Farrar Family Papers, 1764-1998 (bulk 1880-1910)

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Background

Scope and content:

Papers, 1764-1998, of the Farrar family of Amelia County, Virginia, including Fernando Richard Farrar (1828-1898), and his son Stephen Lee Farrar (1862-1929). Includes accounts and receipts, correspondence, clippings, estate papers, genealogical notes, information on the history of Amelia County, photographs, suit papers, scrapbook, and other items. The bulk of the collection covers the years 1880 to 1910.

The earliest correspondence deals mainly with legal and financial matters, estate settlements, and land sales. Other topics include invitations and details regarding lectures by Fernando R. Farrar, particularly for his tour in Texas and Louisiana. There are letters of sympathy to the family following the death of Lily (Farrar) Frayser (1868-1895). There is also a good deal of correspondence regarding the disposition of the family estate "Mohican" in Amelia County.

The collection contains manuscript and printed copies of lectures delivered by Fernando R. Farrar. He toured all over the South, and also traveled to Boston, where he spoke at Faneuil Hall. Some of his most popular lectures were "Johnny Reb, the Confederate," "Rip Van Winkle," and "Miss Birdie's Wedding Day." He drew large crowds at colleges, church fundraisers, town hall meetings, and Confederate reunions.

There are a substantial number of newspaper clippings regarding Amelia County and Virginia history. The genealogical files contain information on the Cocke, Cutler, Farrar, Love, Meeks, Walton, and Wright families. There are files containing information on the settlement of the estates of Fernando R. Farrar, Richard Eggleston Farrar (1800-1869), and Stephen Lee Farrar, Jr. (1909-1977). The scrapbook contains newspaper clippings, correspondence, and tributes and resolutions pertaining to the life of Fernando R. Farrar.

Biographical / historical:

Fernando Richard Farrar was born 7 January 1828. He was the son of Dr. Richard Eggleston Farrar and Sarah Virginia Love. He attended Randolph-Macon College, Princeton University, and the University of Virginia. Farrar practiced law in Amelia County, Virginia, maintaining his office at his home "Mohican," and was later appointed judge. He was also a gifted speaker, and toured on a lecture circuit throughout Virginia and other parts of the United States. Farrar married three times: 1) Anna Maria Austin (1826-1870) of Cumberland County, in 1853; 2) Georgia Bass, and 3) Ella G. Scott. Judge Farrar died 12 August 1898, and was buried at "Mohican."

His son, Stephen Lee Farrar, was born at "Mohican" on 12 December 1862. He attended Worsham Academy, and graduated from the University of Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1883, and practiced law at Amelia Court House. Farrar succeeded his father as a county judge, and then served as clerk of the circuit court (1907-1929). He married Clay Holland Griffith (1874-1949) on 25 November 1908. Following his death on 14 April 1929, she succeeded him as circuit court clerk, and served until 1936, when their son Stephen Lee Farrar, Jr. (1909-1977) succeeded her.

Acquisition information:
Purchased.
Physical description:
3 cu. ft.