California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


 E. D. FARROW, M. D. The distinction of being the oldest practicing physician of Tulare county 
doubtless belongs to E. D. Farrow, M. D., who began his professional career in Farmersville in 
1875, thirty years ago. Talented and skilful, he has been very successful in his career, and has 
established a fine reputation throughout this part of the state as a general practitioner and 
likewise in eye, ear and throat diseases, which he treats with good results. He is now located at 
Visalia, where he has a wide and remunerative practice, extending far beyond local limits. As a 
boy he served in the Civil war as the mascot of the Fifteenth Maine Infantry Volunteers, 
entering the army before he was fifteen years old, but to this day does not know whether his 
name appeared on the company's roll, although he afterward drew his clothes, rations and pav, 
and had a good time, being a favorite with the older soldiers, who cared for him, and protected 
him whenever they could. A son of John P. Farrow, he was born. May 21, 1849, at Summerside, 
Prince Edward Island, where his Grandfather Farrow settled on emigrating from England. 

John P. Farrow grew to manhood in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, but subsequently 
settled in business in Portland, Me., as a manufacturer of stoves. Selling out his interests in that 
city, he afterward removed to Oldtown, Me., where he was successfully engaged as a 
merchant until his death, at the advanced age of seventy-four years. He married Margaret 
Stewart, who was born on Prince Edward Island, where her father settled on coming from 
Scotland to America. She now resides in Oldtown, Me., a bright and active woman of eighty 
years. Of her children, three are living, Dr. E. D., the special subject of this sketch, being the 
oldest child. 

Brought up and educated in Portland, Me., E. D. Farrow attended the grammar and high schools 
of that city. During the progress of the Civil war he enlisted without his parents' consent. 
Leaving his books under a plank sidewalk, he ran away from home, going to Washington, D. C, 
where he joined the Fifteenth Maine Volunteer Infantry, entering the quartermaster's 
department, but afterward was attached to Company H as a musician. During the last year of 
the war he accompanied the regiment through the Shenandoah valley, serving until the close 
of the war, when, with his comrades, he returned home. He was at that time a strong, wiry and 
hardy boy, full of life and activity, overflowing with fun, ready to see the humorous side of any 
situation, and the anecdotes of army life which are indelibly impressed on his mind are both 
amusing and interesting. Although he had some hard experiences, he stood the long, hard 
marches most remarkably well. 

Returning to Portland from the scene of conflict, the youth completed the course of study in 
the high school, after his graduation working for a year in the Portland office of the Grand Trunk 
Railway Company. He subsequently worked as a clerk in a wholesale establishment, later being 
employed in a drug store in that city. Going thence to Missouri, he located in Hamilton, where 
his uncle. Dr. R. D. King, was a practicing physician and a druggist. He at once began work in his 
uncle's drug store, and at the same time read medicine under his instruction, continuing for five 
years. Entering then the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, he took four 
courses of lectures there, being graduated in March, 1874, with the degree of M. D. Returning 
to Hamiliton, Mo., Dr. Farrow practiced medicine there for a year, and then, in March, 1875, 
migrated to California. Locating immediately at Farmersville, Tulare county, he built up a thriving 
practice in that vicinity, traveling on horseback over a large territory, his trips oftentimes 
extending over fifty miles. For four years the doctor was away from Tulare county, spending 
two years in Amador county, and for two years practicing medicine in Salt Lake City. Returning 
from there to California, he has since been one of the leading physicians of V isalia, having built 
up a large practice. By his excellent business ability and foresight, the doctor has been 
financially successful. For a number of years he served as county physician, and now fills that 
position ; ]^e is also district surgeon for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. 

In 1876, in Tulare county, Dr. Farrow married Mary E. Overall, a native of the county and a 
daughter of one of its honored pioneer settlers, D. G. Overall, a large landholder and a 
capitalist. Dr. and Mrs. Farrow are the parents of three children, namely : Mary Edna, wife of W. 
L. Fisher, of Tulare county ; Daisy, living at home, and E. D., Jr., a student at the Berkeley high 
school. Politically Dr. Farrow is a stanch supporter of the principles advocated by the Democratic 
party, and formerly belonged to the county central committee. Fraternally he is a member of 
the Ancient Order of United Workmen, he is a member of the County Medical Society and of 
the Pacific Coast Association of Railway Surgeons.