"A HISTORY OF THE DAVIESS-McLEAN BAPTIST ASSOCIATION IN KENTUCKY, 
1844-1943" by Wendell H. Rone.  Probably published in 1944 by 
Messenger Job Printing Co., Inc., Owensboro, Kentucky, pp. 314-315.  
Used by permission.  [Daviess]

MEDA FRANCIS FARMER:  The above is the full name of the beloved 
brother known to all as Frank Farmer.  He first saw the light of day 
in Ohio County, not far from the village of Whitesville, on March 5, 
1873.  His father and mother were Jeremiah and Irene Evans Farmer.  
Reared in poverty and the most unfavorable circumstances and with his 
environment decidedly against him his triumph over all handicaps is 
very thrilling indeed.  All who knew him agreed that he accomplished 
more in proportion to his advantages than many who have been showered 
with manifold privileges.  He never went any further than the third 
grade in school.  Yet, after his second marriage he studied under 
Prof. Lanham at Henderson, a teacher of note, and worked at the cotton 
mill in the day time.
     He worked on a farm in his youth and still later in the coal 
mines and in the cotton mill at Henderson, Kentucky.  God must have 
called him to preach from his birth, for when a boy at school he 
memorized some verses from McGuffey's First Reader and gathered the 
children around him at the noon hour and preached to them.  The verse 
that he used as his text was, "Little children, remember that God is 
in the sky.  He Looks upon all we do and say with an ever watchful 
eye."  At about the age of sixteen he began to preach and continued 
until disease cut him down.  He was licensed to preach by the First 
Church at Henderson in September, 1897.  At the call of the Audubon 
Church in that city he was later ordained.  Of this date we are not 
informed.
     In his public ministry he served thirty-four churches in five 
different counties and was an effective instrument in the hands of God 
in leading over 2,000 people to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Many prominent 
members in the city churches were led to Christ by him out in the 
country churches.  His field of labor embraced Daviess, McLean, Ohio, 
Henderson, and Muhlenberg Counties.  He also preached to a church in 
Southern Indiana for a time and was pastor for some time at New 
Burnside, Illinois.
     He was instrumental in organizing Hall Street Church in the city 
of Owensboro and ministered to it for a short time.  He also served 
the Seven Hills Church and was the assistant to the pastor at the 
First and also of the Third Baptist Churches, in Owensboro.  For some 
time he served the church at Macedonia, in Daviess County, where he 
had been baptized at the age of nine, by Elder W. H. Dawson.  He 
served the following churches elsewhere: Bethlehem, Cedar Grove, 
Unity, New Hope, Oak Grove, New Cypress, and others, in Muhlenberg 
County; Pleasant Hill, Zion, and Deanefield, in Ohio County; Delaware 
Creek, Hopewell, Karn's Grove, Friendship, Newman, Brushy Fork, 
Sorgho, Curdsville, Griffith, and Yelvington, in Daviess County; 
Basin, Bethel, and Sacramento, in McLean County.
     His ministry is notable from the standpoint of the young men 
that were called to preach under him.  Brethren F  L. Walker, Herman 
Wilson, Ishmael Phillips, M. M. McFarland, and two young men in 
Henderson began their labors of usefulness during his ministry.  Some 
others whom he baptized later became preachers and deacons and other 
useful church officers.
     Because of his faithful labors with the churches he was never 
without work, and when he died he was pastor of three good churches.  
He held numerous revivals and was in constant demand for more.  His 
labors were in season and out of season for his Master.  He traveled 
over the mud roads, first in his buggy, and later in his little Ford 
car, and received very little remuneration for his work.  He 
developed diabetes and spent a whole year in bed before his death.  
The many persons who visited him during his illness went away blessed 
by the consolation this good man could give.  Brother Farmer was in 
demand for Bible Institutes and his sermons on The Church were helpful 
and inspiring.  Theologians could sit at his feet and learn.  He was 
tender-hearted, kind, and self-sacrificing, never considering his own 
ease.  Like many preachers he died poor in this worlds goods but rich 
in heavenly treasures, and left a glorious example to help encourage 
others.
     His death occurred on October 19, 1936.  The funeral was 
conducted from the Third Baptist Church by Rev. Robert E. Humphreys.  
A great throng of people came from several counties to do honor to 
this noble servant of the Lord.  His body was laid to rest in Elmwood 
cemetery, Owensboro, Ky., to await the glorious resurrection.  A 
large granite stone has recently been placed at his grave by the 
family and the friends in the churches who knew and loved him (1942).
     Brother Farmer first married Miss Hattie Raber of Henderson 
County.  She was an Episcopalian but was later baptized into the 
fellowship of a Baptist Church by him.  She lived but eighteen months 
after their marriage.  One son was born to this union.  His second 
wife was Miss Lula Raber, a sister to his first wife.  She died in 
1915.  Three children were born to the second union but two died in 
infancy.  
     In September, 1917, he married Mrs. Ova Denton Thompson of 
Curdsville, Ky.  Two children blessed this union.  His third wife and 
four children survived him.  His memory is deeply enshrined in the 
affection of the churches he served.

Farmer Evans Lanham Dawson Walker Wilson Phillips McFarland Humphreys
Raber Thompson
=
Ohio Henderson McLean Muhlenberg IN IL

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/daviess/farmer.mf.txt