His first wife, whom he married in Norfolk, became an invalid and did not live long.

His second wife was also a native of Norfolk.

Thus he was not only a Southerner himself, but his wife was a native of that section.

When, therefore, civil war came and it became fashionable for people to express secession sentiments, it was taken for granted that Farragut would cast his fortunes with the South; but upon being approached he indignantly replied: "I would see every man of you damned before I would raise my hand against that flag!" Being told that it would be unsafe for him to remain in the South, he added that he wanted only two hours to find another place of residence.

He moved away at once and with his wife and only son took up his home on the Hudson near Tarrytown.
[Illustration: COMMODORE DAVID GLASGOW FARRAGUT.] Being a stranger in that neighborhood, he was regarded with suspicion.
He was fond of taking long walks, and it is said that some of the people suspected that he belonged to a gang of plotters who intended to cut the Croton Aqueduct, but the quiet man was simply awaiting the summons of his country to serve her in any capacity possible.
The call came in the spring of 1861, when he was about threescore years old.