His ancestors were Scotch-Irish people who came to Maryland in colonial times. However, Doctor Farrow's grandfather was born in Kentucky, though he afterward returned to Maryland and died at Williamsport in that state in 1862. He was a cooper and carried on a wholesale business as a manufacturer of barrels.

J. H. farrow, father of Doctor Farrow, was a conspicuous man in his generation in the State of Maryland. He was born at Williamsport in that state in 1822, and died at Baltimore in 1906. He grew up and married at Williamsport, spent many years there in the drug business, and subsequently was connected with the Baltimore post office. He was a republican and strong Union man, and his presence in a border state, which was largely Southern in its attitudes and sympathies, made his situation during the war times one of great personal risk and danger and also one of responsibility. During the war he was appointed to the office of provost marshall at Williamsport, It was his duty to prevent goods being smuggled across the river into the rebel country, and many times he found it necessary to confiscate large cargoes of stuff designed for use by the Southern forces. As a part of his private business enterprise he owned a warehouse, four boats and a coal yard, and all this property was destroyed by the rebel sympathizers. In those trying days, his house was robbed sixteen times, and even Dr. Farrow, who was a small child at the time, has some recollection of the grim horrors and tragedies of war times. J. H. Farrow enjoyed great personal popularity and influence in spite of his affiliation with the republican party in a strongly democratic community. For three terms he represented Washington County in the Maryland Legislature and served two terms in the State Senate. He was a very able and fluent campaign orator. He was a Mason and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife was Mary Nitzel, who was born in Williiamsport, Maryland, in January 1834 and is now living at the age of eighty-three in Baltimore. Of their children the oldest, Charles, died young. The second is Dr. John William Farrow, Jennie who resides with her mother in Baltimore, is the widow of William Norris. Charles is the manager of Station "F," a large sub-station of the Baltimore post office, Emma married Jesse Metz, who is an engineer on the Western Maryland Railroad, living at Hagarstown. Harry who is a druggist, died in Baltimore, at the age of thirty-four.

John William Farrow was born at Williamsport, Maryland, January 13, 1858. He was educated in the Williamsport schools, graduating from high school in 1876, spent one year in the Mechanicstown Academy , and then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore where he graduated M. D. in 1881. In 1906 Dr. Farrow returned to his alma mater for a post graduate course.

His first experience after graduation was in the hometown of Williamsport, but in August of 1881 he came out to Kansas and has been identified with the profession in this state now for thirty-five years. For fourteen years he lived and practiced at Laclede in Potawattomie County. In 1894 he removed to Moline and has lived in that city ever since, giving his time and service to a general medical and surgical practice. He is an active member of the Elk County Medical Society.

Doctor owns a drug store on Main Street, two other stores in the same location , has an attractive residence on the same thoroughfare, and formerly owned considerable farming land, which he has sold. Fraternally he is affiliated with Wild Cat Camp No. 859, of the Modern Woodmen of America at Moline, and is especially interested in Odd Fellowship, being past noble grand of Moline Lodge No. 215, and has also represented it in the Grand Lodge.

In 1885, at Laclede, Kansas, Doctor Farrow married Miss Mary Prunty. Her parents were L. C. and Adeline (Lebo) Prunty, both of whom are now deceased. Her father was a large land owner, and miller. Doctor and Mrs. Farrow have two children of their own. Ruby, who still lives at home, is a graduate of the Moline High School and of the Independent Business College, and is a competent stenographer, typewriter and bookkeeper, having for a number of years been employed in those capacities in the Moline National Bank at Moline. Opal, the younger daughter , is now a senior at Washburn College at Topeka. Dr. and Mrs. Farrow also have an adopted child, Hazel, who was born in June 1910.