Year: 1871

From the Wilmington (Del) Commercial, Jan 25.,


He was born of Quaker parents, in Up
per Darby. Delaware County, Penn, on
the 21st of August, 1889, on farm still
in the possession of the family. His ia.
ther, though farmer, had been scythe
and edge tool maker, and Thomas learned
of him the trade, and his knowledge of it
afterward proved of the utmost advantage
to him.


He grew up and married at Darby, his
wife being Sarah Sharpless, and in 1920
they came to Wilmington to live, bringing
with them several children, most of whom
still live here.


Some years after his arrival here his
wife died, and in course of time he again
married, his second wife being Rachel
Mendenhall, who died in April, 1868, be-
loved and regretted by all who knew her.
His business career was one OF yicissi-
tndes, but generally and ultimately sue
cessful, for he made the whole of the COM
Portable competence of which he died pos
sessed after he was 60years of age. While
in the beginning of his business career as
an iron merchant in this city. wealthy
rival house attempted to crush him by re-
ducing the prices of iron to cost, put Mr..
Garrett, nothing dismayed, employed
another person to attend his store, but on
his leather apron, took to his anvil and
in the prosecution of his trade as an edge
tool maker, prepared to support himself
as long as this ruinous rivalry was kept
up. Thus in the sweat of the brow of one
| of the heroes and philanthrophists of this
age was laid the foundation of one of the
most extensive business houses that our
city now boasts. His competitor saw
that no amount of rivalry could crush a
man thus self-supporting and gave up
the effort


| OF course Thomas Garrett is best known
for his labor in behalf of the abolition OF
| Slavery, and as practical and effective
worker for emancipation, long before the
nation commenced the work of liberation
and justice


Born Quaker, he held with simple
trust the faith Of the society that God
moves and inspires men to do the work he
requires at their hands, and throughout
his life he never wavered in his convic-
ton that his Father had called him to work
in the cause to which he devoted himself
His attention was first directed to the in
iquity of Slavery while he was young
man of "a or %. He returned one day to
his fathers house, after brief absence,
and found the family dispmayed and indig-
nant at the kidnapping of colored wom-
an in their employ.


Thomas Immediately resolved to fol
low the kidnappers, and SO followed in
pursuit. Some peculiarly about the
track made by their wagon enabled him
TO trace them with ease and he followed
them by devious course from Darby to
a place near the Navy-Yard in Philadel-
phia, and then by inquiries, &C., tracked
them, and, we believe, secured the wom-
ans release.


During this ride, he afterwards assured
his friends, he felt the iniquity and abom-
ination of the whole system of Slavery
borne in upon his mind so strongly as to
fairly appal him, and he seemed to feel a
voice within him assuring him that his
work in life must be to help and defend
this prosecuted race.


From this time forward he never failed
to assist any fugitive from Slavery on the
way to freedom. and, of course, after his
removal to this city his opportunities for
this were greatly increased, and in the
course of time his house became known
as one of the refugees for fugitives. The
sentiment of this community was at that
time bitterly averse to any word or effort
against Slavery, and Mr.. Garrett had
but half a dozen friends who stood by him
Nearly all others looked on him with sus-
picion, or positive aversion, and his house
was constantly under the surveillance of
the police, who then, sad to say were al
ways on the watch for any fugitive from
bondage. Thomas was not disheartened
or dismayed by the lack of popular sympa-
thy or approval. He believed the lord
was on his side, and cared nothing for
the adverse opinion of men.


Many and interesting stories are told of
the men and women he helped away,
some ofthem full of pathnos, and some
decidedly amusing. He told the latter,
which related to his ingenious contri-
vances for assisting fugitives to escape
the police, with much pleasure in his
later years. We could repeat many OF
them, but this is not the time or place
The necessity of avoiding the police was
the only thing. however, which ever fore
ed him into any secrecy in his operations,
and, in all other respects he was 'with-
out concealment and without compromise
in his opposition to Slavery. He was a
man of unusual personal bravery and of
powerful physique. and did not present
an encouraging object for the bullying in
timidation by which the pro-Slavery men
of that day generally overawed their oppo-
nents. He seems to have scarcely known
what fear was. and though irate slavehold-
ers often called on him to learn the where
abouts of their slaves, he met them placid
ly, never denied having helped the fugi
tives on their way, positively refused to
give them any information, and when
they fourished pistols or bowie-knivos to
enforce their demands, he calmly pushed
the weapons aside, and told them that
none but towards resorted to such means
to carry their ends.


He continued his labors thus for years,
helped all who came to him, and making
no concealment of his readiness to do So
His tirmness and courage slowly won
others, first to admire, and then to assist
him, and the little band of faithful work
ers, of which he was chief, gradually en-
larged, and inclined in its number men OF
all ranks and differing creeds, and, singu-
lar as it may seem even numbering some