Garner, Eugene Selwin

BAKER, DERWENT, HOBSON, LEVRICH

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 12/14/2009 at 09:24:57

In the death of Eugene Selwin Garner, which occurred in 1898, Bremer county lost a representative and valued citizen and a man who had been one for many years closely connected with business interests of Waverly. He was born at Leona, near Durand, Illinois, November 22, 1851, and is a son of Charles and Ellen (Baker) Garner, the former a native of England and the latter of Maine. The father engaged in farming until he came to Waverly in 1880 and he afterward lived retired until his death.

Eugene S. Garner acquired his education in the public schools of Leona, Illinois, and afterward worked upon his father's farm for a number of years. As a young man he came to Waverly and entered the employ of his brother, J.C. Garner, as a traveling salesman, dealing in machinery. He was later employed as salesman in the home establishment and so continued until his death, which occurred August 5, 1898. He was also engaged for a number of years in the life-insurance business and was the owner of valuable city property in Waverly. His business interests were all carefully conducted and brought him a gratifying measure of success.

On the 30th of January, 1884, Mr. Garner married Miss Mary Derwent, who was born near Durand, November 8, 1852, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Hobson) Derwent, natives of England, the former born November 24, 1822, and the latter November 23, 1820. The father served as a carpenter's apprentice for seven years in England and in 1844 crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in the vicinity of Durand, Illinois, where his marriage occurred one year later. He continued active in the carpentering business there for many years and remained a resident of that vicinity until his death, which occurred in 1902. He had survived his wife several years, her death having occurred in 1882. The had seven children, of whom the wife of the subject of this review is the second in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Garner became the parents of three sons. Ray Durant was born January 15, 1885, and is a construction engineer in Providence, Rhode Island. Ross B. was born April 30, 1887, and is employed as a bookkeeper for a large implement concern in Waverly. He married Miss Grace Levrich. Mark Glenn was born April 20, 1892, and is an electrician. Mrs. Garner makes her home in Waverly, where she is well known and highly regarded, her circle of friends being almost coextensive with the circle of her acquaintances.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914