FARNSWORTH, WILLIAM (1807-1888). Reputed to be "the first SDA," that is, the first of the Adventists who kept the seventh-day Sabbath. He accepted the Adventist (Millerite) doctrine about 1840 and in 1844 declared himself a Sabbathkeeper, among the first of a small group from among the members of the Washington, New Hampshire, Christian church who became the first Adventists to observe the seventh day as the Sabbath (see Washington, New Hampsire Church).
William Farnsworth had 22 children!
11 with his first wife, and 11 more with his second marriage.
Read the story here.
William and his 22It was written by William's great grand-daughter.
There were two families of Farnsworth in the pioneer day.
William and his youngest brother Cyrus.
The best known of Willaim Farnsworth's children are:
Eugene W.Farnsworth 1848-1935 Eugene served as president in various conferences, and on the General
Conference Committee. He spent six years in Australia. For 60 years he was an ordained minister.
Loretta V.Farnsworth 1857-1933 Loretta married Asa Robinson, who was an SDA minister for 77 years. They
helped start the work in Africa, and then in Australia. Loretta is known as our first woman Bible instructor. She lived to be 76 years old, and Asa lived to be 99.
Orvil O. Farnsworth 1859-1947 Orvil was a missionary to Ireland and England. He started for Trinidad, but
contracted yellow fever, and had to return home. He was a minister until he died at the age of 88 years.
Elmer Farnsworth 1865-1937 Elmer became an SDA minister and teacher. He worked mostly in educational institutions.
Ernest Farnsworth 1872-1973 Ernest has served as local elder and on conference committees. He
moved to Canada with other brothers (Alton and Melbourne) and helped raise up SDA churches there. He made his living farming. He celebrated his 100th birthday in June, 1972. Brother Farnsworth spent many years as a lay worker in Saskatchewan and Alberta, with the winning of souls his
primary object in life.
(Review and Herald Aug. 10,1972 has an interesting interview with Earnest Farnsworth)
(Youth Instructor Nov. 24,1944 page 7, has an interesting story of the brother's move from Quebec to Saskatchewen.)
Melbourne Farnsworth was involved in constructing the original buildings of Canadian Union College!
Merton Farnsworth 1874-1951 Merton was always a good church worker. He became a doctor and joined the Battle Creek Sanitarium, and then the Glendale Sanitarium and Boulder Sanitarium.
Pictures Grandchildren of William Farnsworth: --
Dores Eugene Robinson,son of Asa and Loretta (Farnsworth) Robinson, married Ellen White's granddaughter Ella May (White) Robinson,
Great grandson:
Virgil E.Robinson, son of Dores and Ella May Robinson
Ernest Farnsworth has one son, Harold, who for many years was the production manger at Walla Walla College Press.