California is justly proud of her educational advantages and facilities, which compare favorably with those of any other state of the Union. Prominent among the well-known instructors and educators, of Los Angeles County and El Monte in particular, is Professor E.A. Farrington. Mr. Farrington was born January 5, 1860, in Franklinville, New York. His father, Christopher C. Farrington, also born in New York spent his entire life in that state, the last few years of which were lived in Chautauqua. Following his early common school education, Mr. Farrington continued his studies in Ellington Academy, completing in Oberlin College in Ohio. Choosing and educational career, he taught school for a number of years in Ohio, before going to Kansas where he spent many years, becoming Superintendent of Schools in Fort Scott, and later held like positions in the public schools of Burlington and Paola.
On June 24, 1889, in Ft. Scott, Kansas, Mr. Farrington was married to Junia L. Pind, and to which union, two children, Mable F. and E.D. were born. Both children were born in Paola, Kansas, and both are now living in El Monte, Mable, now being Mrs. Mable F. Hahn, a teacher in the Franklin High School, in Los Angeles, and E.D. being one of El Monte’s prominent physicians. In 1900 Mr. Farrington moved to Salt Lake City, where he taught mathematics and science in the Salt Lake College for two years.
Coming to California in 1902, his first work was as a principal of the newly organized high school at Downey, where he remained for a period of four years. Following one year at Monrovia High School, where he taught mathematics and science, Mr. Farrington, in 1907, came to El Monte and for eight years, rendered valuable services as principal of the El Monte High School. Professor Farrington has also rendered valuable services to the City by taking great interest in Civic affairs, and having an active part in its development. He was elected a member of the City Council, which office he held for two years. For a number of years he was Secretary of the Los Angeles county Board of the Y.M.C.A. Mr. Farrington is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and a charter member of El Monte Lodge, No. 424, IOOF.
From 1919, when Mr. Farrington left El Monte for a period, until 1928, when he returned, he followed his profession as instructor of Mathematics and Science in the Schools of Carpenteria, Claremont, and Barstow consecutively. Returning to El Monte in 1928, Mr. Farrington retired from his profession and he and Mrs. Farrington now reside at their home at 305 S. Lexington Avenue.
Source: C. D. Mayon, F. Brow, L. Stoddard, and C. Mudd; El Monte from the Pioneer Days. WPA Project No. N-5740, 1936. In record 19-187072. (California Historical Landmark No. 765: El Monte). On file at the SCCIC, CSU Fullerton.