Edward J. Farrell was born on June 4, 1894 in Jersey City, N.J., to Edward J. and Ellen Doyle Farrell. He was the nephew of former alderman Denis Reardon of Jersey City. Farrell graduated from Saint Peter’s College, moved to Mount Vernon, N.Y., and worked as an ad writer for McGraw Hill Publishing Company.

The United States declared war on Germany on April 6, 1917. Less than two weeks later, on April 17, 1917, Farrell enlisted in the Signal Corps of the United States Army.  Early in July, he was sent to the Pratt Institute for training in radio work.  Late in November 1917, he sailed to France with Company C, 101st Battalion of the Signal Corps. By April 16, 1918, he was promoted to the rank of corporal. In a June 1, 1918 letter to his father, Farrell describes his experience in going “over the top” and the barrage that protected him. The description ended with, “Nevertheless, I enjoyed every moment of it, though I was exhausted when I got back and am still sore and stiff.” On July 13, 1918, Corporal Farrell was killed in action near Chateau Thierry, France, in preliminary fighting before the Germans launched a major offensive there on July 15, 1918. He was 24 years old and the first Mount Vernon man killed in battle in World War I.

His brother Joseph at that time was a corporal in the 407th Telegraph Battalion.

A requiem Mass for Corporal E. Farrell was held on August 6, 1918 at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Mount Vernon, N.Y. He was buried at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in New Rochelle, Westchester County, N.Y. Inscribed on his tombstone is the last clause of his will, which reads: “To the old USA I give my life, willingly, because she is the greatest and freest country in the world. And I hope to God that the day will come when she will be indeed ‘America for Americans’ of undivided allegiance.”