Forty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1887, during the first two years...
, 50th
50th United States Congress
The Fiftieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887 to March 4, 1889, during the third and fourth...
, and 51st Congresses
51st United States Congress
The Fifty-first United States Congress, referred to by some critics as the Billion Dollar Congress, was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C...
(March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1891). He served as chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries during the 51st Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination to the 52nd Congress.
He served as a member of the United States Industrial Commission from 1898 to 1902, before retiring from public life and active business pursuits.
Farquhar died in Buffalo at age 86 and was interred there in Forest Lawn Cemetery
Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo
Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York was founded in 1849 by Charles E. Clark. It covers over 250 acres and over 152,000 are buried there. Notable graves include U.S. President Millard Fillmore, singer Rick James, and inventor Lawrence Dale Bell...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Sergeant Major, 89th Illinois Infantry. Place and date: At Stone River, Tenn., December 31, 1862. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Birth: Scotland. Date of issue: August 6, 1902.Citation:
When a break occurred on the extreme right wing of the Army of the Cumberland, this soldier rallied fugitives from other commands, and deployed his own regiment, thereby checking the Confederate advance until a new line was established.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients
- List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F