mək fˈɑːɹlənd ɪnˈɪʃəli wˈɜːkt æz ɐ sˈeɪlzmən fɚɹə tˈeɪzwɛl bˈɪznəsmən, bˌʌt ɹᵻtˈɜːnd hˈoʊm tə mˈænɪdʒ hɪz fˈæmɪliz ɐfˈɛɹz fˈɑːloʊɪŋ hɪz fˈɑːðɚz dˈɛθ ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi fˈoːɹ.
McFarland initially worked as a salesman for a Tazewell businessman, but returned home to manage his family's affairs following his father's death in 1844.