John H. Farley

Who was John H. Farley?

John Harrington Farley, 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.

Farley began his political career in 1871 when he was elected to Cleveland City Council as a Democrat and served three terms. In 1883, Farley was elected mayor of Cleveland. He was married to Margaret Kenney in the following year. After serving one term in office, he was appointed collector of internal revenue by President Grover Cleveland. After this, he was later made director of public works in Cleveland under Mayor Robert Blee in 1893. Farley then decided to run for mayor again. He defeated the incumbent Republican mayor, Robert E. McKisson, in 1899. In his tenure as mayor, Farley had to request the state militia to support Cleveland police in maintaining order during the streetcar strike in 1899.

In 1901, Farley decided to retire from the mayor's office. His successor would be a progressive Democrat, Tom L. Johnson, regarded by many as Cleveland's greatest mayor.