Edwin Farnham
EDWIN FARNHAM was a somewhat eccentric character who lived in Camden in the 1880s and 1890s. He was born to Thomas Allen Farnham and his wife, the former Chloe Eliza Abbott, on May 17, 1846 in Hampton, Connecticut. Thomas Allen Farnham was a watchmaker, and by 1870 had moved his family to Gloucester City, New Jersey. The Farnham family, which included younger siblings Abbott, Frank, and Alice, was still in Gloucester City when the Census was taken in 1880. By this time Edwin Farnham was working as a gold penmaker, a trade he followed on and off throughout his life.
By 1882 the family had moved to Camden, New Jersey, taking up residence at 129 Mount Vernon Street. Edwin Farnham remained at that address through 1892. His father, Thomas Allen Farnham, died on January 1, 1892. Edwin Farnham then moved to 143 Mount Vernon Street, where he is listed in the 1893 City Directory. The 1894 and 1895 Directories show him at 1003 Broadway, working as a messenger. By 1897 he had moved to 520 Kaighn Avenue, and later moved to 510 Kaighn Avenue, where he is listed in Directories from 1906 through 1909.
His odd behavior was, as reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer in April of 1884, “known to almost every man, woman, and child in Camden and Gloucester City” in his heyday.
New Jersey — The Latest News from the State Across the Delaware
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Latest News from the State Across the Delaware.
Edward Farnham, a harmless individual, known to almost every man, woman and child in Camden and Gloucester City as the man who invented the Monitor, created a sensation in the streets of Camden yesterday afternoon by appearing in the role of a curiosity. For several months Farnham, who claims to have invented the Monitor, and to have been cheated out of one million dollars by Ericsson, the maker, has conceived the idea of obtaining notoriety in order to get his name before the authorities at Washington, so that an investigation could be made, and his rights in the Monitor affair settled. He is an excellent gold pen maker, and claims to have discovered the invention while at work, and during his absence his model was confiscated by Ericsson and sold to the United States Government. He also lays claims to having invented fish hooks, and to have first conceived the present mode of playing base ball. He appears on the street with the front of his vest and coat covered with medals of various designs, having a medal for each invention. At certain times he distributes small cards, bearing the inscription of “God’s warning message to Edwin Farnham, 1810–1876.” He has been very quiet on his inventions of late and has followed his business faithfully. For several months he has allowed his hair and beard to grow, which became very long. Yesterday he visited a barber shop and had the right side of his heavy moustache and beard shaved clean and the right portion of his hair clipped close. After this he boarded the cars and coaches, and frightened the lady occupants, who hastily left the conveyances, thinking a madman was loose on the streets. He paraded the streets to the terror of the children, and crossed the ferry with the intention of hiring with Forepaugh, but was persuaded to return by a friend. He has performed several singular freaks, but this is the crowning one. The officers allowed him to perambulate the streets unmolested, knowing he would not harm any one.