Bio-Farabee, Clinton

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Clinton Theodore Farabee
(1881-1952)

Clinton Theodore Farabee was born on Nov. 26, 1888 at Jollytown, Greene County, PA, the son of Spencer and Nancy (Minor) Farabee. A newspaper once said he was a "widely known farmer and poultry raiser of Washington and Greene Counties," PA.

On June 4, 1905, at Waynesburg, the 24-year-old Clint married 18-year-old Ocie Elizabeth Barnes (1886-1923), the daughter of Thomas J. and Alice L. Barnes, at Waynesburg.

The Farabees had four sons – Lee Barnes "Barney" Farabee, Charles Clinton Farabee, Donnus "Don" Franklin Farabee and Thomas Oliver Farabee. Clint and Ocie are seen here with son Don.

Clint was an industrial laborer as a young adult. In 1905, at the time of their marriage, he was working in a local tin mill.

On the Fourth of July 1902, Clint took part in the county’s Independence Day celebration in the park in Waynesburg. In front of a crowd of 900 spectators, he entered a mule race to be run on a quarter-mile track. The History of Greene County reports that “Clinton Farabee’s mule won the race."

At right is a rare old photographic postcard of downtown Waynesburg, circa 1915.

In the early 1910s, Clint's elderly uncle Ephraim Miner traveled from his home near Kingwood, Somerset County, PA, to visit with the Farabees in Waynesburg. While quite deaf, the old man would regale young Don with stories about the Civil War. The boy listened closely as the aged man told of swimming in creeks with enemy Confederate soldiers while their commanding officers were away. Later, the two sides would resume their picket duty, but rather than fire upon each other, would aim their guns up in the air when shooting, knowing the sound of the guns were sufficient to keep the officers satisfied. As an old man himself, Don later told these stories to family members in great detail.

In describing Clint, a newspaper once said:

Before moving to Amity, he lived near Waynesburg and operated a local coal mine with his brother, Cleve, as a partner. He also was engaged in farming in Greene County, specializing for a time in raising swine. [He] had resided near Amity since 1918 and engaged in poultry raising on a large scale and farming. His flocks at times numbered 8,000 to 10,000 birds.

Tragically, Ocie died on Nov. 2, 1923, at the age of 37. The cause of death is unknown. She was laid to rest at Oakmont Cemetery near Waynesburg.

Clint outlived her by nearly three decades. He died in Waynesburg on May 23, 1952, and was buried beside his wife. At the time of his passing, he was survived by 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

~ Son Donnus Franklin Farabee ~

Seen at left, son Donnus Franklin Farabee (1906-1910) was the owner of D.F. and D.R. Farabee Construction Co., from 1948 to 1972, specializing in construction of bridges and roads. He also was a charter member of the Amwell Township Volunteer Fire Department, a life member of the Anawana Hunting and Fishing Club, and a good fiddler. He outlived three wives -- Dorothy (Miller) Farabee (who died in 1961), Flossie (Moore) Farabee (died 1975) and Margaret Mae Farabee (died 1980). Don and Dorothy had five children -- Margaret "Peg" Gaus, Ruth Farabee, D. Reed Farabee, William Roger Farabee and Michael Farabee. On the Fourth of July 1988, he visited with Minerd.com founder Mark A. Miner in Amity, and told many stories of his boyhood and of his beloved grandparents. Don passed away three days after Christmas in 1990 in Palms Pasadena Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL.

Donnus is mentioned, and his parents pictured, in a 2011 book about the grand-uncle he saw as a boy -- entitled Well At This Time: the Civil War Diaries and Army Convalescence Saga of Farmboy Ephraim Miner. The book is authored by the founder of this website. [More]

Grandson William Roger Farabee (1929-1991) was employed as a welder at Jessop Steel Company in Washington, PA from 1964 to 1991. He also served with the US Army's First Division in occupied Germany after World War II. He was a life member of the Anawanna Hunting and Fishing Club, and raced stock cars locally in the 1950s and '60s. He married Martha Schilling (1926-2004) of Maxhutte, Germany in 1949, and brought her in 1953 to the United States. They had two children -- Daniel William Farabee and Dorothy Smith. William died at the age of 62 on Dec. 6, 1991. Martha outlived him by 13 years, and passed away at age 77 on May 22, 2005.

Daughter Dorothy Farabee (1951-1988) was born in Germany. She married Charles E. Smith Jr. and was employed as a nurse's aide at the Rouse-Warren County Home. She died at the age of 37 on June 30, 1988. She is buried in the Riversville Cemetery, Pittsville.
Son Daniel Farabee (1954-2008) was a utility serviceman for Pennsylvania American Water Company for 32 years," said the Observer Reporter. He "was a devoted family man, an avid outdoorsman, an automobile enthusiast and a member of several civic organizations and clubs. Daniel passed away at the age of 53 on July 28, 2008, and was laid to rest in the Lower Ten Mile Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Amity.

William Roger Farabee and his German war bride beauty, Martha (Schilling) Farabee

Granddaughter in law Margaret (Bricker) Farabee authored an article about her husband's great-grand-uncle, Chance Minor, in "Civil War Medal Claimed," in the April 1986 edition of the Keyhole newsletter of the Genealogical Society of Southwestern PA. She taught physical education at Trinity High School in Washington, Washington County, PA, and retired in 1996 after more than 34 years of service. She was pictured in the Washington Observer-Reporter (June 23, 2005) for her work as vice president of a reunion of graduates of Washington Seminary.

Great-grandson Mark Farabee is former head football coach at Butler (PA) High School.

Granddaughter Peg (Farabee) Gaus (1925-2004) married Raymond K. "Bus" Gaus. She was a Grand-American champion in target shooting in 1963. Later, she worked for more than 12 years in Weber National Sporting Goods Store, Washington, PA, and also for Vance's Greenhouse, Washington.

~ Son Barney Farabee ~

Son Barney Farabee (1911-1982) apparently was married twice, first to (?) and second to Evelyn Mae Shrum in 1948. Barney and his first wife lived in Amity and are believed to have had two children -- Elizabeth "Betty" Pettit and Kenneth Farabee. Barney was employed as a foreman at Duncan Miller Glass Company and later as a machinist for National Annealing Box Company in Washington, PA, retiring in 1974. Betty remained in Washington as a widow for many years.

Daughter Elizabeth "Betty" Farabee (1932-1998) married Austin "Gene" Pettit. They lived in Washington, where she was a registered nurse. They had two sons, Kent Pettit and Karl Pettit. Elizabeth and Gene retired and in about 1986 moved to Lynn Haven, FL. There, she was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Fort Walton Beach. She also was active in the Laureate Epsilon Alpha Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, an international women's friendship network, holding offices and honored as Valentine Ball Queen and Woman of the Year. Betty passed away at the age of 66 at Bay Medical Center in Panama City, FL on Dec. 3, 1998. Son Karl and his wife Lois (Matullo) Pettit made news in the Washington Observer-Reporter in 2003 when they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
Son Kenneth Farabee resided in Denver, CO circa 1989.

~ Son Charles Clinton Farabee ~

Son Charles Clinton Farabee (1914-2003), said the Washington (PA) Observer-Reporter, "owned and operated Farabee Roofing and Sheet Metal in St. Petersburg, Fla., for 48 years. He was a former board member and honorary life member of Florida Roofing and Sheetmetalmen Association."

~ Son Thomas Oliver Farabee ~

Son Thomas Oliver Farabee ( ? - ? ) married Lenore Day (1923-1979), the daughter of Hugh Paul and Anna (Waychoff) Day. Lenore was a member of the Washington County Farmers Association Ladies Committee. Said a newspaper, "In 1975, she was elected by Region 3, Pennsylvania Farmers Association, as Mrs. Pennsylvania Farmers Association 1975 based on her essay, 'Today's Image of a Pennsylvania Farmers Wife'." Lenore passed away on June 8, 1979, and is buried in Prosperity Cemetery.