George E. Farrington

The coming summer resort for our people is L ake Maxinkuckee on the Vandalia extension of the Logansport road. George E. Farrington, when up there the other day, bought som gorund and will build a cottage on the lake front... - Terre Haute Saturday Evening Mail 21 Jul 1883

George Ewing Farrington Birth 14 Sep 1840 Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana Death 7 Feb 1920 Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana Burial Highland Lawn Cemetery Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana son of James M. Farrington and Harriet T. Ewing

The son of two eminent Terre Haute pioneers, George Ewing Farrington carved out notable careers both as a Civil War soldier and a railroad executive.

He was born Sept. 14, 1840, to James and Harriet (Ewing) Farrington. His mother was from the prominent Ewing family of Vincennes. His parents owned substantial acreage south of what is now Deming Street to College Avenue and from the Wabash River to South Seventh Street. The Farrington homestead where George was born was situated near the present intersection of Fifth and Park streets. Some of the Farrington farm is now a part of the Farrington Grove Historic District. A graduate of Harvard University Law School, George's father practiced law in Terre Haute for a few years before becoming cashier at the Terre Haute branch of the State Bank of Indiana, the earliest ancestor of Terre Haute First National Bank. He then became involved in a lucrative pork packing business with Henry D. Williams.

Upon finishing his primary education, George enrolled at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Before he could complete his degree, the Civil War erupted, and on July 11, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company C of the 85th Indiana Infantry, a part of "Coburn's Brigade." On June 8, 1863, Farrington and Col. Louis Watkins captured Confederate spies Orton Williams and Walter Peter near Fort Granger, Tenn., and witnessed the pair's executions following a court martial. Receiving quick promotions, Farrington became a first lieutenant and regiment quartermaster on Oct. 22, 1863. After being honorably discharged on June 12, 1865, he returned to Terre Haute and operated a wholesale grocery business for about four years. In 1869, the same year he married Mary E. Turner and his father died.

He was employed by the Terre Haute & Indianapolis (TH&I) Railroad and rose through the ranks to general agent and corporate secretary. He was also secretary-treasurer of the Terre Haute & Logansport Railroad, a subsidiary of the TH&I, popularly known as the "Vandalia Line."

Meanwhile, George and Mary Farrington raised four children.

Throughout his adult life, Farrington was active in civic affairs. A founding member of the board of managers of the Rose Orphan Home, he devoted more than 30 years of service as board secretary. For at least eight years, he was a member of the Terre Haute Park Board. He was a 33rd degree Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite, Knights Templar, Morton Post No. 1 of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Loyal Legion.

For many years the Farringtons resided at 926 South Fifth Street but eventually relocated to The Walden, a Terre Haute apartment building.

married 1869 Mary E Turner Birth 16 Dec 1846 Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana Death 23 Dec 1918 Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana Burial Highland Lawn Cemetery Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana daughter of James H Turner Sr and Miranda E Donaldson

Children:

Rose Farrington
James Farrington