Born on March 13, 1844, in Gettenbach, an old (since 1252), but small village in a large forest Buedinger Wald, then part of the Electorate of Hesse, near the Free City of Frankfurt.
After a time operating a canal boat, Farr became successful in business running a contracting firm in Bayonne.
[1] Farr, who received the nomination of both the Democrats and the Republicans in 1893, easily won a second term.
In Farr's two terms as mayor, he was instrumental in bringing water and electricity to Bayonne.
He donated money to a number of charities including the German Lutheran Hospital in Manhattan, New York City.