Richard S. Farrand, County Judge of Lee County, has risen to his present distinguished position as a member of the judiciary of this State while yet a comparatively young man, by the force of an invincible will, a strong characer, and untiring devotion to his profession, and through rare personal merit. He was born in st. Joseph Twp., Allen Co IN Oct 1, 1852. His father, who bears the same name as himself, is a native of Oneida County NY. When a young man he left his early home and cast his lot with the pioneers of Indiana. He bought a tract of partly improved land in St. Joseph Twp., and lived there some years. He then sold that place and bought property in Perry Twp. of which he is still a resident. In 1888 he was bereft of the companionship of his wife by her death. She was also a native of Oneida County NY and her maiden name was Delilah Cook.
Richard Farrand left the parent home at the early age of 11 years, and from that time earned his own living, displaying an independence of character and a reliance upon self far beyond his years. He worked on the farm by the month in the summer season, and in winter did chores for his board while he attended school and devoted all his spare time to his books, as he was ambitious to secure an education that would enable hime to win a name and a place for himself. He remained in his native county until he was 15 years old, and he then came to this State and has ever since been a resident of Lee County. He continued his old employment as a farm laborer in the summer and devoted his winters to attending school until he was 18 years old. At that age he began teaching in Viola Twp. and taught school for seven years. In 1877 he was called to public life by his appointment as Deputy Sheriff by J.N. Hill.
He came to Dixon to assume the duties of his position, and soon commenced the study of law with A.C. Bardwell. He was admitted to the bar in 1879 and formed a partnership with Mr. Bardwell, with whom he practiced until 1882. He rose rapidly in his profession becoming in a few years a leading lawyer of this seciton and in 1882 he was elected County Judge, was re-elected in 1886 and again in 1890, and is now serving his third term. He was selected for this position, as a lawyer possessing an accurate knowledge of the common law, and as being richly endowed with those elements of character that peculiarly fit him to preside over a court of justice. And thus when he was scarcely thirty years of age he had won his way to the bench, and has since gained recognition as one of our ablest judges. Other honors have been conferred upon him and at one time he was elected Mayor of Dixon. Politically he is a Republican. In his social relations he is a member of Brooklyn Lodge A.F. & M.; Nachusa Chapter 56, R.A.M; Lodge 137 A.O.U.W; and of Camp 56, M.W.A.
Judge Farrand and Miss C.J. Marsh were married in 1873. They have an attractive home and one son living, Ernest W. Their son Wilbur A., died at the age of ten years. Mrs. Farrand is liker her husband, a native of Indiana and the daughter of Harry Marsh.
Source: Portraits & Biographical Lee County 1892 Pg 319
