Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Chicago-Portland: Pioneer Historical
Pub. Co., 1922.  pg. 100.
 
SYLVESTER FARRELL
     When Sylvester Farrell passed away in 1909 death removed one who had long
been a most honored and prominent factor in the business life and development of
Portland.  Looking at his record through the perspective of the years, one
realizes how valuable was his contribution to the city.  He was a man of well
balanced capacities and powers who long occupied a central place on the stage of
action and his labors found culmination in the development of a number of most
important industries.  While a most active factor in business, he never allowed
personal interests or ambition to dwarf his public spirit or activities.  His
was the record of a strenuous life -- the record of a strong individuality, sure
of itself, stable in purpose, quick in perception, swift in decision, energetic
and persistent in action.
     Mr. Farrell was of Canadian nativity, his birth having occurred at St.
Thomas, Ontario, August 2, 1833.  He was the eldest of a family of three sons
and a daughter and was only ten years of age when left an orphan, an uncle
acting as guardian.  He and his younger brothers lived upon a farm and their
opportunities of acquiring an education were extremely meager.  Sylvester
Farrell received less than a year's instruction in the schoolroom but learned
many valuable lessons in the school of experience and was continually promoting
his knowledge by reading and observation, so that he became a man of notably
sound judgment and manifested keen insight and sagacity concerning business
affairs and other experiences of life.  The urge of necessity prompted him to
seek employment when he was still quite young, his first position being that of
a clerk in a grocery store in St. Thomas, Ontario.  Attracted by the
opportunities of the great and growing west, he made his way to San Francisco,
where he learned the miller's trade, being employed along that line for three
years.
     Mr. Farrell became a resident of Portland in 1867 and after working along
various lines he entered into partnership with Richard Everding and purchased
the business of the firm of Everding & Beebe, the senior partner of which was a
brother of Richard Everding.  with the change in ownership the firm of Everding
& Farrell was adopted and the business was later incorporated under that name.
Mr. Farrell was continuously connected with the firm from 1867 until the time of
his demise and the business is still carried on at the old location -- 140 Front
street.  They conducted a wholesale produce and commission business and their
patronage steadily increased until their interests had assumed extensive
proportions.  After some years the firm also became identified with logging and
with the salmon packing industry, owning canneries at Pillar Rock, Washington,
where their output amounted to thirty thousand cases yearly.  Their logging
interests are at Deep River, Washington, and the timber is sold directly to the
mills.  It was in connection with George T. Myers that Mr. Farrell built the
first salmon cannery on Puget Sound in 1879 but afterward disposed of his
interest in that enterprise to his partner.  It was subsequent to this time that
he developed his interests at Pillar Rock on the Columbia river and became
president of the Pillar Rock Packing Company.  As commission merchants in the
grain trade the company built up a most extensive business, theirs being one of
the first commission houses in the city, and it came to be a current phrase that
"Mr. Farrell opened Front street every morning," for he was usually at his post
between six and seven o'clock.  Work was his pleasure and for forty years, from
early morning until late in the evening, he was seldom off duty at the store of
Everding & Farrell.  With his firm he also became extensively interested in
timber lands, in logging companies and in farm lands.  Whatever he undertook
seemed to prosper and yet this was not the result of any fortunate combination
of circumstances but the direct outcome of business ability that was developed
through the years of experience and close application.
     Death came to Mr. Farrell suddenly.  On the morning of the 11th of January,
1909, he went as usual to his office and a few moments after entering the room
was seen to stagger and fall.  His nephew, standing near, caught him but almost
instantly he breathed his last.
     In early manhood Mr. Farrell was united in marriage to Miss Honor Miller
and they became the parents of five children.  Thomas George was associated with
his father in business.  Robert S., who was also admitted to partnership by his
father, is a member of the state senate and one of the most prominent
legislators of Oregon, who served for two terms in the house and for four terms
has been a member of the senate.  Fraternally, too, he has extensive
connections.  Annie, the eldest daughter, is the wife of Frederick W. Cookman.
Ida is the wife of W. W. Youngson.  The youngest daughter, Jessie, is at home
with her mother.
     A contemporary biographer has written of Mr. Farrell as follows:  "While
Mr. Farrell held membership with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the United Workmen
and a number of other fraternal organizations, he seldom attended lodge,
invariably spending his evenings at home with the family, to whom he was most
devoted.  His kindly spirit was always manifest in his treatment of dumb animals
and a pet dog, horse or cat was almost invariably his companion.  In his office
for seven years he had a large maltese cat and each Sunday and on holidays he
would go to the store with milk and food for his pets.  A nature that thus
responds to the needs of the dumb animals is sure to have a heart warm with
kindness for all humanity and the spirit of helpfulness was manifest in all Mr.
Farrell's relations with his fellowmen.  He was one of the founders and for many
years a trustee of the Boys and Girls Aid Society of the state of Oregon.  He
was never neglectful of the duties of citizenship and gave hearty and generous
response when his aid was needed to further any public project that promised to
be of value to city, state or nation.  He figured prominently in state and
county politics, for several terms represented his district in the general
assembly and for six years was a member of the city council.  He served upon
nearly all of the city commissions and up to the time of his death was a member
of the state board of pilot commissioners.
     "The Oregonian of January 13, 1909, published the following tribute from
the pen of one who had known him long and well:  "The lives well spent, the good
names well earned, are not so numerous as to be overlooked.  The passing over of
Sylvester Farrell deserves public recognition.  Commencing his business life in
this city forty years ago in a little, old, ramshackle shed of a warehouse on
the river's brink, near the foot of Madison street, with nothing but willing
hands and honest hearts, he and his still remaining partner built up a
profitable and enduring business which defied the storms of adversity, brought
them an ample fortune and placed their names at the top of the list of honest,
successful and absolutely trustworthy merchants.  No man ever trusted the word
of Sylvester Farrell and was disappointed.  His word was as good as his bond and
passed current for ready cash.  Not only in private life, but equally so in all
his business transactions, he was a just man and loved mercy.  Many is the man
whose account has been carried by his firm through the stress of hard times and
until the clouds had rolled by, bringing relief.  Whether he was a member of any
church, I know not, but in his intercourse with his fellowmen he manifested the
vital principle of Christianity and never forgot the Golden Rule.  As a citizen
Mr. Farrell was a model man.  Willing to serve wherever he could render useful
service, he most efficiently served his city and state in many positions and
without self-seeking in any form.  Public-spirited to the extent of his ability,
he rendered valuable aid in developing the resources of the state and building
up this city.  He was one of the directors of the company that proposed and
constructed the Dayton, Sheridan & Dallas Railroad, which was the foundation of
the second railroad system of the Willamette valley, and rendered great and
effective support to that enterprise.  He also gave great aid to the railroad
development of the timber resources of the Columbia river region.  And taking
the man in all his relations to his fellow citizens, his city and his state, he
is among all the hundred thousand citizen voters of the state most worthily to
be ranked the one in a thousand.  Good friend, true man, hail and farewell!"
The machinery of an iron constitution suddenly stopped.  The light of his lamp
has gone out, and Sylvester Farrell, the junior member of the oldest living firm
in the city of Portland, has crossed the great river, there to await those who
will follow."

 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.