John H. Farley

John Harrington Farley (February 5, 1846 – February 9, 1922), also known as "Honest John" Farley, was an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the 27th and 34th mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, from 1883 to 1884 and from 1899 to 1900.

Early life and career John Farley was born on February 5, 1846, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Patrick and Ann ( Schwartz) Farley. His father had been born in Ireland, and emigrated to the United States, settling in Cleveland in 1833. He won the city commission for all mail and express freight arriving in Cleveland, which made him a wealthy man. His mother had been born in the Kingdom of Bavaria, and emigrated to the United States with her farmer father, John. The Farley family was a large one.

Farley was educated in Cleveland's public schools. He left school before the age of 16 to take over the wholesale grocery and liquor business owned by his elder brother, Andrew, who had died. After winding up the business, he partnered with James Farnan to found a brass foundry. After his father's death in June 1883, Farley became a wealthy man. She died of pneumonia on February 17, 1901, after a long battle with influenza.

Farley suffered a stroke in Public Square in downtown Cleveland while riding in a streetcar on the evening of February 9, 1922. He died in an ambulance en route to the Huron Road Hospital. He was buried at Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland.