The Early Years

John McCreath Farquhar was born on 17 Apr 1832 in near Newton on Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom and attended school at Ayr Academy. His family immigrated from Scotland to Buffalo, New York when John was a boy. John was a printer, editor and publisher for thirty-three years, and was the International Typographical Union President from 1860-1862.

John was a United States Representative from New York and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.

John married the former Jane Wood in 1862 (as noted in the 1900 census). They had two children, I could only locate one:  Their child was a daughter, Lillian L. Farquhar (4 Aug 1867-25 Feb 1876). Died as a child at the age of eight.

The Civil War

John McCreath (aka McGreath) Farquhar, age thirty and was a resident of Chicago, Illinois, United States, enlisted in the Union Army as a Sergeant Major on 9 Aug 1862. Sergeant Major Farquhar was assigned to Field and Staff, 89th Regiment, Illinois Infantry on 25 Aug 186

Sergeant Major John McCreath Farquhar was awarded the Medal of Honor for action on 31 Dec 1862 at Stones River, Tennessee, United States.

On 24 Feb 1863 Sergeant Major Farquhar received a promotion to Captain and was assigned to Company B. On 25 Feb 1865 Captain Farquhar received his second promotion to Major and assigned to Field & Staff. Major Farquhar served as Judge Advocate and Inspector in the Army IV Corps.

Major Farquhar was discharged on 10 Jun 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee, United States. On 24 Apr 1918, Medal of Honor Recipient Major John McCreath Farquhar died in Buffalo, New York, United States and was buried in Forest Law Cemetery, Buffalo, New York.

Civil War Engagements with the 89th Illinois Infantry Regiment, nickname - Railroad Regiment; Motto: Clear the Tracks; Organized: Chicago, Illinois, United States on 27 Aug 1862, Mustered out: 10 Jun 1865:

Stones River, 3 Feb-12 Apr 1863, East Fork – Short Mountain (Cannon County), Middle Fork – Hoovers Gap (Rutherford County), West Fork – Tennessee Valley Divide (Rutherford County), United States

Liberty Gap, during the Tullahoma Campaign, 24-26 Jun 1863, Bedford County, Tennessee, United States, Union victory

Battle of Orchard Knob, during the Chattanooga campaign, 23 Nov 1863

Missionary Ridge, 25 Nov 1863, Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States, Union victory

Pickett's Mill, 27 May 1864, Paulding County, Georgia, United States, Confederate victory

Atlanta Campaign, a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864, 7 May-2 Sep 1864, Northwestern Georgia and around Atlanta, United States, Union Victory

Battle of Nashville, two-day battle in the Franklin-Nashville Campaign, 15-16 Dec 1864, Nashville, Tennessee, United States, Union victory, end of the Army of Tennessee as an effective fighting force

Sergeant Major John McCreath Farquhar fought in the American Civil War and received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Stones River, Tennessee, United States on 31 Dec 1862. Sergeant Major Farquhar bravely defended 89th Regiment, Illinois Infantry on 31 Dec 1862.

President Theodore Roosevelt of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, took pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant Major John McCreath Farquhar, United States Army, on 6 Aug 1902 for extraordinary heroism, while serving with 89h Regiment, Illinois Infantry, in action at the Battle of Stones River on 31 Dec 1862.

In accordance to military tradition, service members salute Medal of Honor recipients, regardless of rank. This is a matter of respect for the recipients' sacrifices and is not required by law. Department of Defense Saluting MOH Recipients. In addition, MOH Recipients receive special benefits: 1. A Monthly Pension and Special Retirement Pay; 2. Uniform Allowances; 3. On-Base Parking Spots; 4. Priority Space-A Travel; 5. Invitations to Presidential Inaugurals; 6. Academy Appointments for Dependents; 7. A Medal of Honor Flag; 8. Full Military Burial Honors Military Times, Special Benefits for MOH Recipients.

Postbellum

In 1870, John, age thirty-six, a News Editor and head of household, resided with his wife of eight years Jane in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States. Jane managed the household and raised their daughter Lillie. In addition, a boarder and his niece Elizabeth Wood, a Dress Maker were residents of the household. John, age thirty-three (closer to forty-three), the head of household, had relocated to New York and resided with his wife of thirteen years Jane in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States in 1875. Jane managed the household and raised their daughter Lillie. Lillie would die within a year of this census in 1876 on 25 Feb 1876

John's eight-year-old daughter Lillian (Lillie) L. Farquhar died on 25 Feb 1876.

By 1880 John, age forty-six, a Printer and the head of household, resided with his wife of eighteen years Jane in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States in 1875. John and Jane are empty nesters as their daughter Lillie died in 1876.  As of 1900, John, age sixty-eight, a Printer-Editor and head of household, resided with his wife of thirty-eight years Jane on Sevan Street in Buffalo Ward 3, Erie, New York. Jane managed the household they were empty nesters. It shows John immigrated to America in 1849 and Jane gave birth to two children and neither is living in 1900.   John was in a pension record in 1904 in New York, United States.

John was in the 49th United States Congress from 4 Mar 1885-1887; 50th United States Congress from 1887-1889; 51st United States Congress from 1889-3 Mar 1891; Chairman of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries during the 51st Congress
4 Mar 1889-4 Mar 1891; and United States Industrial Commission
1898-1902.  After serving on the United States Industrial Commission in 1902, John retired from public life and active business pursuits. 

Edwin was in a pension record in 1907-1933 in United States.  By 1910, John, age seventy-eight, and his wife Jane of forty-eight years were boarders in Charles McMillan household on Morgan Street in Buffalo Ward 24, Erie, New York, United States.

John's wife of forty-nine years, Jane Wood Farquhar died in 1911.

In 1915, John, age eighty-three, was a boarder in Charles McMillan household on Morgan Street in Buffalo, Erie, New York, United States. John's wife Jane died in 1911.

Death & Burial

Medal of Honor Major John McCreath Farquhar, died on Wednesday, 24 Apr 1918 at the age of 86 years, 0 months, 7 days in Buffalo, Erie County, New York, United States and is interred and commemorated in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Buffalo, Erie County, New York, United States.