US Congressman, Civil War Union Army Officer. Elected as a Republican to represent New Hampshire's 3rd District in the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Congresses, he served from 1879 until his death in office. Farr attended Vermont's Thetford Academy and spent one term at Dartmouth College (Fall 1859) before studying law with his attorney father. At the start of the Civil War he became First Lieutenant of Company G, 2nd New Hampshire Volunteers, and was promoted to Captain in January 1862. He lost his right arm at the Battle of Williamsburg (May 5, 1862), returned to active service two months later, and was appointed Major of the 11th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. In the wake of the Union Army's defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg (December 11 to 15, 1862), Farr and another 11th NHV officer brought desertion charges against their commander, Colonel Walter Harriman, for allegedly withdrawing his men without orders in the face of the enemy. Harriman resigned his commission but was soon restored and brevetted Brigadier General. Major Farr went on to see action in the Siege of Vicksburg (1863), the Knoxville Campaign (1863), and the Battle of the Wilderness (1864). After the war he resumed law study, was admitted to the bar in 1867 and became a partner in his father's Littleton, New Hampshire law firm; in addition he served as a State internal revenue assessor (1865 to 1873), Solicitor for Grafton County (1873 to 1879), and on the State Executive Council (1876). During his time in the US House he was a member of the Committee on Pensions. In November 1880 Farr won a second term in Congress, but died of pneumonia at Littleton three weeks after the election.
US Congressman, Civil War Union Army Officer. Elected as a Republican to represent New Hampshire's 3rd District in the Forty-sixth and Forty-seventh Congresses, he served from 1879 until his death in office. Farr attended Vermont's Thetford Academy and spent one term at Dartmouth College (Fall 1859) before studying law with his attorney father. At the start of the Civil War he became First Lieutenant of Company G, 2nd New Hampshire Volunteers, and was promoted to Captain in January 1862. He lost his right arm at the Battle of Williamsburg (May 5, 1862), returned to active service two months later, and was appointed Major of the 11th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. In the wake of the Union Army's defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg (December 11 to 15, 1862), Farr and another 11th NHV officer brought desertion charges against their commander, Colonel Walter Harriman, for allegedly withdrawing his men without orders in the face of the enemy. Harriman resigned his commission but was soon restored and brevetted Brigadier General. Major Farr went on to see action in the Siege of Vicksburg (1863), the Knoxville Campaign (1863), and the Battle of the Wilderness (1864). After the war he resumed law study, was admitted to the bar in 1867 and became a partner in his father's Littleton, New Hampshire law firm; in addition he served as a State internal revenue assessor (1865 to 1873), Solicitor for Grafton County (1873 to 1879), and on the State Executive Council (1876). During his time in the US House he was a member of the Committee on Pensions. In November 1880 Farr won a second term in Congress, but died of pneumonia at Littleton three weeks after the election.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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