Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1886-10-14

o. H P. GARRETT.
Oliver Hazard Perry Garrett was born in
Laurens district, South Carolina, MAY -,
1916, and died at his residence, near Brcn-
ham, in Washington county, Texas, October
5, 1886.
His great grandfather, Edward Garrett,
emigrated from Virginia to South Carolina
before the war and settled on Warriors
creek, in what was afterwards Lauren's dis
trict. Edward Garrett often led the settlers
in their campaigns against the Indians, who
infested the country, and lived and died a
pioneer. He and his son, John Garrett, snd
| his grandson, Thomas Garrett, all lie buried
in the old churchyard at Warriors creek.
! Thomas Garrett wasa well-to-dO farmer, and
was for some time squire, or justice of the
peace, of his community. He reared \ fam
/ lily of nine children, five sons and four
daughters; his son Perry was the fifth child.
| Perry Garrett was reared on farm, and
received n fair education for the times. lie
carly conceived the idea of becoming land
surveyor, and prepared himself under the tu-
telage of an experienced surveyor living in
LaurenS district. November -. 1887, soon
after he became 81 years of age, he received
his appointment as deputy surveyor for the
districts of Laurcns and SPartinburg from
John 7 SeibClS, surveyor general of South
Carolina; but he had already been attracted
toward the new Republic Of Texas by the
news of San Jacinto and glowing accounts
of the country which had reached the States,
and, in 1888, at the age of - years, he set out
on horseback for Texas. journey then full
of danger, and of the utmost moment TO a
young man of his age.
In November, 1888, he reached the resi-
dence of Shubal Marsh, near the town of In
dependence, in Washington county, whose
hospitable roof gave him the first shelter in
Texas. After a short stay in Washington
county,.he continued his journey to the new
capital of the young republic, and made his
home below Austin, ON the Colorado, for two
or three years.
Like many young men whom the fame of
Texas had attracted, young Garrett returned
TO his old home fer Il wife, and, on October
Is, 1871, he married Miss Nancy VI. Garrett,
his cousin, the daughter of the Rev. Hosea
Garrett, who still lives at the advanced age
of S. years. With his wife and his fathcr-in-
laws family, he returned TO Texas in the
winter of 1912. They bought land near
the present site of the town of Chappcll Hill,
and opened farms. Rev. Hosea Garrett re-
sides on mis- farm, but his Son-in-law removed
to his late residence near Brennan soon
after the civil war.
1t WAS not long before Perry Garrett, as he
was Familiarity called, was known through
out the country as careful and accurate
surveyor, and many time would he be
called from his home on surveying trips,
leaving his farm in the charge of his wife and
few negro servants.
In 1872 he raised company, of which he
was elected captain, for the Somcrvillc cam
paign, but was prevented by sickness from
accompanying the command 10 the Rio
Grandp.
He was never of speculative turn, and
sought only TO accumulate such property rs
tardily came from u quiet and industrious
pursuit of his double avocation of farmer and
surveyor. Home comforts were of more
value to him than the accumulation of wild
lands. He would locate lands for others, but
never for himself. Farm life always had
charm for him, and good crops nearly al
ways rewarded his love for agriculture.
During the last few years of his life, with
painstaking care, he would compile agricul-
lural statistics for the department at Wash
ingtOn with an accuracy that could only re-
suit from love of avocation.
Although never politician, Mr.. Garrett
filed several offices of trust in his county.
First, as deputy surveyor, he laid off the
original town of Brennan, under the direc.
ton of the town commissioners. As early rs
1916 he was commissioned as district sur
vcvor, and held the office of district and
county surveyor for number of years. In
1855 he was elected county commissioner,
and, in 1861, chief justice of Washington
county, and was serving us chief justice
when the war ended. Gov. Hamilton reap
pointed him after his appointment as provis-
ional governor, and, nj the election in 1866,
he was elected county judge, from which
office he was deposed, in 1868, by the military
governor, as an impeachment to reconstruc-
ton. He was not in the Confederate army,
but. although he believed that secession was
unwise, he went with the majority, and was
Jealous and active during the war in supply
ing the armies and in caring for soldiers
families Naturally endowed with good,
practical sense and kind disposition, he was
also a useful member of society in private
life, and was often tho trusted adviser in
many matters affecting the interests of his
neighbors.
a sketch of Mr.. CARROTS life wonld be in
complete without some reference to his
church relations. At the age of Il years he
protested religion and joined Warriors creek
Baptist church, and ever after was con-
sistent member of the church and Jealous
Christian. He is a part of the history of the
in Texas. In 1874 he was or
dained a deacon by Providence church, near
Chappell Hill, and was elected clerk of the
church in 1913. lie was one of the organ
izers of Union Association, the frs: general
body of BaptistE in Texas, and was clerk of
the association for many years. He was also
recording secretary of Texas Baptist State
convention from October, 1859, TO 1886.
Mr.. Garrett leaves surviving him his wife
and their children, G. C. Garrett, of Bren-
ham; Mrs. Matte G. Price, wife of d. 6.
Price, of Lampasas; Mrs. Helen g. Parks,
wife of j. F. Parks, of Bryan; Hosea Garrett,
of Brennan. and O.. II. p. Garrett, jr., of San
Antonio. He was not eminent in the general
acceptance OF the word, nor was he dis
tinguished, as the world goes; but he was up
right and honorable, a good and valuable
citizen, Il Christian gentleman, good man.
''There can be no evil befall a good man,
whether he be alive or dead"