William E. GARRETT

GARRETT, STRONG

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:46

William E. Garrett
15 January 1844 ---- 31 December 1940

A colorful character passed from the streets of Eagle Grove when William A. (Uncle Bill) Garrett passed away at the convalescent home, where he had been lovingly cared for, Tuesday evening, December 31, 1940. According to his personal narrative, he was born at Polo, Illinois, January 15, 1844, in one of the 23 Canadian families who had migrated from the vicinity of Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, in 1825. According to the same narrative, he had many exciting and interesting experiences among the Indians and pioneers of the West in the days of Indian hostilities, being acquainted with Pawnee Bill and believed himself to have been the last white man to see Custer alive just before the famous "last stand".

He said that he had been a newspaper reporter in New York covering the famous Beecher-Tilden trial for the New York Tribune.

For the past 50 years he had been in and out of Eagle Grove, residing here most of the time, except for excursions to California to help settle a sister's estate, of which he was a beneficiary; to Canada, and to Polo, Ill., visiting relatives and boyhood friends. He was a great lover of children. Some are now grown to adult life who remember the pleasant hours spent in his presence, listening to his violin, or to the rehearsal of his thrilling personal exploits.

He was an expert sermon taster, enjoying church services whenever possible. An omnivorous reader, he was especially informed concerning American Patriot Leaders, like Washington and Lincoln. As the assassin of Lincoln, J. Wilkes Booth, was killed in an uncle's barn near Washington, he had many historical anecdotes that have never made their way into print.

He loved poetry. He had made many of the better poems his own and delighted in reciting them, even in his old age with great spirit. He had himself written thousands of stanzas of original poetry, much of which had great merit, one of the poems being a tribute to his friend, the late editor, A. H. Barnes. His love of the beautiful found expression in his embellishments of his poetic works, exquisitely both as to form and color. Many people in Eagle Grove knew him as a successful gardener.

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at two o'clock at the Wilson Chapel, Rev. A. S. Kilbourn officiating, assisted by Rev. Gustave Anderson. Mrs. Fannie Cotton and Mrs. Vina Hall sang appropriate solos, with Mrs. Kate Martin as the accompanist. Burial was at Rose Hill cemetery.

The only Iowa relative is B. E. Strong of Humboldt. The nearest relative is a granddaughter, the daughter of an adopted son in Oregon.

EAGLE GROVE EAGLE -- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, January 9, 1941

Source --- Paul Wilde