He was son of Imre Farkas de Boldogfa (1811-1876), jurist, landowner, chief magistrate of the district of Zalaegerszeg (Hungarian: főszolgabíró),[1] and Alojzia Horváth (1831-1919).

József Farkas de Boldogfa was person of deep catholic and monarchist convictions, although he was a very tolerant and also responsible Parliament Representative: On december 12th of 1901 József Farkas de Boldogfa led a delegation to Budapest to meet personally Baron Gyula Wlassics de Zalánkemén (1852–1937) Minister of Religion and Education with the purpose of asking his support for building a Synagogue on Zalaegerszeg, relying on the fact that the minister, as a Zalaegerszeg native, is well aware of the situation of the local Jews' community.

[4] After the World War I, King Charles IV of Hungary was not allowed to continue on the throne and the admiral Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya was elected as regent of the Kingdom.

[7] The grandparents of Magdolna Séllyey were József Sümeghy de Lovász et Szentmargitha (1757–1832), royal counsilor, alispán of Zala county, landowner and Rozália Málits (1791–1851).

His son Tibor Farkas de Boldogfa was a Hungarian legitimist politician, Member of the Parliament after the World War I.

[8] The youngest son of József, Dénes Farkas de Boldogfa also became a representative, after the finishing of World War II.