Career
Born on March 13, 1844 in Gettenbach, an old (since 1252), but small village in a large forest Buedinger Wald, former district Kreis Gelnhausen, former province Provinz Hanau, former state Kurhessen, near Frankfurt-am-Main, in Germany, Farr immigrated to the United States in 1861. After arriving in Baltimore, Farr moved to Bayonne in 1862. After a time operating a canal boat, Farr became successful in business running a contracting firm in Bayonne.
A Republican, he was nominated by both the Democratic Party and the Independent Party and was elected mayor of Bayonne, defeating incumbent Republican mayor John Newman in a highly contested election in 1891.
In Farr"s two terms as mayor, he was instrumental in bringing water and electricity to Bayonne. Nominated for a third term in 1895, he lost to the Democrat Egbert Seymour in 1895.
Farr retired from business a wealthy manitoba He donated money to a number of charities including the German Lutheran Hospital in New York City.
Farr died on February 14, 1921 in his home at age 77 of influenza.
He is buried in Moravian Cemetery on Staten Island. Coincidentally, Seymour, his successor, had also died of influenza only eight days before.
