Farmer in South English was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1837. When he was eleven years of age he moved with his parents to Ohio where he was raised and received his early training. From there he came to Linn County, this State in 1857, where he made his home for a short time, and then moved to Washington County, Iowa where he engaged in teaching school during the winter and farming during the summer seasons. In 1863 he came to this county and settled on his present homestead. In 1858 he began the study of law. In 1863 he married Miss Margaret Stoner, of Virginia. He has been a practicing attorney since 1870, and has attended to such legal business as has presented itself and at the same time managing his farm. In 1886 he was elected to represent Keokuk County in the Twenty-first Iowa General Assembly.