Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Farnum akaberekerwa muSaginaw, Michigan uye akakurira munharaunda yevarimi muWatrousville. Akapedza kudzidza paVassar High School, Vassar, Michigan, muna 1933 uye akaenderera mberi nedzidzo yake muCivil Conservation Corps, 1933-1935. Akatora makosi edzidzo chaiwo uye akashandiswa muindasitiri yemotokari muPontiac, 1936-1952. Akabatanidzwa mumasangano emubatanidzwa anotangira kubva kumutariri wechitoro kusvika kumumiriri wepasi rose weUnited Auto Workers-Congress of Industrial Organizations, 1942-1952. Akanga ari mubatsiri wekutungamira weU.S. Senator Blair Moody, 1952-1954 uye mubatsiri weMichigan Secretary of State, 1955-1957; mutevedzeri weMichigan Secretary of State, 1957-1960; uye Michigan Auditor General, 1961-1965. Akanga ari nhume kuDemocratic National Conventions ye
1956, 1960, uye 1964.