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COL. WESLEY W. GARNER, of Columbus City, is numbered among the pioneers of 1840. Coming here at an early day, when the smoke of the wigwam had scarcely cleared away, from that time to the present the record of his life forms no inconsiderable part in the history of Louisa County. With others of that noble band of men and women who left the comforts and pleasures of Eastern homes, he has experienced the toils and privations of pioneer life, lived to see the wonderful transformation that has taken place, and in the grand work has acted well his part. As it is the true province of history to preserve for future generations that which will enable them to form some accurate idea of the condition of things in the past, and the causes which led to them, that useful lessons may be drawn from them, we in this volume record the life work of many of Louisa County’s best citizens, and among others that of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch.
Wesley W. Garner is a native of Shrewsbury, York Co., Pa., born Nov. 25, 1815. He is the eldest son of Jarrett and Susanna Garner, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom died before arriving at maturity. Those who grew to man and womanhood were: Wesley W., our subject; Dr. J. W., one of the early settlers of Burlington, Iowa, who died at Mt. Pleasant, this State, in 1862; Mrs. D. B. Abrams, of Ottumwa, Iowa; and Mrs. D. J. L. Taylor, also of the latter city.
Jarrett Garner’s occupation for the greater part of his life was that of a merchant, at which he was engaged in Shrewsbury, Pa., and Manchester, Md., for a number of years. In May, 1846, he emigrated with his family to Iowa, and settled in Burlington, where he was active in real estate and improvement of the city until 1859, when he moved to Ottumwa, Iowa, where he resided until his death in 1862, at Mt. Pleasant. His good wife survived him some five years, dying in Ottumwa in 1867. For many years they were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were held in high esteem for their piety and earnest zeal in the cause of Christianity.
Our subject grew to manhood in his native town, and there received a good English education, which later in life was largely supplemented by reading, reflection and observation, making him a thoroughly posted man on all subjects of general interest. In his youth, when not attending school, his time was spent in his father’s store, where he received a thorough business training, to which is doubtless largely due much of the success he has attained in his various business pursuits. Arriving at maturity, he was taken as a partner in his father’s business, the partnership continuing for about four years, or until his removal to Iowa. At this time he was a resident of Winchester, Preble Co., Ohio, to which place he had removed in 1839.
On the 24th of January, 1839, Col. Garner was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Murray, a native of Maryland, and a daughter of John and . . .
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. . . Sarah (Beasman) Murray, who were descendants of the earliest and most prominent families of Baltimore County, Md. This union has been blessed with nine children, only four of whom are now living: J. W. Garner, Mrs. Frank Colton, Miss Jennie Garner and Mrs. G. W. James, the latter now of San Jose, Cal.
Soon after closing out his business in Winchester, Ohio, Col. Garner, in company with his brother J. W., started with horse teams for the then Far West, bringing with them the remnant of his stock of goods, which they peddled among the settlers as they drove across the State of Illinois. Arriving at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, they sold the remnant of their stock to Pressley and Alvin Saunders, pioneer merchants of that city, the former still being a resident of that place, and the latter, who was the first Territorial Governor of Nebraska, and one of its first United States Senators, is now a resident of Omaha. Having disposed of his merchandise, Col. Garner came to Louisa County, in 1840, and exchanged his horses to Mr. Latty for 400 acres of land on section 4, township 74, range 4. The land was but partially improved at that time, but the Colonel at once made arrangements for its further improvement and cultivation. In 1845 he moved his family into the county, and made a permanent settlement at Columbus City. Besides managing his large farm, much of his time during the succeeding ten years was spent as a surveyor and civil engineer, quite a thorough knowledge of which he had acquired before coming West. Nearly if not quite all of the public roads, both State and county, in the northern part of Louisa County, were located and surveyed by him, in addition to which he located a number in other parts of the county. He was known as an active, industrious, enterprising man, and one always in the van in matters of improvement.
For seventeen years Mr. Garner carried on farming successfully on the land which he first purchased, and transformed the once vast unbroken prairie into a beautiful and highly cultivated farm. In 1850 he engaged in mercantile pursuits at Columbus City, where he opened a large stove, iron and general hardware store, the first of its kind in the interior of the State, and here he did a large and profitable business for about six years. About the time he commenced mercantile business at Columbus City the subject of building a railroad from the Mississippi to the Missouri River was being agitated. In 1851 he was employed by the Mississippi & Missouri River Railroad company to locate a line through Louisa County, and surveyed the first projected line of that road through this county. The road is now part of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific system. From the time of the first survey to the present time the Colonel has been connected with the road in some capacity. At one time he was right of way agent, then he let contracts for the fencing, and for a number of years past has been Auditor of Taxes.
In 1856, tiring of the cares and anxieties incident to mercantile life, and preferring the more agreeable duties of farm life, Col. Garner sold out his store and again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he has been more or less largely interested ever since. As an agriculturist he has been energetic and enterprising, and always systematic, employing the most improved methods and machinery. By so doing he has attained a degree of success seldom enjoyed by the average farmer. In connection with his farming he has taken a lively interest in introducing and improving the various breeds of farm stock. In connection with his son, J. W., he was among the first to import pure-bred Short-horn cattle and Southdown sheep from the State of Kentucky to this county. In this way he has rendered valuable service to the community, as the raising of good stock is a necessary adjunct to good and successful farming.
“Order is Heaven’s first law” is a maxim that Col. Garner seems to have religiously observed, for in all his business relations its influence may be seen, as he has always been methodical, painstaking, precise and prompt. In his writings will scarcely be found a blot, and some of the largest land-owners in the county have frequently called upon him in preference to a lawyer to make out their deeds of conveyance. In the arrangement of his private papers that care is taken enabling him to find any paper desired at a moment’s notice.
In political sentiment Col. Garner has always . . .
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. . . been an ardent supporter of the Democratic party. Its principles, as taught by such eminent leaders as Jackson and Douglas, are dear to his heart. His loyalty to the party has been due entirely to his honest belief in the justice of its principles, and not from any advantage derived from the sweets of office or the excellence of place. He has not been an office-seeker, though he has on different occasions consented to become the standard bearer of his party when it was difficult to find one willing to lead the forlorn hope, as his party has always been largely in the minority in this county. In 1854 he opposed Dr. Cleaver for the office of State Senator, and ran far ahead of his ticket. In 1869 he ran against Hon. James Hurley for the same office, and, though unsuccessful, polled considerably more than the party vote. In 1870 he received the nomination for Auditor of State on the Democratic ticket, but was again defeated, though he carried his own county, which was largely Republican—the result of his personal popularity. Though unsuccessful for the offices named, he has yet held various public offices, both local and State. He was the first Chief Clerk under Thomas H. Benton, the first State Superintendent of Public Instruction. In 1850 and 1851 he was Clerk of the State Senate, and for a time was connected with the United States Land Office in a prominent position. He has served as Mayor of Columbus City a number of times, and has held various other offices, in all of which he has discharged his duties honestly and faithfully, without fear or favor. The agricultural interests of the county have engaged much of his attention, as he has served as President of the County Agricultural Society for a number of terms, and the good achieved by that institution has been due in a great measure to his influence and efforts. Col. Garner has received the appointment of Notary Public from every Governor of the State.
In matters of religion Col. Garner entertains broad and liberal views. A friend of education and human progress, he has been a liberal supporter of every enterprise having for its object the general good of the community. His life has been a busy one, marked by honesty of purpose, and being fair and upright in all his dealings with his fellowmen. In his domestic relations he has been especially happy, honored and respected alike by wife, children and friends.
For nearly half a century the Colonel has been a resident of Louisa County, and, as stated in the beginning of this sketch, has formed no inconsiderable part of its history, and, while a man of strong convictions which he never fears to express, he is yet held in high esteem by political foes as well as friends. Personal enemies he has none. With his estimable wife he is now living a retired life in their comfortable home in Columbus City, enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life and an honestly earned competence. We cheerfully give place in this work for the foregoing brief sketch of this worthy pioneer and his family, and are pleased at the same time to present to the readers of this ALBUM his portrait.
