Mizpah
02-15-2005, 08:42 PM
For Jabx1962, I never told you how I was related to Barney Farley.
There were four brothers: Albert, Bill, Barney, and Charles Frederick Farley.
Albert and Bill were involved in boat building. Albert built boats in Aransas Pass and Bill raced hydroplane boats. Although they may have occasionally fished for tarpon, they were not that involved in the recreational fishing scene.
Barney was married to Marie and they owned some cottages and a tackle house. He was a part-time guide and tarpon fisherman, part schmoozer and part bull-shooter. He did, however, really promote Port A tarpon fishing. As I mentioned, he started the Texas Tarpon Rodeo.
Charles Frederick Farley was a master craftsman and boat builder. He moved to Port A to begin building boats after storms in 1915 and 1919 wiped out the local fleet. The semi-V hull boats were built from Louisiana cypress and Philippine mahogany and were designed to cut through the chop, which they did like no other at the time and for some time to come. Like any other custom built boat, they had a distinct style and look that was unmistakable. He had three sons, Don (my grandfather), Jim, and Fred. Jim and Fred were also boat builders. Early boats were 18- to 22-footers and powered by single gas inboards, preferably a marine Chrysler 75 but occasionally Model A and Model T Fords, four-cylinder Chevrolet or anything else guides could find. The 24-footer soon became the standard and when properly powered would outrun any production boats, such as early Chris Crafts, through that all too familiar Texas chop. Don Farley built one boat and then turned to guiding for his livelihood until he passed away in 1983. He fished for tarpon from about April to about November and then guided duck-hunting trips in the winter. He became one of the most accomplished tarpon guides in Port Aransas. Don had two sons, Don Roy (my father) who carried on the tradition as a tarpon/fishing and hunting guide and Field, who was not involved in the guide business.
Barney met President Roosevelt's son Elliot on his previous visit to the island and the two discussed the possibility of a visit by FDR. When FDR visited, their initial plan was to use their own small craft and employ Barney as a guide, but the vessel's speed could not be slowed down enough to troll. That afternoon, Elliot and Barney went out with Don Farley in his guide boat and caught two tarpon. The president was impressed with his son's catch and was determined to fish with Don, which he did successfully. In the photo of FDR, Barney and Elliot Roosevelt are holding the tarpon. The two men in the bow are a coastie and a secret service guy. The man behind the wheel is Don Farley, my grandfather and hero.
Long story short, Barney was my grandfather’s uncle. That makes him my……hhummm….my grandfather’s uncle.
:p
Jim
There were four brothers: Albert, Bill, Barney, and Charles Frederick Farley.
Albert and Bill were involved in boat building. Albert built boats in Aransas Pass and Bill raced hydroplane boats. Although they may have occasionally fished for tarpon, they were not that involved in the recreational fishing scene.
Barney was married to Marie and they owned some cottages and a tackle house. He was a part-time guide and tarpon fisherman, part schmoozer and part bull-shooter. He did, however, really promote Port A tarpon fishing. As I mentioned, he started the Texas Tarpon Rodeo.
Charles Frederick Farley was a master craftsman and boat builder. He moved to Port A to begin building boats after storms in 1915 and 1919 wiped out the local fleet. The semi-V hull boats were built from Louisiana cypress and Philippine mahogany and were designed to cut through the chop, which they did like no other at the time and for some time to come. Like any other custom built boat, they had a distinct style and look that was unmistakable. He had three sons, Don (my grandfather), Jim, and Fred. Jim and Fred were also boat builders. Early boats were 18- to 22-footers and powered by single gas inboards, preferably a marine Chrysler 75 but occasionally Model A and Model T Fords, four-cylinder Chevrolet or anything else guides could find. The 24-footer soon became the standard and when properly powered would outrun any production boats, such as early Chris Crafts, through that all too familiar Texas chop. Don Farley built one boat and then turned to guiding for his livelihood until he passed away in 1983. He fished for tarpon from about April to about November and then guided duck-hunting trips in the winter. He became one of the most accomplished tarpon guides in Port Aransas. Don had two sons, Don Roy (my father) who carried on the tradition as a tarpon/fishing and hunting guide and Field, who was not involved in the guide business.
Barney met President Roosevelt's son Elliot on his previous visit to the island and the two discussed the possibility of a visit by FDR. When FDR visited, their initial plan was to use their own small craft and employ Barney as a guide, but the vessel's speed could not be slowed down enough to troll. That afternoon, Elliot and Barney went out with Don Farley in his guide boat and caught two tarpon. The president was impressed with his son's catch and was determined to fish with Don, which he did successfully. In the photo of FDR, Barney and Elliot Roosevelt are holding the tarpon. The two men in the bow are a coastie and a secret service guy. The man behind the wheel is Don Farley, my grandfather and hero.
Long story short, Barney was my grandfather’s uncle. That makes him my……hhummm….my grandfather’s uncle.
:p
Jim