Skip to main content

Emeret Cooley Farwell (1826-1912) was John V’s second wife. (His first wife, Abigail Taylor Farwell, sadly passed while giving birth to their daughter, Abby in 1851).

Born in Granville, Massachusetts outside of Springfield, Emeret moved with her family to Chicago when she was 21. Her brother, Francis Cooley, founded the wholesale, dry goods house of Cooley, Farwell & Co. from which launched many a successful venture for business partners such as a young Marshall Field who later started Marshall Field & Co which eventually became part of Macy’s.

Emeret had one step-daughter, Abby, and four children of her own: Francis Cooley Farwell, John Villiers Farwell, Jr, Arthur Lincoln Farwell, and Fannie Farwell Tuttle.