Union County Biographies GARRETT

Copyright 1999, 2000
Janine M. Bork

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John M. GARRETT

Robert W. GARRETT




JOHN M. GARRETT. - A native son of Oregon, our subject is also a successful agriculturist and stockman of Union county, where he has spent a goodly portion of his life, being early brought into the harness of responsibility by the death of his father, he nobly stood by his widowed mother, assisting her and counseling her in the intricate problems of life that she encountered with a family of small children in a new land, while also John M. has always manifested a stanch and upright character and displayed an integrity and stability quite becoming a loyal and capable citizen.

Mention is made more particularly of the parents in another portion of this volume and hence we will but briefly revert to them here. Our subject was born to Warren and Malissa (Grey) Garrett, in Benton county, Oregon, on January 3, 1854, being the eldest of five brethren. He came with the balance of the family to Union county in 1869, and when the sad event of the father's death fell on the home, he was the mainstay and help of the widowed mother. He was at home until the farm was sold near Summerville, and then came with his mother to their present location, eight miles southeast from Elgin, in 1883, where he secured a homestead adjoining his mother's place, and he has given his attention to farming and stock-raising since with the proper reward of abundant success for his industry, thrift and wise and careful management. The five brothers have good farms in the same vicinity, and are numbered with the prosperous and substantial agriculturists and stockmen of Union county. Our subject is a man of energy and capabilities, and he has won friends on every hand, while he is generously given the confidence and esteem of all, which is entirely merited by the uprightness, faithfulness and worthy achievements which he has displayed and has wrought.

Illustrated History of Union and Wallowa Counties
Copyright 1902
Page 310, 311




ROBERT W. GARRETT. - The well known and representative gentleman whose name is mentioned at the beginning of this article is deserving of a place in the history of Union county, since he has toiled here for many years and has materially assisted in the development of its resources and in building it to its present prosperous condition, while also he has conserved his own interests in a manner becoming the capable agriculturist and stockman, being a worthy representative of the sturdy pioneer, his father, who was one of the earliest settlers in the state, and wrought with assiduity in his efforts to accomplish the redemption of the native land from the thraldrom of savagery.

Warren Garrett was born November 21, 1832, being a native of Illinois. On March 23, 1853, he married Malissa Grey, a native of east Tennessee. To this worthy pioneer couple there have been born the following named children: John M.; Livona Jane, deceased; Sarah A., married to A.R. Tuttle, of Elgin; Robert W.; Cornelia Jane, wife of W.B. Hindman; Elbert Hale, married to Amy Shepherd and living at home; George Lacy, married to Bessie Kerr; Charles Francis, married to Bessie Thompson. The marriage of Mr. Garrett and Miss Grey was solemnized on March 24, 1853, in Washington county, Arkansas, and on May 1 of that year they sold their possessions and essayed the tedious and dangerous journey across the dreary plains to the Willamette valley, arriving there on November 1, and making settlement in the region now embraced in Benton county. The father took up land under a government right and gave his attention to making a home and farming and raising stock. He was devoted to these employments there until 1869, when he migrated with his family to Union county. He bought state land and settlement was made, but before the farm was well opened or the improvements perfected in any good shape, the father was stricken and died in the summer of 1871, leaving the widow and little flock of five boys to meet the stern world alone. They labored on, under the wise guidance of the mother, who nobly took up the duties devolving upon her in the event of this sad affliction, and success crowned their efforts. The mother kept her boys at home and working in the neighborhood for different farmers. After the father's death they lived for two or three years on the home place, then removed to a place two miles east from Summerville, whence, two years later they went to Summerville and from there to the Cove, and after one winter there returned to the place two miles east from Summerville. After five years they sold the entire property and removed to a homestead, where the mother lives now, eight miles southeast from Elgin.

Our subject was born to this worthy couple in Benton county, on November 26, 1860, and came with the balance of the family when the removal was made to Union county. He has continued with his mother since that time and is managing her estate now. He took a preemption adjoining her homestead in 1886, and later sold it and took a homestead. In the management of the estate, he has displayed that faithfulness so praiseworthy and ability quite commensurate with it, while coupled therewith are integrity and sterling worth and a stanch and good character, and he is entitled to and receives in abundant measure the esteem and confidence of his fellows, while his mother is highly respected by all and is universally admired.

Illustrated History of Union and Wallowa Counties
Copyright 1902
Page 313, 314


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