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A. M. GARRETT, a prominent stock-dealer of Louisa County, Iowa, was born in Concord Township in 1857, and now resides on section 35. He was the eldest in a family of four children born to Barton and Elizabeth (Finley) Garrett, the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother of Ohio. In about the year 1854 the parents emigrated to Louisa County, Iowa, locating in Concord Township, where Mr. Garrett is still engaged in farming. His wife died in 1870, at the age of thirty-four years.
The primary education of our subject was received in the district schools of Louisa County, supplemented by a course in the graded schools of Letts. He was reared to farm life, and in 1879, in Muscatine County, was united in marriage with Laura S. Dill, who was born in this county, and is a daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth Jane (Fowler) Dill, who were born in Ohio, and who came to Louisa County in 1854. Her father was one of the prominent physicians of the county, and his death occurred in 1883, at the age of fifty-seven years, nine months and seventeen days. His excellent wife departed this life in 1869, at the age of thirty-four years.
The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm in Concord Township, and to them have been born an interesting family of three children: Jacob Bertram, Elizabeth Jane and Augusta May, the two elder children now attending school in the Washington district.
Mr. Garrett is one of the most extensive stock-buyers of Louisa County, buying and selling throughout the State. He feeds about 100 head of cattle annually, and is a member of the noted firm of Garrett Bros., who also deal quite extensively in grain at Letts. In connection with his brother he purchased the fine farm of 380 acres to which he removed in 1882. It is now highly improved, and a fine creek which flows through it furnishes an abundant supply of water for the stock. The energy which characterizes all his actions has also made his present business a success, and he is now one of the well-to-do farmers of the county. Mr. Garrett generally votes with the Greenback party, though he has never taken an active part in political affairs. Socially, he is a Freemason, a member of Triangular Lodge No. 231, at Letts, and also of Composite Chapter No. 17, of Columbus Junction. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Fredonia, and none hold a higher social position or are more esteemed than they. On the opposite page will be found a portrait of Mr. Garrett.
