John R. Farr

For other people named John Farr, see John Farr (disambiguation).

John R. Farr
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 10th district
In office February 25, 1821 – March 3, 1821
Preceded by	Patrick McLane
Succeeded by	Charles Robert Connell
In office March 4, 1911 – March 3, 1919
Preceded by	Thomas David Nicholls
Succeeded by	Patrick McLane
Personal details
Born	(1857-07-18)July 18, 1857 Scranton, Pennsylvania
Died	Scranton, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	Lafayette College

John Richard Farr (July 18, 1857 – December 11, 1933) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Biography

John R. Farr was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania and attended the School of the Lackawanna there, and Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He graduated from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. He worked as a newsboy, printer, and publisher. He was active in the real estate business.

He served four years on the Scranton School Board. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives in 1891, 1893, 1895, 1897, and 1899, serving as speaker of the 1899 session. As a state legislator he introduced bills to make public education compulsory, and to provide free textbooks to public schools; both measures passed.

Farr was an unsuccessful candidate for election in 1908, but was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-second and to the three succeeding Congresses. He successfully contested the election of Patrick McLane to the Sixty-sixth Congress, though his success came almost at the end of McLane's term. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1920, 1930, and 1932.

He resumed the real estate business in Scranton, where he died, aged 76, after suffering a heart attack. Interred in Shady Lane Cemetery in Chinchilla, Pennsylvania.

Gallery

• PostcardJohnRFarrCampaignWhatHeDidForThePeople.jpg

  Campaign material for Farr (year uncertain)

• PostcardJohnRFarrCampaignWhenWeWereKids.jpg

  Other side of campaign postcard shown above

See also

• Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Sources

• John R. Farr at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• The Political Graveyard

Footnotes

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Thomas D. Nicholls	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district 1911–1919	Succeeded by Patrick McLane
Preceded by Patrick McLane	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district 1921	Succeeded by Charles R. Connell