HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
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became J. V. Farwell & Co., but, in 1891, the firm was incorporated under the name of The J. V. Farwell Company, his brother, Charles B. Far-well, being a member. The subject of this sketch has long been a prominent factor in religious circles, a leading spirit of the Young Men's Christian Association, and served as President of the Chicago Branch of the United States Christian Commission during the Civil "War. Politically he is a Republican and served as Presidential Elector at the time of President Lincoln's second election, in 1864; also served by appointment of President Grant, in 1869, on the Board of Indian Commissioners. He was a member of the syndicate which erected the Texas State Capitol, at Austin, in that State; has been, for a number of years, Vice-President and Treasurer of the J. V. Farwell Company, and President of the Colorado Consolidated Land and Water Company. He was also prominent in the organization of the Chicago Public Library, and a member of the Union League, the Chicago Historical Society and the Art Institute.
FARWELL, William Washington, jurist, was born at Morrisville, Madison County, N. Y., Jan. 5, 1817, of old Puritan ancestry; graduated from Hamilton College in 1837, and was admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y., in 1841. In 1848 he removed to Chicago, but the following year went to California, returning to his birthplace in 1850. In 1854 he again settled at Chicago and soon secured a prominent position at the bar. In 1871 he was elected Circuit Court Judge for Cook County, and, in 1873, re-elected for a term of six years. During this period he sat chiefly upon the chancery side of the court, and, for a time, presided as Chief Justice, At the close of his second term he was a candidate for re-election as a Republican, but was defeated with the remainder of the ticket. In 1880 he was chosen Professor of Equity Jurisprudence in the Union College of Law (now the Northwestern University Law School), serving until June, 1893, when he resigned. Died, in Chicago, April 30, 1894.
FAYETTE COUNTY, situated about 60 miles south of the geographical center of the State; was organized in 1821, and named for the French General La Fayette. It has an area of 720 square miles; population (1900), 28,065. The soil is fertile and a rich vein of bituminous coal underlies the county. Ag
