Farnsworth, Sarah Roach, 1874-1968

San Antonio, Texas resident.

Civic leader, of Texas.

A descendant of legendary Texas pioneer Deaf Smith, Sarah Roach was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1874 to Henry and Susan Fisk Roach. She married Otis M. Farnsworth and settled in San Antonio, where they operated the Original Mexican Restaurant.

Based on her descent from great-grandfather Deaf Smith and grandfather Nathaniel Fisk, also a Texas veteran, Sarah Roach Farnsworth joined the Daughters of the Republic of Texas in 1903. She was a charter member of the Alamo Mission Chapter of the DRT when it was formed in 1906 and served the chapter in several capacities, including three terms as president. She also held numerous positions at the state level, including President General from 1931 to 1935. She served several terms on the Executive and Alamo Committees and was the DRT Chaplain. Mrs. Farnsworth took the lead on committees assigned the task of producing a history of the DRT, which was published as Fifty Years of Achievement in 1941 after over a decade of planning and research.

Her interest and activity in the promotion of Texas history at the local and state level led to Mrs. Farnsworth's involvement in plans to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of Texas’ independence. She served as Bexar County Chairman of the Texas Centennial Committee in 1932 and in 1934 was appointed to the Texas Centennial Commission, the permanent body charged with organizing the centennial celebration. She also participated in the organization of centennial events in San Antonio.

Mrs. Farnsworth was also an active member of a number of other organizations, including the Philosophical Society of Texas, Battle of Flowers Association, San Antonio Woman’s Club, San Antonio Art League, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She and her husband were the parents of three children. Sarah Roach Farnsworth died in San Antonio in 1968 at the age of ninety-three.