JOHN GARRETT, a well-known and prosperous agriculturist and stock raiser of West Bethlehem township, was born February 16, 1825, upon the farm adjoining the one whereon he now resides. He is a grandson of Peter Garrett and son of Nicholas, who was born in Maryland in 1779, and there married Mary Ann Baumgardner. Thence, about the commencement of the present century, they removed to Washington county, Penn. The children born to them were as follows: Elizabeth, Rachel, Mary Ann, Lydia, Catherine, Susan, Sarah, Jacob, Peter, Samuel, John and William. John Garrett received his education in the subscription schools of the neighborhood and in early boyhood received a thorough training in farm life. On April 1, 1852 he was united in marriage with Margaret, daughter of John Watson, and by her had one child, Franklin Pierce, who assists on the farm. The young mother died at his birth and in 1854 our subject married Miss Lavina, daughter of David Morrow, of North Strabane township, this county, by which union there were born eight children: four died in infancy; Thomas now resides upon a farm adjoining that of his father; Lydia and Sadie are now married and living in Ohio; Elizabeth lives at the parental home. Mr. Garrett owned and operated one of the first threshing machines built in the county, and has given almost his entire attention to threshing ever since. In 1869 he, unfortunately caught his left hand in the machine, and it was ground to a pulp, rendering amputation necessary. Mr. Garrett is a thorough Democrat, and has been elected to many offices of trust by his fellow-citizens, who appreciate his ability. He now owns a fine farm, consisting of 260 acres of well-cultivated land; while upon the hillsides and meadow browse nearly 200 sheep and other stock.

Text taken from page 686 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed January 1997 by Elizabeth Burns of Phoenix, AZ as part of the Beers Project. Published January 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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