The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1904-08-26
Flnis J. Garrett.


tor in the politics of Tennessee has
furnished food for much editorial
thought among the newspapers of
the State, and the personality of
FINS J. Garrett, the young man who
defeated Rice A. Pierce in the con-
gresslonal race in the Ninth district,
is the favorite theme with most of
them. The Lauderdale County En-
terprise has the following entertain
ing and complimentary sketch of
Mr.. Garrett in a recent issue of that
paper
Eight years ago in the course of
that marvellous campaign which re-
vealed to the country one of its most
brilliant orators, William ]. Bryan
spoke to a large crowd at Mckenzie
At the conclusion of his speech a
slender young man, with compelling
dark eyes and perfect poise of man
ner, assembled the platform and ad-
dressed the great throng Of people
Although unknown to majority of
his hearers, he held their attention
from the beginning, and as he pro-
WINGED and his earnestness impressed
all who heard, while his sledge-ham-
ner sarcasm and rapier-like ridicule
brought shouts of laughter from the
delighted audience, and at the close
he received an ovation equal to that
OF the distinguished candidate fo1
president. Then came forward an elo'
quent speaker, man who had been
honored many times with high places
of public trust, and paid the youth
splendid tribute, predicting for him a
great future and concluding with the
words: my young friend, all I ask
4, that you stay out of the Ninth Con-
gressional district"
That youth, only 20 years Of age,
was FINS ]. Garrett, a school boy of
Mckenzie, and his eulogist was Hon.
Rice A. Pierce, congressman from the
Ninth district of Tennessee.
Finis J. Garrett was born in an
humble home in Weakley county,
August &c, 1875. His parents are
both living, and be is their only child.
His father was a Confederate soldier,
and now resides on a farm in Weak
ley county. In his earlier years Gar
Tett worked on his fathers farm. dur
ing school vacations, his first school
ing being obtained at Como,
school OF which he was the principal
some eight years later. He attended
gre session Of Clinton College at Gin
ton, Ky, and at the age Of eighteen
Asoame editor OF the WeakIey County
Democrat at Dresden.
At this time he published his first
poems, some Of which were praised
and copied extensively by the daily
press. Later on he assumed editorial
charge Of che Mckenzie Herald
He was ambitious, with ideals and
a fine reasoning mind, and with a de-
termination to develop his faculties
and equip himself for high position in
life. He entered Bethel College, at
Mckenzie, paying his way by working
half the day in the Mckenzie Herald
printing office. He graduated from
Bethel with high honors in 1897, was
va1edictorian Of his class and won the
class medal for oratory. He was
principal Of the Como public school.
and taught one year IN the Milan
school, reading law during his unoc-
cUpied time. In August, 1899. he was
admitted to the bar, and the follow
ing year formed a partnership with
Capt. Charles M. Ewing, of Dresden.
Capt. Ewing died in March, 1900, and
Garrett continued to practice law
alone, rapidly gaining a paying patron
hge and earning recognition as a keen
Judge of the law and an eminent nd
vocate. At this time he also made a
remarkable reputation, for one so
young, IN the lecture field One of
his lectures, 1.-The South and Litera-
ture," being a masterpiece of pro-
found thought, couched in classic Ian
guage. and showing an intimate
knowledge Of the subject. September
Il, 1900 Chancellor John s. Cooper
offered him the position Of clerk and
master ofthe Chancery Court of Weak
ley county without his being an appli-
cant.
He accepted and still holds that 70
sition, practicing law in other courts.
He has never made a failure, his every
effort being rewarded with success. He
is a deep thinker, a tireless worker
and possesses great executive ability,
a man of spotless integrity, unassum-
ing, reserved, intensely home-loving
and withal as brave as those knightly
cavaliers who were his ancestors. he
is a splendid type Of the South's |
matchless manhood.
November 27, 1901, he married Miss |
Elizabeth Harris Burns. a daughter of
]. T. Burns. Of Mckenzie They have |
one child, Virginia, one year old.
Mr.. Garrett. ut the age of only |
twenty-nine, IN defeating an old ami |
experienced politician after daringly |
original and brilliant campaign, has |
achieved a success that promises q |
wonderful future. |
Ripley U. c. V. Reunion.
John Sutherland Camp, U. G. V, |
n. Il