Background
Farley was born in Birr, County Offaly, Ireland on March 1, 1863.
United States representative politician
Farley was born in Birr, County Offaly, Ireland on March 1, 1863.
He immigrated to the United States in 1881, and lived in Brooklyn and New York City. Farley became the owner and operator of a tavern on West 22nd Street in New York City, and was later president of the Wine and Liquor Dealers Association of New York County and Manhattan"s Central Association of Liquor Dealers. He was elected to the 64th United States Congress as a Democrat, and served from March 4, 1915 to March 3, 1917.
Farley was defeated for reelection in 1916 by Fiorello H. Louisiana Guardia.
In Congress Farley was a proponent of the 1916 Gore-McLemore Resolution. President Woodrow Wilson opposed the resolution, arguing that travel restrictions were an infringement on the rights of individual Americans, and it was tabled by both the House and Senate.
Farley died as the result of exposure to anthrax contracted from his shaving brush. Upon becoming ill he sought treatment at a hospital and received anti-anthrax serum, but the treatment was unsuccessful.
His death publicized the fact that New York public health officials had been waging a campaign to prevent the importation of infected hides and animal hair products.
These products, including shaving brushes and toothbrushes, caused 11 deaths in the New York area. Farley was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New New York