The first settlers in the Farmington area came about 1828-29, soon after the County was first opened to white settlers. Some of the early settlers were the Henry Tollett's, John Connor's, Henry Trent's, George Pettigrew's and Samuel Woolsey's. Henry Trent helped establish the first Methodist Church in his home in 1831. His son, Rev.Josiah Trent started the Ebenezer Methodist Church in 1833 and a log church was built in 1834 that served also as a community gathering place and school. The post office was established in June 1868 and the city was incorporated in 1946.

Goodspeed said in 1889 that Farmington was "laid out" by William Engles about 1870. C C Conner was said to operate a general store and flour mill. William Engles had brought the first steam thresher to the County in 1844, and in 1858 established a grist mill just south of the town. Both sides "patronized" the mill during the Civil War. In later years Engles sold his mill and it was converted into a distillery, and later into a flour mill before burning in 1933.

In the early 1880's a community telephone system was installed. In 1891 a two room brick schoolhouse was built. In 1926 a new schoolhouse was built allowing Farmington to offer a full 12 years of school.

The Ozark and Cherokee Railroad line ran through Farmington beginning in 1901. Like all other towns on that line, Farmington continued to grow. About that time, the Stark Bros. Nursery Company began operation of a tree nursery stock business.

As farming declined, more retail establishments came into Farmington. Today it is a commercial center just west of Fayetteville with a good school and a golf course community.

Bibliography:
Goodspeed's History of Washington County 1889
Washington County History by Shiloh Museum 1989
The Prairie Grove Valley and Its Communities by Willard Gatewood Flashback Spring 2003
Some Early Settlers of Farmington by Russell Broyles
Western Washington County Directory 2009 Flashback August 1961

Click here for a map to Farmington