Ethan Bennett Farnum (November 10, 1826 – after 1900) was one of the first residents of Deadwood (then in the Dakota Territory) who was not a miner or prospector; he was the owner of a general store.
[2][full citation needed] On May 11, 1868, he was appointed Postmaster in Springfield, Walworth County, Wisconsin.
[3] Farnum came to Deadwood from Wisconsin and opened his store in 1876, acquired other Main Street properties, and invested in some of the mining operations such as the Laura Mine and the Prince Oscar Lode; he also partnered with other camp entrepreneurs to have the Deadwood to Centennial Toll Road constructed to ease the flow of supplies to their businesses.
His position also included duties as head of the school board, Justice of the Peace, and judge.
Further records are scarce, due to the great fire of September 26, 1879;[4] when these duties became separate positions from the mayoralty, Farnum ran for Justice of the Peace, but lost.