208 FARNHAM. FARNHAM. tricity — the first house on record ever so lighted. Between 1864 and '68 he perfected a thermo-electric battery, and in 1868 con- structed the largest one ever built, to be used for the deposition of copper upon steel in the production of the American compound telegraph wire — a joint in- vention of Messrs. Farmer and Milliken. Mr. Farmer claims to have been the first to construct a magneto-electric machine in which the field was sustained by the current derived from its own armature. He made valuable improvements in the construction of dynamo-electric machines for firing torpedoes, now supplied to every ship in our navy. In October, 1872, he accepted the posi- tion of electrician at the U. S. N. Torpedo Station, Newport, R. I., which position he held until September, 1881, when failing health compelled him to tender his resignation. He still pursues his in- vestigations, aided by a skilled assistant. As an electrical expert he stands among the foremost. In all works and laws of nature he sees a divine mind, and with him religion and science go hand in hand. He has had two children : a daughter, Sarah Jane, who is still living, and a valu- able assistant to her father in his scientific work. His son died in infancy. Fie is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences ; fellow of the Ameri- can Association for the Advancement of Science ; member of the Institute of Tech- nology, of the Essex Institute, of the American Society of Mechanical Engi- neers, of the American Institute of Elec- trical Engineers, and of the English Insti- tution of Electrical Engineers. FARNHAM, LUTHER, son of Ephraim and Sarah (Brown) Farnham, was born in Concord, Merrimack county, N. H., February 5, 1S16 — the youngest of nine children. His early education was public school and academic. Having fitted for college in Meriden, N. H., he entered Dartmouth and was graduated in the class of 18.57. After graduation he taught school as prin- cipal of Limerick Academy, Me., and as assistant at Pembroke Academy, N. H. He then entered the theological seminary at Andover, from which he was graduated in 1 84 1 ; licensed to preach by the FIop- kinton Association the same year ; after two years was ordained and called to the Congregational church, Northfield, Novem- ber 20, 1844. Mr. Farnham was married in Northfield, June 23, 1845, to Eugenia Alexander, daughter of Levi and Lucretia (Scott) Fay. During the year he resigned his pastorate and removed to Boston, where, in 1846, was born his son, Francis Edward Farnham. Since the latter date he has been called to the pastorate of churches in various parts of the State, several of which he has served, such as the Congregational churches in Concord, Plymouth, Marsh- field (where Daniel Webster was a parish- ioner), New Bedford, Gloucester, and Ever- ett. He has done much preaching at large in the interests of the Southern Aid So- ciety, for the assistance of feeble churches among the poor whites and blacks of the South. He was a secretary of this society 1854 to '60. He has spoken for, and aided by his labors, the General Theo- logical Library, Boston, of which he may be called one of the founders. He has been its only" secretary and librarian for twenty-seven years, and has raised one hundred thousand dollars to place it upon a partial financial basis. By his suggestion was established the Dartmouth College Alumni Association of Boston, the earliest of the kind in this country, also the Kim- ball Union Academy Association, of which he is one of the vice-presidents. In the winter of 1888-89 he assisted in the organization of the Boston Association in aid of the Texas Flome for Disabled Soldiers, and was elected a vice-president. His life has been a busy one, and be- sides his local cares he has been obliged to travel extensively to fulfill his profes- sional duties in connection with these socie- ties. In the early history of the New Eng- land Historic Genealogical Society, he held the office of librarian for several years, and was very active in promoting its interests. In 1855 he published a small volume entitled "A Glance at Private Libraries ;" a notable Thanksgiving sermon delivered by him in the First Congregational church in West Newbury. In 1876 he published a volume of the "Documental History of the General Theological Library," which was sent to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. "The History of the Hor- ticultural Society," published a few years ago, was largely his work, also that of the Handel and' Haydn Society, not yet pub- lished. Another volume in preparation isthe " Documentary History and Proceedings of the General Theological Library" for the last twelve years. He was Boston cor-
