Station: Farwell, MI

Farwell was founded around 1871 when the Pere Marquette railroad came through on their line from Saginaw to Ludington. It was the county seat until 1879 when that designation was transferred to Harrison. The town became a village in 1879. [MPN]

The Ann Arbor railroad also had facilities here.

Photo info: Top, the PM depot at Farwell. Note the milk containers ready to load in an oncoming train. [CMUL]. 2nd photo, the PM depot and crossing at Farwell. [T. J. Gaffney collection]. 3r photo, a logging train on a trestle near Farwell. This is an example of how logging railroads rapidly built their lines up and down forest grades.

Notes

Farwell was named after Samuel Farwell, a local resident and son-in-law of the F&PM superintendent at the time. There were big plans for the village when it was platted in 1871, and it soon became the first official county seat of Clare County.

Time Line

1871. Village is platted and became the first official county seat of Clare County.

1900. This is a telegraph station on the Ann Arbor railroad. [OG-1900]

1907. The PM installed new stock pens here. [PMAR-1907]

1918. The AARR had a day station agent here. [TRT]