William Stewart Garrett (1825-1891)

GARRETT, HAWTHORNE, DAILEY, CHILD

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 2/3/2016 at 17:40:29

From Nevada Representative April 15, 1891

The death of W. S. Garrett, which occurred at his home in this city on the morning of April 10th, 1891, Nevada has lost one of its earliest settlers and most worthy citizens. A man of undemonstrative nature, the outlines of his career are briefly told. He ws born in Hillsborough, Highland county, Ohio, February, 1825, and came, with his parents to Polk county, Iowa, in 1847. He taught school in 1854; went to California in 1852, and remained until 1858, when he removed to Story county and located at Nevada. He was married in 1859 to Jennie, daughter of Major James Hawthorne. To them were born two sons who died in infancy, and one daughter Belle H., who survives him. His wife dying in 1867, he was married again in 1869 to Maggie Daily Child. She and the daughter named above constitute the members of his family still remaining. During the first twenty years of his residence in Nevada he was engaged in mercantile business being associated therein a portion of the time with his father, his life long friend, Hon. T. C. McCall, Dr. Sinclair, and Otis Briggs. At the end of this period, his health being impaired, he gave up the cares of trade, and with the exception of the two years recently passed in the grocery business, has lived in practical retirement.

In 1879 as the trusted representative of the Nevada Mining Company he spent a year or more in Colorado. While prospecting he received an injury from a falling stone that brought him near death's door.

Brief and uneventful on the surface as his life story seems to have been, to those who knew him intimately and hence were able to estimate the quiet man at his true value, there is in it deep, and even romantic interest. One would hardly think that this man of few words and gentle manner had in him the material of which were made conductors of Ohio underground railroads, fled from southern bondage, or that in his early manhood he successfully wrought in the placer mines of California. Yet such is the record. Indeed beneath his quiet exterior there were many of those substantial qualities of mind and heart that made him the advocate, promoter and conservator of the best ideas and measures of his age. The testimony of those who knew and had tested him, is that he was honest, conscientious, faithful to duty, unselfish, devoted to principle, home loving and patriotic. The world is the better for the life he lived.

His funeral services were held in the Methodist church Sunday afternoon and were conducted by Rev. Mr. Danner assisted by Revs. Coyle and Fegtly. There was a large attendance of Odd Fellows of which Brotherhood the deceased was a prominent and highly respected member; and the burial at the cemetery was according to the beautiful and impressive custom of the Order.

The resolutions found below, not only voice the kind regard and high esteem of his lodge associates, but likewise of the whole community of which he was an exemplary constituent.

Central Iowa Lodge No. 104 I. O. O. F.
Nevada, Iowa, April 14th, 1891.

WHEREAS: Bro. W. S. Garrett has been a faithful member of our Order for more than a third of a century, has been a zealous and efficient worker, has passed through all the chairs from the lowest to the highest position attainable, both in the subordinate and in the Encampment and,

WHEREAS: Our Sovereign Grand Master has through the dispensation exalted our beloved Brother and Patriarch to the Grand Lodge above, Therefore,

Resolved: That in his removal from among us the Order has suffered an irrepairable loss, the community been deprived of an honest man and worthy citizen, and wife and daughter bereft of a devoted husband and fond father.

Resolved: That we hereby express and tender to the beloved wife and affectionate daughter our sincere heartfelt sympathy in this their time of sorrow and bereavement.

Resolved: That these resolutions be spread upon the record of our Order and a certified copy of the same placed in the hands of the widow and orphan.

In Friendship, Love and Truth.

R. J. SILLIMAN, }
JOHN BEATTY, } Com.
F. D. THOMPSON. }