# Granville L. Maret

Granville Love Maret (December 13, 1822 - February 10, 1872) was a union captain during the American Civil War, postmaster, and justice of the peace for the fourth district in Whitley County, Kentucky.

## Early life

Granville Love Maret was born Granville Love Merritt on December 13, 1822, near Lowell, Kentucky. Between the ages of 9 and 11, he and his family moved to Rockcastle County, Kentucky, near Wildie, where as a boy he helped his parents on their farm.

## Before the Civil War

On December 24, 1846, Granville married Mary Gatliff in Williamsburg, Kentucky. They had one child, Mollie, in 1849. It's believed Mary died shortly after due the complications during childbirth.
In the 1850 United States census, Maret, aged 28 years, was shown to be working as a farmhand in Williamsburg, Kentucky, on the farm of his Father-in-law, Thomas Jefferson Gatliff (1813-1852).
Maret likely had an education, as he worked a few government jobs. From the late 1850s to either 1860 or 1861, he was a justice of the peace for the fourth district in Whitley County, Kentucky. He heard many cases over his term. From January 6, 1860, to February 14, 1860, he was the postmaster for Williamsburg, Kentucky. These roles would have strengthened his leadership profile and public trust, both important factors that could have contributed to his later promotion to captain during the Civil War. His dual experience as a postmaster and justice of the peace would have positioned him as a prominent and well-connected figure in Whitley County, which would have made him a logical choice for a leadership role when his community needed officers during the war. It was around this time about a year later, that he would meet his soon to be wife, Elizabeth.

## During the Civil War

On July 20, 1861, Granville and Elizabeth were wed in Williamsburg, Kentucky, due to her pregnancy. Only 1 month later, on August 20, Maret was among the first to enroll in the American Civil War in Whitley County, Kentucky, along with his brother-in-law, Elias S. Bowman. And after a little over a month, on September 22, 1861, he was mustered in at Camp Dick Robinson to Company G, of the 3rd regiment Kentucky volunteer infantry. But on April 15, 1862, Maret was told that he had been appointed as captain of Company G, of the 3rd regiment, Kentucky volunteer infantry. On the same day, he wrote a letter to adjutant General of the United States, Lorenzo Thomas, which stated:
   To the adjutant General of the United States:
   Sir, I hereby signify my acceptance of the office of captain of Company (G) of the 3rd Regt. of Kentucky volunteer infantry in the army of the United States. I am aged Thirty-nine years, residence Whitley County state of Kentucky, was elected by the members of Company (G) aforesaid the 20th day of August 1861, and was borned [sic] in the state of Kentucky.
   N. B. My name is spelled Maret.
By October 1862, the 3rd regiment had become the 7th regiment or the "old 3rd". Around January 1863, he was described as being sickly. He was injured in Louisiana, likely in Plaquemine or Baton Rouge c. March 1864, and announced his resignation on June 10, 1864, and was officially out by June 13. He was quoted in a letter as saying another reason for his resignation was due to the poor health of his wife, and overall "helplessness" of family.

## Later life and death

Maret spent most of his later years as a farmer on his relatively small farm in Mount Vernon, Kentucky, near to his parents and brother Alva. In the 1869 Rockcastle County tax book, he is listed as owning 10 acres of land, and a few cattle. All being worth $135. In the 1870 agricultural schedule, he had lost an acre, only owning 9 acres of land, with 4 of those being woodland. He owned 1 milk cow. He farmed corn, oats, tobacco, potatoes and more. He made and sold butter and molasses. In 1870, his entire farm was valued at an estimated $229. By 1871, he owned only half of that, owning 5 acres of land.
Granville L. Maret died on February 10, 1872, on his farm in Mount Vernon, Kentucky. It is unknown what he died of, or where he is buried, though he is likely buried in the Maret cemetery near where his parents' farm was in Wildie, Kentucky. After his death, his farm was put into the hands of his wife, Elizabeth.