John McFarland was born in Starlingshire, Scotland, on March 4, 1823. He emigrated from Scotland to Canada. After McFarland turned 15 years old he learned the trades of carpentry, joiner, and machinist. In 1838, he worked in Buffalo, Chicago, and Cleveland.

In 1850, McFarland traveled by horse team to Placerville California where he tried his hand at mining. He not only successfully engaged in mining but was also one of the first men to sell water for mining purposes in El Dorado County.

McFarland came to the Sacramento Valley in 1857  where he bought 3,500 acres  in Galt. McFarland was a man of prominence among the people in the area. When the railroad came through the Sacramento Valley he was asked to name the small town. He choose "Galt" named after a town in Canada where he had lived as a youth.

In 1878, McFarland began building a home on his ranch. Other improvements around his homestead included a tank house, a carriage house, blacksmith shop, a barn and corrals, a chicken coop, and three sheds near the house. He also built a bunkhouse for the local area Miwok Indians that he hired to work his fields.

McFarland's success afforded him the opportunity to contribute to the development of the community. He funded the construction of the First Congregational Church in Galt and built the first store in Galt, the Brewster store (now, the IOOF Hall). McFarland also took a civic interest in the town, and was especially interested in its schools. For 20 years he acted as a school trustee for the Galt Grammar School District.