Map of Farley village, Missouri

Farley is a village in Platte County, Missouri, within the United States, along the Platte River. The population was 269 at the 2010 census. It lies within the Kansas City metropolitan area.

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Farley location map. Where is Farley village?

History

A post office called Farley has been in operation since 1852. The community has the name of Joseph Farley, the original owner of the land where the village now is located.

In Farley on August 20, 1900, Sheriff John H. Dillingham responded to a double homicide with two deputies. On Main Street, Sheriff John Dillingham encountered the murderer, Dr. Sterling Price Harrington who was the town’s doctor. Dr. Harrington and Sheriff Dillingham were friends and related by marriage. Dr. Harrington, who had murdered his mother-in-law and uncle-in-law the day before, was at Farley General store attempting to purchase more ammunition. He did not have enough money and attempted a robbery of the store. The general store owner pulled out a pistol and shots were exchanged between them. The clerk ran out of bullets and dropped his weapon saying he was shot. Dr. Harrington then left the store through the front door. There he encountered Sheriff Dillingham. Gunshots were exchanged and Dr. Harrington shot the Sheriff in the head, killing him instantly. The doctor then stepped over the sheriff’s lifeless body. The sheriff’s twenty-three-year-old son Henry, a deputy, returned fire fatally wounding Dr. Harrington.

This incident and the murders of Dr. Harrington’s in-laws were witnessed by Dr. Harrington’s 10-year-old daughter Maude, as the doctor had his daughter with him during his murderous rampage. The doctor was believed to be intoxicated and on drugs during the crime spree. The doctor was looking for his wife who had sought safety in Platte City, Mo. Deputy Sheriff Henry Dillingham was appointed as Sheriff to fill his father’s unexpired term. Henry Dillingham 30 years later became a U.S. Marshall. Sheriff John Dillingham was the first and the only Platte County Sheriffs Office law enforcement officer to be killed in the line-of-duty as of January 26, 2021.

The General Store where this incident took place was razed many years ago but there is a plaque erected marking this incident at the old store’s location on Main Street near the current post office. The plaque was erected by the Platte County Historical Society.

Farley Road Map

Farley city Satellite Map

Geography

Farley is located on Missouri Route 45 approximately one mile north of the confluence of the Platte River with the Missouri River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.23 square miles (3.19 km), all land.

See also