HON. JAMES K. P. FARRELLY, the proprietor of the Blue Mound stock farm, is one of the leading agriculturists of Greene county, having two hundred and seventy-five acres of valuable land on sections 3 and 4, Linder township. He has a wide reputation as a successful farmer and stock-breeder, dealing pure blooded, shorthorn cattle and standard-bred trotting horses.

Mr. Farrelly has made his home in Greene county from 1856 and is therefore known as one of its worthy pioneer settlers. He is a native of Virginia, his birth having occurred in Frederick county, October 4, 1844. His father, Hugh P. Farrelly, was a native of Ireland and when a young man of seventeen years of age came to the new world, settling in Virginia. He was married there to Elizabeth Brewer, a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. Mr. Farrelly removed to Illinois in 1856 and settled in Greene county near Carrollton. He was a man of good education and engaged in the profession of teaching in Virginia. He reared his family in this locality and died here when about forty-eight years of age. His wife survived him for a number of years but is now deceased.

In taking up the personal history of James K. P. Farrelly we present to our readers the life record of a man who is widely and favorably known in this portion of the state. He attended the common schools to some extent, but gained his practical knowledge largely through experience and observation. He started out in life for himself without capital and was employed for a few months as a farm hand, after which he entered upon an independent business career by renting land, which he continued to cultivate for several years. The first land which he purchased was a tract of one hundred and twenty-seven acres, constituting a part of his present farm. His wife inherited one hundred and forty acres adjoining, and he at once began to cultivate and improve the property. Later he built a neat residence, which is surrounded by a good lawn adorned with fine shade trees. He also built a large barn, has planted an orchard and in fact has added to his place all modern equipments and improvements, making his farm one of the best in the township. He has made a business of raising and feeding cattle and for a number of years his specialty has been the raising and breeding of shorthorn cattle. He has raised and sold some valuable animals and is today one of the leading stock-dealers in his locality. He buys and ships several carloads of mules annually, and he breeds and raises standard-bred horses, having devoted his attention to this business for a quarter of a century. He has also raised and sold some valuable trotting stock.

About 1870 Mr. Farrelly was married to Miss Edna Linder, and after her death, which occurred eleven months after their marriage, he wedded Miss Nancy J. Cunningham, a native of Greene county and a daughter of Andrew Cunningham, one of the early settlers of this state, who came to Illinois from Kentucky. Mr. Farrelly has nine children, of whom six are living: Walter, who is married and is a farmer of Wright township; Harry Lee, who is engaged in merchandising at Daum, Illinois; Charles; Hugh Phillip; Ada May; and Ella V. They lost three children: Robert H., their first born, who died in his second year; George W., who died at the age of six years; and Lillian M., who died when six months old.

Mrs. Farrelly is a member of the Baptist church and Mr. Farrelly has been a liberal contributor to the support of various churches. He belongs to the Masonic lodge of Carrollton and also to Carrollton chapter, R.A.M., and Carrollton commandery, K. T. In politics he has been a life-long Democrat, never faltering in his support of the men and measures of the party. He has been prominent in political circles, serving as a member of the county board of supervisors in Linder township, while in 1900 he was elected state senator for a term of four years. While a member of the assembly he served on several important committees, including those of agriculture, fees and salaries, canals and waterways, appropriations and several others. His course as a legislator was highly commendable, being characterized by devotion to the general good and unfaltering loyalty to the interests of those whom he served. He has always been deeply interested in whatever tends to benefit his county and advance general progress. He is one of the officers of the Greene County Fair Association, served as its president for one year, and for a number of years was a member of its executive board. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend, for he believes in the employment of competent teachers and in the use of a school system that will prove of practical benefit along progressive lines. For several years he served as a member of the school board. His residence in Greene county covers the entire period of his manhood, and he is known as a gentleman of excellent business capacity and sound judgment, who has carefully and successfully conducted his farming and stock-raising interests. In public affairs he has also been prominent and influential and worthy of the trust reposed in him.