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         J. W. GARNER, one of the firm of Colton & Garner, of Columbus City, and President of the Louisa County National Bank, of Columbus Junction, is a resident of the former place, and was the founder of the last-named city. He was the proprietor of the original plat of Columbus Junction, which consisted of twenty acres, which he platted and named Columbus Junction, in 1869.

Mr. Garner was born in Preble County, Ohio, Jan. 30, 1843, and is the son of Col. Wesley W. and Harriet (Murray) Garner. His father was born in York County, Pa., and is of German and Scotch descent, while his mother, who was born in Carroll County, Md., is also of Scotch ancestry. Mr. Garner came to Louisa County, Iowa, with his parents in 1845, the family settling at Columbus City, where they still reside. (See sketch of Col. W. W. Garner elsewhere in this work.)

Our subject received his primary education in the public schools, and later attended the Iowa Wesleyan University, of Mt. Pleasant. He was reared to agricultural and mercantile pursuits under the direction of his father, who was both a farmer and merchant. When seventeen years of age he went to Muscatine, where he served nearly three years in the printing-office of the Muscatine Journal, doing duty a part of the time as post-office clerk for the publisher, who was then Postmaster of that city. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company F, 25th Iowa Infantry, and was promoted to Commissary Sergeant of the regiment on the 27th of September following, and in July, 1863, was commissioned Quartermaster. From September, 1864, until the close of the war, he was Acting Division Quartermaster of the 1st Division of the 15th Army Corps, and was mustered out in June, 1865, with the rank of Regimental Quartermaster.

On his return from the war Mr. Garner was appointed Assistant United States Assessor, which position he held from July, 1865, until the spring of 1868. In the meantime he had formed a partnership with William H. Neal, in the drug business at Columbus City, under the firm name of Neal & Garner, that connection continuing five years, when Mr. Garner sold out and opened a general store in the same town, in company with Frank Colton, under the firm name of Colton & Garner, which business they have carried on continuously since, covering a period of sixteen years. This is one of the largest mercantile houses in Louisa County. Mr. Garner was one of the original incorporators of the Louisa County National Bank of Columbus Junction, Iowa, and was a member of the first Board of Directors, having held that position continuously since. He was elected President of the bank in 1879, and has been re-elected at each succeeding election to this date (1888).

On the 15th of February, 1877, Mr. Garner was united in marriage, in York County, Pa., with Miss Agnes Freeland, who was born in Baltimore County, Md., is a daughter of C. Freeland, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Socially, Mr. Garner is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of Columbus City Lodge No. 107, A. F. & A. M.; of Composite Chapter No. 91, R. A. M.; and of DeMolay Commandery No. 1, K. T., of Muscatine. He is also a member of Joe Neal Post No. 129, G. A. R., of Columbus City, and is a Republican in . . .

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. . . politics. He has never sought or desired public office, but has served in some minor official positions. Mr. Garner is known as an enterprising and successful business man, who has been prominently identified with the mercantile and banking interests of Louisa County for many years, and one who is entitled to rank as one of the leading citizens of the county.