Frank H. Farris | |
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Personal details | |
Born | (1867-08-08)August 8, 1867 Lebanon, Missouri |
Died | September 1, 1927(1927-09-01) (aged 59–60) Rolla, Missouri |
Frank H. Farris (August 8, 1867 – September 1, 1926) was a Missouri attorney who became a member of both the state'sSenate and itsHouse of Representatives.[1]
Farris was born on August 8, 1867, inLebanon, Missouri. He was the son of J.W. or J.T. Farris. He was educated in Lebanon andMarionville, Missouri.[2][3]
Hismarriage certificate to his firstwife, Emma Miller, was issued inGreenfield, Missouri, on May 14, 1884, when he wasunder age.[3] Emma died in April 1905 or 1906, leaving him with threechildren. He married again, to Cora Shanks of St. Louis, inIdaho Springs, Colorado, in August 1906. They divorced in 1922, the same year he married Bertha Dent, 22, hisstenographer.[4][5]
He died ofcancer at the age of 59 on September 1, 1926, inRolla.[6]
Thefuneral was held late Sunday evening, September 5, 1926, on the lawn of his home in Rolla at his request. Officiating was theReverend Calvin R. Dobson of St. Louis. Sevenincumbent state senators attended.[6]
He was a Mason and a member of theKnights of Pythias. He was survived by grown daughters Mrs. Arch Grubb ofRolla, Missouri; Mrs. R.L. Johnson ofAllen, Oklahoma; Mrs. L.O. Williams ofPalm Beach, Florida, and infant daughter Mary Susan Farris.[5][6]
As aschoolboy, he was apage in theMissouri House of Representatives, of which his father was thespeaker.[2] Farris became a lawyer and he was elected to theState Senate inCrawford County, Missouri, in 1898 and reelected in 1902. He moved toPhelps County, Missouri, and he was elected to theMissouri House of Representatives in 1914, 1916, and 1918. He ran for theDemocratic nomination forgovernor in 1920 and was elected to the State Senate again in 1922.[2]
He was an attorney for theFrisco Railroad.[5]
In 1903 Ferris wasindicted on abribery charge related to a bill that prohibited the sale ofbaking powder containingalum. However, he wasacquitted after two trials.[2] Farris was indicted in 1919 on a charge of "unlawfully conspiring and confederating" to get votes for a St. Louis police salary increase. A judge quashed the indictment.[5]