Biography of Aaron Freeman Farr, Jr: 5th Mayor of Logan
Dates in Office: 1886-1889, resigned 28 Feb. 1889
Terms in Office: 1
Age when elected: 37
Aaron F. Farr, Jr. was born 1 November 1850 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is the son of Aaron Freeman Farr and Persia Atherton. He married Mary Maria Nebeker of Logan, Utah 4 April 1871 and they had seven children. He died April 2, 1907 in Logan, Utah and is buried in the Logan Cemetery.[1]
Mr. Farr's father came to Utah in 1847 and helped to establish a government in Salt Lake Valley, being a professional lawyer. This heritage influenced Mr. Farr in his activities in government. He was the Mayor of Logan, Utah from 1886-1889.
Aaron Farr, Jr. was educated at the University of Deseret and Morgan's Business College. He came to Logan in 1871 as invoice clerk of the local branch of Z.C.M.I. afterwards working his way up to the position of manager. When he finally left the institution he went into the farming and stock-raising business.
Mr. Farr was a man who had seen much of public service. He had served as a member of the legislature, the A.C. board, the Capital Hill Commission, the Logan City Council, as Mayor of Logan City, as County Commissioner, County Treasurer and for his church as a member of the High Council of the Cache Stake.[2]
He was appointed to the Utah Legislature's newly created Board of Commissioners on Capitol Grounds on the March 6, 1888. The commission received bids and awarded contracts for such things as grading and fencing. The commission was to construct a reservoir and pipelines in City Creek to supply water for the grounds and the planned buildings, and they received regular engineering reports on costs, specifications, and progress on this reservoir. The commission oversaw the planting of trees; choosing both species and designating were to plant. They over saw the building of minor structures. They tested native Utah stone for potential buildings and solicited Capitol building plans from architectural firms in 1889-1890. In 1894 the commission recommended that construction begin on one wing of the territorial capitol, but funding was not forthcoming; ground maintenance continued on a limited basis for the next two years before the commission disbanded. The Commission consisted of the Governor of the Territory, Caleb West and Arthur Thomas during this period, and members appointed by the legislature, including Aaron F. Farr, Jr. of Cache County.[3]
Aaron F. Farr Jr. was a very efficient public servant. He was a man with a clean character, honest, industrious, firm in his convictions of right and true to his friends, of whom he had a legion in Cache County.[4]
[1] Family Group Record (FamilySearch Ancestral File v4.19)
[2] Obituary, The Herald-Journal, Logan, Utah, 2 April 1907.
[3] A.C. Cone Compiler, Capitol Grounds Commission, Agency History #188 (http://archives.utah.gov, Agency history for Utah's Capitol Grounds Commission, 1888-1896. 2002)
[4] Obituary, The Herald-Journal, Logan, Utah, 2 April 1907.
