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John Henry and Rose Belle Sprigg Farmer

John Henry Farmer, the fourth child of David and Sibby Ferree Farmer, was born on February 6, 1859 in Richland, Keokuk, Iowa.  He married Rose Belle Sprigg on March 11, 1885 in Missouri.  Rosa Belle was born July 10, 1866 in Missouri to parents Zechariah and Mary Sprigg.

The couple had eight children:

Mary Ethel, b.  1886

Clinton Tevis, b.  1889

Mable Verne, b.  1892 and d. 1900

John Thomas, b.  1893

Harold Dale, b.  1896

Florence A., b.  1901

Ivan Morton, b. 1903

Elizabeth Grace, b. 1906

John and Rose are found in the following federal census records:

 1900 in Medicine township, Putnam, MO with Ethel, Clinton, Mable, John, Harold, and Zechariah

1910 in Medicine township, Putnam, MO with Clinton, John, Harold, Florence, Ivan, and Elizabeth

1920 in Shoal, Clinton, MO with Harold, Florence, Ivan, and Grace

1930 in Kidder, Caldwell, MO with Grace

John died on October 31, 1940 in Cameron, Missouri.  Rose died sometime later.

 

Obituary of John

Publication unknown

“John Henry Farmer, son of David and Sibby Farmer, was born near Richland, Iowa, February 6, 1859 and died northeast of Cameron, Missouri, October 31, 1940 at the age of 81 years.

While his father served in the Civil War, he went with his mother and family to live in Indiana.  In 1876 they came west to take a homestead in Putnam County, Missouri, near Lucerne.

He was married in 1885 to Rosa Belle Sprigg and they celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary together March 11, 1940.  Since 1913, they and their children have made their home in or near Cameron.

Mr. Farmer is survived by his wife, four sons, Clinton T. Farmer of Des Moines, Iowa, John T. Farmer, Harlem, Montana, Harold D. Farmer, Red Oak, Iowa, and Ivan M. Farmer of Omaha, Nebraska, three daughters, Mrs Ethel F. Wells of Cainsville, Mrs. Florence F. Lohner of Kellerton, Iowa, and Miss Grace Farmer of Kansas City; eight grandchildren, four sisters and a brother.  One child died in infancy.

Mr. Farmer was a life-long member of the Methodist church and had devoted his life to serving Christ, his family and his fellowmen.  As a father and neighbor, his life has been a most worthy example.

Funeral services were held...”

Memories of a grandchild

“The Christian faith and the Church were very important in the life of the John Henry Farmer family.  They were Methodists.  One son, Harold, was not a very religious man.  Youngest daughter Grace married a Catholic which was almost scandalous at the time!  Joined his church and raised her family in that faith and all were devout Catholics.  In time, the family came to respect it, but not at first.  Clinton Farmer studied for the Methodist Ministry in Boston and served Methodist Churches for a time until his wife became ill and he earned his living as a carpenter.  John Thomas and his wife became Presbyterians in Montana where there was no Methodist Church.  He and his wife were very active and involved in the life of those small churches in leadership roles.

Regarding Farmer family personality traits: my father was a quiet man.  Soft-spoken and a man of few words.  He was hard working, methodical and somewhat slow.  Or maybe he was slow because he was so methodical!  He had a subtle wit and was always a gentleman.  His brothers were not as quiet as he was, though they all were somewhat restrained and reserved except Uncle Harold who of course was a big hit with me!”

 

Photos of the John Henry Farmer family

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