John A. O'Farrell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John A. O'Farrell
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John O'Farrell later in life
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| Born | February 13, 1823 |
| Died | October 29, 1900 (aged 77) |
| Nationality | Irish American |
| Occupation | Shipsmith, miner |
| Known for | John A. O'Farrell Cabin John A. O'Farrell House |
John A. O'Farrell (born February 23, 1823 – died October 29, 1900) was an exciting Irish American adventurer. He was a miner and an early pioneer. John was one of the very first people to live in Boise, Idaho.
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John O'Farrell's Early Life
John Andrew O'Farrell was born on February 13, 1823. His home was in County Tyrone, Ireland. His parents were Andrew and Ellen O'Farrell. He went to a local school until he was 13. Then, he moved to a special naval school in County Cork.
When he was 15, John worked on a steamship. It was called the Oriental Line and sailed to Calcutta, India. At 16, he spent 13 months on an Australian ship named Nebob. Later, he became a shipsmith. This meant he fixed ships for Captain William Coppin in Londonderry. After that, he sailed to the United States.
In 1843, O'Farrell arrived in New York City, USA. He worked as a shipsmith at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. When the Mexican–American War started, he sailed to California. He was assigned to a ship called the Lexington.
The California Gold Rush
While working on the Lexington, O'Farrell met John Sutter. This meeting happened in a settlement called Yerba Buena. John O'Farrell then became a gold miner at Sutter's Mill. He earned a lot of money, sometimes $30 to $50 each day.
When California became a state in 1850, O'Farrell automatically became a citizen of the United States.
Adventures in the Crimean War
In 1853, O'Farrell went back to England. He joined the British Navy during the Crimean War. He served on the Agamemnon. This was the main ship for Admiral Lyons. John was hurt during a battle in Sevastopol. Later, he received the Crimea Medal for his bravery.
After the war, he returned to California in 1856. Soon, he joined the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. He traveled to Colorado in 1857. In 1860, he found gold at a place called California Gulch.
Family Life and Settling in Boise
John O'Farrell married Mary Ann Chapman on October 16, 1861. Their wedding was in Louisville, Kentucky. He left his wife in Philadelphia and went back to mining in the western states. In 1863, he settled in Boise City, Idaho. He became one of the first people to live in this new town.
He built a cabin from cottonwood trees. It was near the entrance to the new Fort Boise. This cabin was on the road to Idaho City. O'Farrell went back to Philadelphia. Then, he led a group of 14 wagons and his wife's family back to Boise City.
The O'Farrells lived in their cabin until 1872. They had seven children of their own, though three died when they were babies. They also adopted seven children. One adopted child, Rosa, was the niece of Chief Winnemucca. She lived with the O'Farrells for 24 years until she passed away. The John A. O'Farrell Cabin is now a historic place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on December 3, 1999.
The O'Farrell family was very active in the Catholic church. For many years, church services were held in their cabin. In 1869, O'Farrell gave land to build St. Patrick's Church in Boise City. Sadly, the church burned down just 18 days after it was built.
In 1869, the General Land Office said O'Farrell could not claim 442 acres of land. This land included the original area of Boise City. The Idaho Statesman newspaper wrote about the case. It said that 500 buildings had been built there. The city had 2000 people, and the improvements were worth $1000.
The O'Farrells moved to Park City, Utah, from 1871 to 1878 to find more gold. But they later returned to Boise City. In 1892, they built the John A. O'Farrell House. This house was also listed with the NRHP on September 4, 1979.
Today, O'Farrell Street in Boise's North End is named after John O'Farrell.
