JOHN W. GARRATT
The
name of John W. Garratt has long been associated with
progressive and successful agriculture in Wayne county, where
he has passed his entire life.
He was born in Benton township in a little house still
standing on the farm he now owns on the 20th of
April, 1862, and is the only son of the late James Garratt. His father was born
in Chestershire, England, on April 1, 1817, and there he was
likewise reared and educated.
His energies were early directed along agricultural
lines, which pursuits he continued to follow in the old
country until 1842, when he emigrated to America. After a year’s
residence in the United States he went back to England, but in
1844 he returned to this country and settled in the vicinity
of Alton, Illinois. From
there he went to Jacksonville, that state, where he bought
some land which he diligently improved and cultivated for
several years thereafter.
In 1854, Mr. Garratt entered some government land in
Wayne county, Iowa, a portion of this tract still being in the
possession of his son, and in April of the year following
removed here with his wife and family. He immediately
settled on his homestead and there resided until his death,
which occurred in 1899.
After removing here he entered land for a number of his
friends in Illinois and also bought and sold real estate. He increased his
own holdings and at one time owned three hundred acres, but he
later disposed of a portion of his tract and at the time of
his death his farm comprised only two hundred and forty acres. For his wife Mr.
Garratt chose Miss Deliah Lowe, who was born in Cass county,
Illinois, then known as Morgan county, on the 18th
of August, 1821. She
was reared and married in her native state whence she removed
to Iowa with her husband, whom she survived for many years,
her death occurring on the 8th of March, 1912. Of this marriage
there were born four children, the eldest of whom is a
daughter Mary, now Mrs. C. V. Allen of this state, while the
last born was our subject, John W. The other two members of the family died
in infancy.
The
entire life of John W. Garratt has been passed amid the scenes
with which he is now daily familiar. His early years were very similar to
those of other lads with whom he was reared. At the usual age he
entered the district schools of Benton township, where he
acquired his education, and while engaged in the mastery of
the fundamental principles of English learning he was also
becoming familiar with the duties of the agriculturist. As the years passed
he assumed more and more of the responsibilities about the
farm of which he had the entire management for about fifteen
years prior to the death of his father. Mr. Garratt is
enterprising and progressive in whatever he undertakes,
directing his business in a well organized, systematic manner. His fields, which
he plants to such crops as he deems best adapted to the soil,
are annually yielding abundant harvests, and in connection
with his diversified farming he is raising stock and is an
extensive feeder. As
the years have passed he has increased his acreage until his
holdings now aggregate five hundred acres, all of which he has
brought to a high state of productivity. His buildings and
fences have been substantially constructed and kept in good
condition, while at various times he has introduced about the
premises different devices for reducing the labor and
expediting the work, making his one of the valuable properties
of the community. By
the exercise of good judgment and sagacity he has prospered in
his undertakings and is not only an extensive property holder
but is one of the stockholders and a director of the Farmers
national Bank of Allerton.
On
the 19th of October, 1899, Mr. Garratt was married
to Sarah Hall, a daughter of James and Martha (Kimple) Hall,
natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Iowa in 1857,
being among the pioneer farming people of this section of the
state. To Mr.
and Mrs. Garratt there have been born two children, as
follows: Zell
K., whose birth occurred on the 7th of November,
1900; and Boise J., who was born in January, 1904.
His political support Mr. Garratt extends to the democratic party, and although he has never sought an official position he is one of the public-spirited men of his township, taking an active and helpful interest in everything he feels will tend to promote the welfare of the community either intellectually, morally or materially.