Encyclopedia Dubuque
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FARLEY, Jesse P.
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 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.
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Source:
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-10-history-of-dubuque-county-iowa-being-a-general-survey-of-dubuque-county-histor-tdl.shtml
In 1850 Farley helped organize the first Dubuque steamboat line. Farley continued in the mercantile business until 1858. One year earlier he was ranked as one of Dubuque's thirteen wealthiest men.
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.
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 RAIL ROAD COMPANY. 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