William Henry Farquhar
Encyclopedia
William Henry Farquhar (June 14, 1813 – February 17, 1887) was an American
who was influential in the development of Montgomery County
, Maryland
, USA
.
William Henry Farquhar was born to Amos Farquhar (1768–1835) and Mary Elgar in York, Pennsylvania
. The Farquhar family was of Scottish descent. Amos was a cotton manufacturer and later became a farmer. William had a brother and sister-in-law, Benjamin Hallowell and Mary W. Kirk, respectively.
The family moved to Montgomery County when he was eleven and settled in the town of Sandy Spring, Maryland
. Farquhar, fond of books and a student from his earliest years, completed his education with Hallowell in Alexandria, Virginia
, at the Brimstone Academy. He could not fulfill his dream of studying law because of his weak eyesight. Farquhar then turned to farming and teaching.
In 1838, Farquhar built "The Cedars", a home for the Farquhar "clan". The house was known for the notable Christmas
parties. He married Margaret Briggs (1812–1889) in 1844, and together they raised three children, Arthur Briggs (later the Undersecretary of Labor), Edward, and Henry Hill Farquhar.
Farquhar is most known for his contributions to the development of modern Montgomery County, Maryland
. Along with Mary W. Kirk, he reestablished the Fair Hill Boarding School in 1846. William also served as the principal from 1847–1855. He was a school commissioner for Montgomery County from 1859 to 1860 and was president of the board of school commissioners from 1860 to 1868. He was also a county surveyor, civil engineer, president of the Sandy Spring Lyceum from 1872 to 1873, and one of the original directors of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company from 1873 to 1880.
Other jobs include a promoter of the turnpike from Ashton, Maryland
, to Olney, Maryland
, a candidate for the Maryland State Senate
in 1858, an influential member of the grange, director of the Sandy Spring Savings Institution from circa 1856 to 1857, a census taker on at least two occasions (1850 and 1870) and a historian. He authored The Annals of Sandy Spring in 1882.
After about 1880, the aging Farquhar retired from most of his positions. For the rest of his life, he lived on his farm with his grandchildren and wife, where he published several books and remained influential with the Montgomery County School Board.
In 1968, Montgomery County Public Schools
(MCPS) named their first middle school in the county William H. Farquhar Middle School after him. The school is on Batchellor's Forest Road.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
who was influential in the development of Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
William Henry Farquhar was born to Amos Farquhar (1768–1835) and Mary Elgar in York, Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
. The Farquhar family was of Scottish descent. Amos was a cotton manufacturer and later became a farmer. William had a brother and sister-in-law, Benjamin Hallowell and Mary W. Kirk, respectively.
The family moved to Montgomery County when he was eleven and settled in the town of Sandy Spring, Maryland
Sandy Spring, Maryland
Sandy Spring, Maryland is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland.The community was founded by Quakers who arrived in the early 18th century searching for land where they could grow tobacco and corn. One of the very early land owners in the Sandy Spring area was Richard Snowden,...
. Farquhar, fond of books and a student from his earliest years, completed his education with Hallowell in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
, at the Brimstone Academy. He could not fulfill his dream of studying law because of his weak eyesight. Farquhar then turned to farming and teaching.
In 1838, Farquhar built "The Cedars", a home for the Farquhar "clan". The house was known for the notable Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
parties. He married Margaret Briggs (1812–1889) in 1844, and together they raised three children, Arthur Briggs (later the Undersecretary of Labor), Edward, and Henry Hill Farquhar.
Farquhar is most known for his contributions to the development of modern Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
. Along with Mary W. Kirk, he reestablished the Fair Hill Boarding School in 1846. William also served as the principal from 1847–1855. He was a school commissioner for Montgomery County from 1859 to 1860 and was president of the board of school commissioners from 1860 to 1868. He was also a county surveyor, civil engineer, president of the Sandy Spring Lyceum from 1872 to 1873, and one of the original directors of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company from 1873 to 1880.
Other jobs include a promoter of the turnpike from Ashton, Maryland
Ashton, Maryland
Ashton is an unincorporated area in Montgomery County, Maryland. The commercial center of Ashton lies at the junction of Route 108 and New Hampshire Avenue ....
, to Olney, Maryland
Olney, Maryland
Olney, a census-designated place and an unincorporated area of Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, is located in the north central part of the county, twenty miles north of Washington, D.C. It was largely agricultural until the 1960s, when growth of the Washington suburbs led to its conversion into...
, a candidate for the Maryland State Senate
Maryland State Senate
The Maryland Senate, sometimes referred to as the Maryland State Senate, is the upper house of the General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Maryland...
in 1858, an influential member of the grange, director of the Sandy Spring Savings Institution from circa 1856 to 1857, a census taker on at least two occasions (1850 and 1870) and a historian. He authored The Annals of Sandy Spring in 1882.
After about 1880, the aging Farquhar retired from most of his positions. For the rest of his life, he lived on his farm with his grandchildren and wife, where he published several books and remained influential with the Montgomery County School Board.
In 1968, Montgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery County Public Schools ' is a school district that serves Montgomery County, Maryland, USA. It is the largest school district in Maryland. As of the 2009–2010 school year, the district had 11,500 FTE teachers serving 141,777 students at 200 schools.Students in the district score among the...
(MCPS) named their first middle school in the county William H. Farquhar Middle School after him. The school is on Batchellor's Forest Road.