Mr. Farewell was born in Harmony, on the 21st of December, 1812. Died 1888. During his boyhood he received what was then considered a good, common education. About the time he attained his majority he commenced school teaching in the locality of his birthplace, which occupation he pursued for some time, and performing other duties at the home of his parents at intervals. On the 18th of January, 1837, he was married to Caroline Stone, with whom he had an issue of two boys, who only survived fifteen and four and a half months respectively. After his marriage he carried on a general store for several years in Harmony, and, notwithstanding that travel and trade were then different to what they are now-a-days, he was successful in his business, and accumulated therefrom sufficient capital to be able to invest in more enterprising industries, and step by step he prospered (although at various times sustaining heavy losses) until he had amassed much wealth. In 1844, he was made J. P., and while others, who were in equal authority, coveted the poor man’s dollar, Mr. Farewell generally arbitrated cases of dispute, instead of incurring costs on the parties concerned. In an early period of his life he commenced to advocate the principles of temperance, and was tireless and unceasing in his efforts for its spread, until he had snatched many persons from debauchery, and administered to them the temperance pledge. In politics, he was always a staunch Liberal, and was largely instrumental in the advocacy of the rights of his party. In July, 1854, he contested South Ontario against J. M. Lumsden for the Canadian Parliament, but was defeated by a majority of 66. The same year he was elected Deputy Reeve of the Township of Whitby, now East and West Whitby. He was the first Deputy Reeve in that township. In October, 1864, after the death of the late J. C. P. Estin, Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Mowat, who then represented South Ontario in the Commons, having been offered the exalted privilege of filling the vacancy,which he accepted, had to resign his seat as representative of this Riding, and consequently caused an election immediately afterward. At the Reform Convention which was held for the purpose of selecting a candidate, Mr. Farewell was chosen to contest the Riding against the late Senator Gibbs, which election took place on the 16th and 17th of January, 1865, when Mr. Farewell was again defeated by a majority of 194. On the 21st of March, 1871, the subject of this imperfect sketch contested the Riding against the late Dr. McGill, for the Legislative Assembly, when he defeated the Dr. by a majority of 101. At the following general election for the Local House, which occurred on the 18th of January, 1875, he was opposed by N. W. Brown, then of Whitby, who defeated Mr. Farewell by a majority of 33.
Thus ended the Parliamentary career of as honest and straightforward a gentleman as ever stood on the floor of Parliament. After abandoning politics, he joined the firm of Sifton, Ward & Company, and obtained a large contract upon a section of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Mr. Farewell took a lively interest in the work, and acted as Paymaster of the Company; but the undertaking proved rather unprofitable.
In early life he joined the Disciples Church, and ever since has been an active member of that denominationever ready to contribute, when called on, to help disseminating its precepts, as well as to support its ministers.