obituary
Mrs. Isabella Faris Dies of Long Illness
Pioneer Miami Woman Was Widow of Late Presbyterian Minister

Mrs. Isabella Hardie Fairs, 85, widow of the late Dr. William Wallace Faris and one of the founders of the Miami Woman's club, died at ??p.m. yesterday in her home, 543 S.W. First Street, following an illness of seven weeks. She had been a resident of Miami 29 years, coming there from Pittsburgh, PA.

Dr. Faris, who died March 16, 1925, and Mrs. Faris came to Miami in 1897, when Dr. Faris became the first pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. After occupying the pulpit there for four years, he moved away for wo years, returning to be pastor of the church for 23 consecutive years before his death.

Mrs. Faris ws a life member of the Miami Woman's club, being accorded this honor in recognition of her work for the organization. She was one of the organizers of the club library, which then was located in the church manse. She was the mother of 12 children, nine of whom are living. She leaves three sons, Dr. John Thompson Faris of Philadelphia, editor of the Presbyterian Board of Christian Education; Paul P. Faris of New York, editor and director of work for the Revelle Company and Phillip M. Faris of Los Angeles; six daughters, Mrs. C. H. Wiley of Anna, Ill, Mrs. T. Lee Agnew of Ogden, Ill; Miss Sarah Faris, who is a missionary in China; Mrs. H. M. King, 1335 S.W. Second street; Mrs. Margaret A. Armstrong, 548 S.W. First street, and Mrs. W. S. Hill, 1159 S.W. Eleventh street, one sister, Mrs. D. S. Callen of Indianapolis, 27 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Faris ws the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Thomson and was born May 22, 1843, in Linlithgow, Scotland. She came to America with her family in 1850, settling with them in Chicago. She ws graduated from the Chicago Normal school in 1860 and taught in the Chicago public schools for several years. She married Dr. Faris June 22, 1868, while he was completing his studies in the McCormich Theological Seminary. During the next year they visited several states where Dr. Faris was called, among them being Illinois, Missouri, California, Pennsylvania and Florida.

Mrs. Faris ws the principal organizer of the Ladies' Missionary society of the First Presbyterian Church, as well as the Ladies' Aid society, both of which later were merged to form the Women's Association. She was a choir singer and organist during the early church days, during part of which time her husband preached under a tent. While she was in charge of the Miami Woman's club library, she read practically every book which was entered. Many of these books now are in the Flagler Memorial library.

Two of Mr. Faris' children, Myron and William, died in infancy. Rev. William S. Faris, the eldest, was widely known in missionary work and died in Yihslen, China in 1907 while doing relief work.

Funeral arrangements are in charge of the Cautier Funeral Home and will be completed following the arrival of Dr. John Thomson Faris from Philadelphia. The body will lie in state at the funeral home in the meantime. Burial will be in the family plot in Woodlawn Park cemetery.