FARLEY, Jesse P.

Jesse P. Farley. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Cemetery marker in Linwood Cemetery

FARLEY, Jesse P. (Tennessee, Apr. 2, 1813--Dubuque, IA, May 8,1894). MAYOR. Farley came to Dubuque in the spring of 1833, but did not permanently settle here until that fall after making a contract to build a house and store. He opened a store, Farley, Norris & Co., in September bringing his family to their new home in 1837.

In 1840 the Jesse P. Farley and Company store was Dubuque's only brick commercial building. He was a principal owner and investor in the Key City Mill and KEY CITY STEAM BAKERY. He helped organize the Dubuque Insurance Company and the DUBUQUE CENTRAL IMPROVEMENT COMPANY. In 1844 he was authorized by the city council to construct a POWDER MAGAZINE. In 1850 he established a line of steamboats between St. Paul and St. Louis. As president of the Dubuque and St. Paul steamer line, Farley consolidated the first steamer line in Dubuque--the Galena, Dunleith, and Minnesota Packet Line--with his own. This created the GALENA, DUBUQUE, DUNLEITH AND MINNESOTA PACKET COMPANY usually referred to the Minnesota Packet Company. In 1858 when he closed his dry goods store, he was one of the ten wealthiest people in Dubuque County.

He was elected to the board of town trustees in 1840. The following year when the government was reorganized with a mayor and council, he became a member of the city council and served from 1841 to 1842. He did not hold public office again until 1851 when he returned to the city council and served as mayor the following year.

         During his term of office the custom of the early settlers to enter and cut 
         timber on government land for their own private gain became an issue. The 
         custom had become so firmly grounded in 1852 that when they were taken into 
         court by government agents they became indignant and in January of that year 
         held a large meeting at Dubuque to protest against any interference with such 
         custom. A steady revenue was obtained from the sale of city lots. This was a 
         state of affairs not fully appreciated by the city fathers, in view of the 
         lack of such revenues in other cities. In April, 1852, an appropriation of $20 
         was made to pay for an oyster supper to the city officers. At this time 300 
         forest trees for the public square were contracted for. At the suggestion of 
         Charles Corkery the methods, or lack of methods, of keeping the city records 
         were reorganized and improved. A temporary quarantine hospital was located a
         quarter of a mile south of Webb's old furnace below Dirty Hollow. 

         Bogy's steam ferry boat was required to land only between Fourth and Fifth 
         streets. Fanning's ferry landed at Second and Fourth streets. Fanning's ferry 
         landed at Second and Fourth streets. Fanning commenced suit against Gregoire 
         and Bogy, FANNING V. GREGOIRE AND BOGY alleging they were interfering with 
         his ferry rights. The council had granted to Gregoire and Bogy ferry rights 
         against the advice of the city attorney.

         The city calaboose was in the second story of the market house. The temporary 
         quarantine hospital was opened about June 1, 1852, and cost $325; mattresses 
         cost $8. It was agreed at this time that the government's plans for the harbor 
         and the city's plan conflicted in several important particulars. In June, 1852, 
         the city borrowed $10,000 and issued bonds for the loan; the sum was used in 
         street and sewer improvements. The vote stood — For the loan 131, against it 
         46. There were found shallow places in Barney's cut; they were deepened.  

         L. H. Langworthy exchanged ten acres adjoining the hospital for a tract called
         "Graveyard" on the hill at the northern boundary. In 1852 the city becoming 
         delinquent in the payment of county tax on city lots, was ordered by County 
         Judge Lovell to make payment or take the consequences. The $10,000 in city 
         bonds sold for $10,438.89 in New York city; the city received net $10,188.89.

         Steps to raise Locust Street above high water from Fifth south to the city 
         limits were taken in April, 1852. Sealed bids to raise all streets in the 
         southern section above high water were called for in August. 

         In April a fire engine was ordered from Hunnerman & Co. 

         Treasurer O'Halloran, in October, 1852, roused the ire of the council by 
         making charges against them which reflected on their integrity; a committee 
         was appointed to see what action if any should be taken. Several meetings 
         were held and much difference of opinion was expressed. A draft of the 
         council was refused payment by Mr. O'Halloran on a disputed point, whereupon 
         he was fined $100 by the unanimous vote of the council. The draft was for 
         $3,000, which called for 612 sovereigns at $4.90 each and $1.20 in change. 
         But the treasurer had only offered to give for sovereigns $4.85 each, thereby 
         causing a loss of $30.60 to the agent or the city. The treasurer the next day 
         claimed that the market value of sovereigns in New York was only $4.85. Legal 
         action resulted, Mr. Burt serving as counsel for the city and Mr. Clark as 
         counsel for Mr. O'Halloran. Due charges were preferred against the latter, 
         to which Judge Clark demurred on the ground of want of jurisdiction. 
         The treasurer finally asked for a compromise on a proposition suggested 
         by one of the aldermen and approved by the mayor. The council refused to 
         accept the compromise offered. Mr. Jennings, also representing the treasurer, 
         appealed to the council not to pass the expelling resolution, declaring that 
         action was taken "to save the treasurer harmless from loss in the receipt of 
         currency." The mayor and Mr. Stout, alderman, opposed the resolution. Mr. Burt 
         spoke at length for the city. The resolution removing him from office passed, 
         Mr. Stout alone voting in the negative. Robert C. Waples, after a sharp contest 
         in the council, was chosen treasurer to succeed Mr. O'Halloran. The latter was 
         ordered to turn over all books, etc., belonging to the city and make final 
         report.

         Permission to cut a channel through the outer island opposite Barney's cut 
         was granted to a number of citizens. The lower part of Main street was paved 
         in 1852. A new market place for the northern section was established between 
         Eleventh and Twelfth streets on White; cost, $2,500.

         Private individuals claiming an extension of their lots into the public 
         cemetery caused contention and bitterness in 1852; there was a strong demand 
         for a new and better cemetery at once. The old graveyard at what is now 
         JACKSON PARK was first laid out in 1833-34, and was fenced by subscription. 
         In 1853 the new cemetery was first opened, lots were sold and improvements 
         were made. People whose fences had protected in part the old cemetery now 
         removed them, leaving the graves exposed to cattle and hogs.

         Early in 1853 the new territory brought within the city limits was attached 
         to the old wards. In February. A loan of $20,000 was desired to carry on the 
         following improvements: To continue the present harbor work; to extend the 
         work on the levee; to improve the main roads leading out of the city; to secure 
         grounds for public building, including schoolhouses; to purchase fire apparatus; 
         to improve streets; to put in operation a system of common schools as per 
         charter. The city vote on the question of borrowing $20,000 was 111 for the 
         loan and 55 against it. 

         For schools $10,000 of the $20,000 loan was used. Temporary markets were permitted 
         in 1853. Bee Branch was being improved. Washington Fire Company No. I presented 
         its constitution in October, 1853, and asked for apparatus and buildings. A mass 
         meeting in January, 1853, petitioned the council to buy an up-to-date fire engine 
         and at once proceeded to organize hook and ladder and hose companies.  

         In 1853 there was a strong element in the city which began to oppose the 
         construction of the canal along the city front; they demanded that the work on 
         the canal should be abandoned and the inner and other sloughs should be filled. 
         Their plan meant the ultimate filling of all the sloughs and islands out to 
         the main river channel. By the spring of 1853 work on the canal was not 
         profitable to the contractors and operations languished. In 1852-3 
         WAPLES CUT afforded access of boats to the wharf; it was where the 
         ICE HARBOR is now. 

         Early in 1853 the corporate limits were extended. In June, 1853, Dubuque 
         succeeded in securing the post office distributing station from Galena.

         An well attended meeting of the citizens to consider the propriety and utility 
         of building one or more causeways from the main land to the river was held early 
         in 1854 and resolutions favoring that project were passed and referred to the 
         city council. Two-thirds of the citizens petitioned the council to pave Main 
         Street from First to Eighth streets, the citizens and the city each to bear 
         one-half of the expense. In September, 1854, the council voted four to three 
         in favor of submitting to the voters the question of a $50,000 loan to be used 
         in building causeways to the river. During 1854 Main street was macadamized 
         and guttered, its pavements were improved and sheds and awnings in front were 
         done away with. In September, 1854, there was paid at one time for improvements 
         on the Lorimier Hollow Road the sum of $14,375.56. The estimated cost of the 
         lower causeway was $39,353. In November, 1854, the city secured a deed to that 
         portion of the [[[PLANK ROAD]] within the city limits. City water works were 
         demanded in November, 1854, to take the place of the water peddlers. On November 
         21 the first gas pipes were laid on Main Street.

         In January, 1855, H. L. Stout and sixteen others, upon petition, were granted 
         the exclusive privilege of supplying the city with water by water works. 
         Seventy-five citizens petitioned to have Sixth street extended to the river, 
         but this was evaded or refused and the council called for proposals to extend 
         First and Seventh streets to the river. The council offered a reward of $500 
         for information leading to the conviction of any person guilty of arson within 
         the city limits. In January, 1855, the proposition of a company of citizens to 
         fill in lands on the front upon certain conditions was refused by the council. 
         As public sentiment and judgment favored some such plan at this time, the 
         council finally called for plans to extend Seventh street to the river. The 
         city received four proposals to extend Seventh street to the river.

1857 promissory note

In 1850 Farley helped organize the first Dubuque steamboat line. He continued in the mercantile business until 1858. One year earlier he was ranked as one of Dubuque's thirteen wealthiest men.

Photo courtesy: Center for Dubuque History.

In 1879 Dubuque architect F. D. Hyde designed a home for Farley near WASHINGTON PARK. Costing $20,000, the house was considered one of the city's finest, boasting twelve rooms, expensive plate glass windows, and five ornate fireplaces.

Dubuque City Directory, 1857-1858. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Dubuque city Directory, 1857-1858. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

Farley's business interests were wide-ranging. He served Dubuque as its mayor three times. His name is generally linked to the FARLEY AND LOETSCHER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, an investment made in 1876. RAILROADS were one of his major business ventures. In 1853 along with Lucius Hart LANGWORTHY, Farley helped organize the DUBUQUE AND PACIFIC RAILROAD. The city of Farley, along its tracks, is named in his honor. Farley lost much of his wealth in the Panic of 1857 and tried to recover it through the sash and door company.

Farley was appointed the reorganization manager of the Saint Paul and Pacific Railway when it entered receivership in 1873. Devoting seven years to the embattled railroad, Farley fought a lawsuit in the early 1890s against the Great Northern Railway over routes for the two lines. Refusing an offer of James J. Hill to settle for one million dollars, Farley carried the case to the United States Supreme Court. To pay court costs including as much as $1,000 per hour to George Edmonds, an attorney, Farley mortgaged his factory and six hundred acres of land. The court ruled against him and Farley had to sell his home to the Sisters of Saint Francis for $15,000 to help pay his bills. This building, with many additions, became MARY OF THE ANGELS HOME. Farley died two years later.

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Source:

Hudson, David; Bergman, Marvin; and Horton, Loren. The Biographical Dictionary of Iowa.Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2008

Oldt, Franklin T. History of Dubuque County. http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/franklin-t-oldt/history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl/page-8-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml