Augustus GARRETT. Among the prosperous
farmers of Steuben township,
On reaching man’s estate Mr. GARRET was joined in wedlock with Miss Electa SARGENT, daughter of Henry and Amelia SARGENT, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, and their marriage ceremony was performed on the 17th of October, 1893. The lady was born at the home of her parents, September 6, 1867, and has become the mother of one child – Sarah Amelia, born October 6, 1894. She is a faithful member of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. GARRETT devotes his entire time and attention to the cultivation of his farm, which comprises one hundred and sixty acres of rich and valuable land, well improved, and was a part of his father’s old homestead. He is one of the energetic, progressive citizens of Steuben township, and is actively identified with all its interests. In politics he is a stanch democrat, a warm supporter of the principles and beliefs of that party, and socially is identified with Sparland lodge, No. 144, F. & A. M.
Extracted April 2011 by Norma Hass from The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, 1896.
Augustus GARRETT has been an active factor in public life in
Steuben township and for a number of years was actively engaged
in general farming there on section 17, but in the fall of 1906
removed to Lacon, where he is now living a retired life. He was
born in Steuben township in 1859. His father, Amasa GARRETT, was
one of the best known, most honored and most popular residents
of this portion of the state and his long service as justice of
the peace led him to be always known by the title of squire. His
birth occurred in Washington county, Ohio, April 14, 1818, and
his father, who was of French ancestry, was a pioneer of that
state. In 1836 the family removed to Bureau county, locating in
that section which was then a part of Putnam county and
subsequently the father took up his abode at Bulbona Grove near
the present village of Wyanet in Bureau county.
In early life Amasa GARRETT began trading in furs and continued
in that business for a number of years, but later engaged in
buying and shipping cattle, which were largely sent to the
Chicago markets. He also became an agent for the location and
sale of land lying in the military tract of Illinois and, making
the subject of titles a study, became a recognized authority on
this subject. His operations extended over a radius of forty
miles and within that distance he invested in military lands,
owning at one time about one thousand acres. When these lands
were mostly disposed of by the government he turned his
attention to his farming interests and confined his attention to
the cultivation of the soil and raising stock. He raised cattle
and hogs of high grades and became one of the most extensive
farmers of Steuben township and Marshall county. Although he
started out in life without capital, dependent entirely upon his
own resources and business ability, he owned at the time of his
death about one thousand acres. He drove cattle across the
country to Chicago and shipped to St. Louis by way of the river.
His political support was given to the democracy and for many
years he served as justice of the peace, while for sixteen years
he was supervisor from Steuben township, his long continued
service being indicative of the confidence and trust reposed in
him by his fellow townsmen. A great admirer of Stephen A.
Douglas, he followed the fortunes of that statesman until his
death and served as a delegate in the Baltimore convention which
nominated Douglas for the presidency. He was usually a delegate
to the district, county and state conventions and his opinions
carried weight and influence, often proving a decisive factor in
the settlement of political questions.
Amasa GARRETT was married at Lacon, February 20, 1848, to Miss
Sarah A. ORR, who was born in Maryland, a daughter of James and
Sarah (RAMSEY) ORR, both natives of Maryland, whence they
removed to Marshall county, Illinois, when their daughter was
eight years of age. Mr. ORR, who was a farmer, entered land a
mile and a half from the village of Lacon in Lacon township and
proceeded to improve the farm, which in course of time became
one of the best cultivated tracts of land in the county. Mrs.
GARRETT was one of the younger members of a family of six
children and as a bride she went with her husband to a farm in
the Bethel neighborhood of Marshall county, which he had
purchased. There they resided for twelve years, after which they
removed to Steuben township, where they reared their family of
five children. James O., the oldest, who for some time was in
the government employ and was one of the famous "101" in the
Springfield legislature, is now living in Peoria, Illinois;
Josephine became the wife of Samuel McFARLAND and both died,
leaving two children. Augustus is the next of the family. Clara
is deceased, and Allison is a retired farmer living in Sparland.
Augustus GARRETT spent his childhood days in Steuben township
and attended the Senachwine district school prior to entering
the Sparland high school, where he remained as a student for
three years. His education completed, he turned his attention to
general agricultural pursuits, which he continuously followed
until the fall of 1906, when he retired from active business
life and took up his abode in Lacon. He still owns two hundred
and twenty acres of land in Steuben township, which is valuable
property and yields to him a gratifying income.
On the 17th of October, 1893, Mr. GARRETT was married to Miss
Electa SARGENT and unto them have been born four children:
Millie, Marie, Ella and Amasa, all at home. In his political
views Mr. GARRETT is a stalwart democrat and has served as
supervisor of Steuben township for the past six years, but on
account of ill health has resigned. He has held a number of
other local offices and he belongs to the Masonic lodge of
Sparland and to the Methodist Episcopal church. The GARRETT
family has long been a prominent, influential and prosperous one
in this part of the county and the life record of Augustus
GARRETT is in harmony with that of other members of the family,
who are accounted leading and valued citizens.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
 |
La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
