John McCreath Farquhar | |
---|---|
Born |
Ayrshire, Scotland |
April 17, 1832
Died | April 24, 1918 Buffalo, New York |
(aged 86)
Place of burial | Forest Lawn Cemetery |
Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
Service/branch |
United States Army Union Army |
Years of service | 1862 - 1865 |
Rank | Major |
Unit | 89th Illinois Volunteer Infantry |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
Awards | Medal of Honor |
John McCreath Farquhar (April 17, 1832 – April 24, 1918) was a United States Representative from New York and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Born near Ayr, Scotland, Farquhar attended Ayr Academy. He immigrated to the United States as a boy and settled in Buffalo, New York. He was a printer, editor, and publisher for 33 years. He served as president of the International Typographical Union from 1860 to 1862.
During the Civil War, Farquhar enlisted from Chicago, Illinois, into the Union Army on August 9, 1862, as a private in Company B of the 89th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Sergeant Major and, on December 31, 1862, earned the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Stones River, Tennessee. His official citation reads: "When a break occurred on the extreme right wing of the Army of the Cumberland, this soldier rallied fugitives from other commands, and deployed his own regiment, thereby checking the Confederate advance until a new line was established." His medal was not awarded until several decades later, on August 6, 1902. Promoted again to Major, Farquhar served as a judge advocate and inspector in the IV Corps. After his military service he returned to Buffalo, New York, and resumed his business activities.