Douglas C. Farrar, principal of the public schools of Perryville, Mo., is a native of this county, born in 1858. He is a son of John B. Farrar, who was born in North Carolina in 1795, of Scotch-Irish parentage. While young the latter immigrated to Perry County, Mo., and after his marriage located two miles east of Perryville, where he resided many years, spending the latter part of his life about four miles from the town. He was one of the pioneer settlers of the county; and became one of its largest land owners. He died in 1865.

His wife, Mary L. (Noell) Tate, was the widow of Dr. Tate, who for many years, was a prominent physician of Perry County. Mrs. Farrar was born in Virginia in 1820, and is the mother of three living children by her last marriage: Haogene?, wife of William A. Cashion of St. John, Kas.; Noell F., a groceryman of Perryville, and Prof. Douglas C.

The last named received his education in the public schools of Perryville, Mo., and Washington University, St. Louis. In 1876, he commenced studying law under the direction of Hon. John V. Noell, of Perryville, and in 1878 entered the law department of Washington University, at. St. Louis. In 1879, he was admitted to the bar, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession, forming a partnership with Wilson Cramer, one of the leading lawyers of Jackson, Mo., and continued until his law library was burned in 1884. He then resumed school teaching, having taught previous to studying law. He was first employed in the grammar department of the public schools of Perryville, but in 1888 was elected to the principalship of the same schools.

His marriage with Mary J. Cissell, a daughter of Hon. Bernard Cissell, was celebrated in 1879. Mrs. Farrar is a native of Perry County, MO., born in 1859. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three children: Beulah May, Gertrude Belle, and Mary Lucinda.

In politics Mr. Farrar is a supported of the principles of the Republican party. He served as city attorney of Perryville for two years.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.