"Portland The Rose City, Pictorial and Biographical." A compilation of work by a
number of writers.  The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Philadelphia,
Portland, 1911.  Vol. 1, p. 83
 
SYLVESTER FARRELL

     In the passing of Sylvester Farrell Portland lost a citizen whose record
had long been an honor to the business interests of the city.  His history is a
splendid example of what may be attained through the force of character which
finds expression in energy, enterprise and carefully formulated and executed
plans.  He was for many years one of the foremost commission merchants of the
northwest, operating for more than four decades under the firm style of Everding
& Farrell and still survived by the partner with whom he was associated through
all this period.
     Mr. Farrell was born at St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, on the 2d of August,
1833, and was the oldest of three sons and one daughter.  He was left an orphan
when only ten years of age and in charge of an uncle.  The three small boys
lived on a farm and had practically no opportunities for attending school.
Sylvester Farrell receiving less than a year's instruction in the schoolroom.
In the school of experience, however, he learned life's lessons well.  He read
and pondered deeply over what he read; he observed closely and from his
observations drew conclusions.  He learned to rightly judge men and methods and
was seldom at fault in his estimate of another's worth.
     Mr. Farrell entered business life when still a youth, securing employment
in a grocery store in his native town, where later he met Honor Miller, whom he
married in San Francisco in 1867.  Coming to the Pacific coast in the hope that
he might have better business advantages in the western section of the country,
where competition was not so great and where opportunities were limitless, he
established himself in San Francisco and there learned the miller's trade in
which line he was employed for three years.
     It was in the year 1867 that Mr. Farrell came to Portland and after working
along various lines for a time, formed a partnership with Richard Everding for
the conduct of a feed, grain and produce business.  When they had established a
good retail trade they branched out into a commission business and later
extended the scope of their labors to include the canning of salmon on the
Columbia river, on Puget Sound and also in Alaska.  In connection with George T.
Myers he built the first salmon cannery on Puget Sound in 1879 and later sold
out to his partner.  With his firm, however, he was heavily interested in salmon
packing at Pillar Rock on the Columbia river, being 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 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.  He left a wife, two sons, three daughters and
seven grandchildren.  His sons, Thomas George and Robert S., were associated
with their father in business and the latter is now a member of the state
legislature.  The daughters are Mrs. Frederick W. Cookman, of Portland, Mrs. W.
W. Youngson, of East Orange, New Jersey, and Miss Jessie Farrell of Portland.
     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 his 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 tot he 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 too numerous 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 fellowman he manifested the
vital principal 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 senior 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.