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Joseph H. Farley was born May 1860, in Blount County, Alabama. He was the son of William H. Farley and Jane H. Branham. He was listed as Joab H. on the 1860 and 1870 census, and as Joseph H. on the 1900 census. He was called "Joe".
The 1860 Blount County census shows Joab H. Farley, two months old, with his mother, who was listed as head of the household. It appears that Joe's parents divorced or his father died prior to 1860.
Joe and his mother probably moved to Searcy County, Arkansas in late 1860 or early 1861, with Joe's grandparents and other Branham family members. Sometime between 1862 and early 1865, they moved to Macon County, Illinois, where Joe grew up.
The 1870 Macon County census shows Joab, age 10, living with his mother, who was still listed as head of the household. They were living next door to Joe's aunt and uncle and their family. Joe's mother married Frank Dominek Gloden in January 1871, when Joe was about 11 years old.
Joe does not appear on the 1880 Macon County census with his mother and step-father. Joe was about 20 years old at that time, and apparently had left home. We did not locate Joe anywhere on the 1880 census. We know nothing of his life until 1900.
Joe appears on the 1900 Perry County, Arkansas, census renting a room in a boarding house at Houston, in Perry County. He was listed as Joseph H. Farley, single, age 40, working as a railroad tie laborer. He was living near his uncle Rolen Branham.
Joe married Mrs. Anna "Annie" Blackwell on September 15, 1901, at Atkins, in Pope County, Arkansas.
Anna (maiden name unknown) Blackwell was born December 1870, in Arkansas, according to census records. Anna appears on the 1900 Pope County census, in Wilson Township. The census shows Anna Blackwell, head of household, 29, widowed, born December 1870, in Arkansas, had given birth to 4 children, 4 children still living; Elsie, daughter, 12; Richard, son, 10; Clarence, son, 8 and Homer, son, 4 years old. Anna and her children were living near Josh and Renie Howell, who were cousins to Joe Farley on his mother's side of the family. Joe may have met Annie through his Howell cousins.
We believe Joe Farley died between 1902 and 1910. The 1910 Pulaski County, Arkansas census shows Annie and her children living in the city of Little Rock. The census shows Annie Blackwell, head of household, 40, widowed, had given birth to 4 children, 3 children were still living, working as a seamstress in a laundry; Elsie, daughter, 22, working as a waitress; Richard, son, 20, working in a laundry and Clarence, son, 18, working in a laundry.
Joe and Anna had no children. Anna and her first husband had four children, all born in Arkansas: (1) Elsie Blackwell (born October 1887), (2) Richard Blackwell (born February 1890), (3) Clarence Blackwell (born May 1892) and (4) Homer Blackwell (born September 1895; died 1901-1910, possibly about the time that Joe Farley died).