Charles S. Farnsworth
Encyclopedia
Charles Stewart Farnsworth (October 29, 1862 - December 19, 1955) was an American general and civic leader.
and attended local public schools. He worked for Western Union
and the Bell Telephone company before being appointed to the United States Military Academy
in 1883.
in Montana, and Fort Buford
in North Dakota. While at Fort Shaw, he married Laura Galey. They had one son, Robert. She died in 1890.
In 1893 he became Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the University of North Dakota
. In addition to his teaching job, Farnsworth was also head coach of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux football
team from 1895-1896. In 1894 he married Helen Bosard of Grand Forks, North Dakota
. They had no children.
During the Spanish-American War
, Farnsworth served as a quartermaster in Cuba and was an aide to Adna Chaffee
.
After the war, Farnsworth was sent to Alaska where he founded and constructed Fort Gibson. He was then sent to the Philippines where he founded and built Fort William McKinley
. He also expanded the cantonments at the Presidio of San Francisco
.
In 1909, he attended the Command and Staff College
. He graduated from the Army War College in 1916.
During the Punitive Expedition
into Mexico, Farnsworth served as a battalion commander and supply base commander.
Farnsworth was the commandant of the Infantry Training School at Fort Sill
at the beginning of World War I. He then commanded the 159th Infantry Brigade at Camp Lee, Virginia.
In 1918, Farnsworth was promoted to major general and placed in command of the 37th Infantry Division of the Ohio National Guard. He brought the division to France, where it participated in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel
and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
.
For his service during World War I
, Farnsworth received the Distinguished Service Medal
and the Silver Star
medal. He also received the Croix de guerre
with Palm and the Légion d'honneur
from France. From Belgium, he received the Order of Léopold.
After World War I, he commanded Camp Bowie in Texas before being ordered to Fort Benning
. There, Farnsworth organized the United States Army Infantry School
and served as its first commandant. In July 1920, Farnsworth became Chief of Infantry. He served in that position until his retirement in 1925. As Chief of Infantry, Farnsworth traveled around the country inspecting reserve units and R.O.T.C. programs. He also reviewed reports by junior officers George S. Patton
and Dwight Eisenhower on infantry tactics and the use of armor. Farnsworth dismissed both reports. Farnsworth retired on March 27, 1925.
after his retirement and lived on Las Flores Drive, close to his son. They became involved in the community. Gen. Farnsworth was the president of the Altadena Citizens' Association and the Altadena Beautification League. He sat as president of the board of the La Vina Sanitorium. He was also a member of the Los Angeles County Planning Commission and the Criminal Complaints Committee of the Los Angeles County Grand Jury.
In 1931, Farnsworth was Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses and was one of a few to ride a horse down the parade route in modern times.
Farnsworth was instrumental in the creation of Altadena Park
in 1934. Farnsworth led the fundraising, designed the park, and supervised its grading and landscaping. The park was renamed in his honor in 1939.
His wife died in 1951. He died in 1955 at the Naval Hospital in Norco, California
. They are both buried at the cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco.
Early life
Farnsworth was born in Lycoming County, PennsylvaniaLycoming County, Pennsylvania
-Appalachian Mountains and Allegheny Plateau:Lycoming County is divided between the Appalachian Mountains in the south, the dissected Allegheny Plateau in the north and east, and the valley of the West Branch Susquehanna River between these.-West Branch Susquehanna River:The West Branch of the...
and attended local public schools. He worked for Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
and the Bell Telephone company before being appointed to the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1883.
Military career
After graduating in 1887, Farnsworth was sent to various posts in the Great Plains. He was stationed at Fort Sisseton in South Dakota, Fort ShawFort Shaw
Fort Shaw, in Montana was built in 1867, located on the Medicine River, twenty-four miles west of Great Falls. It was first named Camp Reynolds then changed to honor Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, a Civil War soldier. It was established to protect early settlers and travelers on the Mullan Road from...
in Montana, and Fort Buford
Fort Buford
Fort Buford was a United States Army base at the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers in North Dakota, and the site of Sitting Bull's surrender in 1881....
in North Dakota. While at Fort Shaw, he married Laura Galey. They had one son, Robert. She died in 1890.
In 1893 he became Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
. In addition to his teaching job, Farnsworth was also head coach of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux football
North Dakota Fighting Sioux football
The North Dakota Fighting Sioux are a college football program that competes in the Great West Conference in the NCAA Division I's Football Championship Subdivision...
team from 1895-1896. In 1894 he married Helen Bosard of Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
. They had no children.
During the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, Farnsworth served as a quartermaster in Cuba and was an aide to Adna Chaffee
Adna Chaffee
Adna Romanza Chaffee was a General in the United States Army. Chaffee took part in the American Civil War and Indian Wars, played a key role in the Spanish-American War, and was instrumental in crushing the Boxer Rebellion in China...
.
After the war, Farnsworth was sent to Alaska where he founded and constructed Fort Gibson. He was then sent to the Philippines where he founded and built Fort William McKinley
Fort William McKinley
Fort William McKinley, was established in the Philippines during the Philippine–American War in 1901 when the whole land south of Pasig River down to Alabang was declared a U.S. Military Reservation. During the World War II era, it was where USAFFE had its headquarters for the Philippine Department...
. He also expanded the cantonments at the Presidio of San Francisco
Presidio of San Francisco
The Presidio of San Francisco is a park on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula in San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area...
.
In 1909, he attended the Command and Staff College
Command and Staff College
The Command and Staff College was established in 1907 at Quetta, Balochistan, British Raj, now in Pakistan, and is the oldest and the most prestigious institution of the Pakistan Army. It was established in 1905 in Deolali and moved to its present location at Quetta in 1907 under the name of Quetta...
. He graduated from the Army War College in 1916.
During the Punitive Expedition
Pancho Villa Expedition
The Pancho Villa Expedition—officially known in the United States as the Mexican Expedition and sometimes colloquially referred to as the Punitive Expedition—was a military operation conducted by the United States Army against the paramilitary forces of Mexican insurgent Francisco "Pancho" Villa...
into Mexico, Farnsworth served as a battalion commander and supply base commander.
Farnsworth was the commandant of the Infantry Training School at Fort Sill
Fort Sill
Fort Sill is a United States Army post near Lawton, Oklahoma, about 85 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.Today, Fort Sill remains the only active Army installation of all the forts on the South Plains built during the Indian Wars...
at the beginning of World War I. He then commanded the 159th Infantry Brigade at Camp Lee, Virginia.
In 1918, Farnsworth was promoted to major general and placed in command of the 37th Infantry Division of the Ohio National Guard. He brought the division to France, where it participated in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel
Battle of Saint-Mihiel
The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a World War I battle fought between September 12–15, 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Force and 48,000 French troops under the command of U.S. general John J. Pershing against German positions...
and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive
Meuse-Argonne Offensive
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive, or Maas-Argonne Offensive, also called the Battle of the Argonne Forest, was a part of the final Allied offensive of World War I that stretched along the entire western front.-Overview:...
.
For his service during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Farnsworth received the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (Army)
The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
and the Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
medal. He also received the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
with Palm and the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
from France. From Belgium, he received the Order of Léopold.
After World War I, he commanded Camp Bowie in Texas before being ordered to Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
. There, Farnsworth organized the United States Army Infantry School
United States Army Infantry School
The United States Army Infantry School is located in Fort Benning, Georgia. It is made up of the following components:*192d Infantry Brigade...
and served as its first commandant. In July 1920, Farnsworth became Chief of Infantry. He served in that position until his retirement in 1925. As Chief of Infantry, Farnsworth traveled around the country inspecting reserve units and R.O.T.C. programs. He also reviewed reports by junior officers George S. Patton
George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
and Dwight Eisenhower on infantry tactics and the use of armor. Farnsworth dismissed both reports. Farnsworth retired on March 27, 1925.
Later life and civic leadership
Farnsworth and his wife moved to Altadena, CaliforniaAltadena, California
Altadena is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States, approximately from the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center, and directly north of the city of Pasadena, California...
after his retirement and lived on Las Flores Drive, close to his son. They became involved in the community. Gen. Farnsworth was the president of the Altadena Citizens' Association and the Altadena Beautification League. He sat as president of the board of the La Vina Sanitorium. He was also a member of the Los Angeles County Planning Commission and the Criminal Complaints Committee of the Los Angeles County Grand Jury.
In 1931, Farnsworth was Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses and was one of a few to ride a horse down the parade route in modern times.
Farnsworth was instrumental in the creation of Altadena Park
Gen. Charles S. Farnsworth County Park
Gen. Charles S. Farnsworth County Park, also known as Farnsworth Park, is a Los Angeles County park and National Register of Historic Places district in Altadena, California....
in 1934. Farnsworth led the fundraising, designed the park, and supervised its grading and landscaping. The park was renamed in his honor in 1939.
His wife died in 1951. He died in 1955 at the Naval Hospital in Norco, California
Norco, California
Norco is a city in Riverside County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,063, up from 24,157 at the 2000 census...
. They are both buried at the cemetery at the Presidio of San Francisco.