Glenn County
Biographies
PETER R. GARNETT
This gentleman, who is acceptably
serving as a county supervisor, has always been a loyal and public-spirited
citizen, manifesting in the discharge of his duties at the present time the
same fidelity which he displayed when upon the southern battlefields he aided
in the defense of the starry banner and the cause it represented. He was born in Ralls County, Missouri,
February 14, 1841, and is a son of J. R. and Eliza Garnett. His father, a native of Kentucky, followed
the occupation of farming and in 1820 removed from the state of his nativity to
Missouri, where his death occurred when he was about fifty years of age. His wife, who was born in Virginia, also died
in Missouri, at the age of seventy-three years.
In their family were ten children, four of whom are yet living, one
brother being a resident of Solano County, California.
Upon his father’s farm Peter R.
Garnett spent the days of his childhood and assisted in the labors of the field
and meadow. At the age of seventeen he
left home in order to attend school, and when twenty years of age he put aside
his textbooks in order to enter his country’s service. On the day on which he left the schoolroom he
enlisted in the army, becoming a member of Hawkins’ battalion, which was commanded
by Colonel Hawkins, a veteran of the Mexican War. He was several times wounded and for six
months was forced to remain out of the army, but otherwise he was always on
duty with his regiment. At Grenada,
Mississippi, he was commissioned lieutenant, in recognition of his meritorious
service. The brigade was captured at
Mobile Bay, at which time Mr. Garnett and his comrades were sent to New Orleans
and thence to Jackson, Mississippi, where they were paroled.
Mr. Garnett remained in the south
for about three months and then returned home, but after a short time he again
went to Mississippi and for about two years was engaged in teaching school near
Vicksburg. On the expiration of that period
he returned to Missouri, where preparations were made for a trip to
California. Making his way to New York,
he continued his journey by way of the Panama route and on the 15th
of June, 1868, arrived on the Pacific coast.
He joined his brother, J. S. Garnett, of Solano County, and resided
there for five years. On the expiration
of that period he took up his abode in Colusa County.
In October, 1873, Mr. Garnett was
united in marriage to Miss Ruth A. McCune, a daughter of H. E. McCune, of
Solano County. Three children have been
born to them: Inez, born December 21,
1874; Reba, who was born April 12, 1878, and is now married and has a son,
named Garnett; and Hugh, who was born on April 6, 1881.
After his marriage Mr. Garnett
located upon the farm where he now makes his home, the place being pleasantly
located three miles southeast of Willow.
He carried on general farming and has become one of the most extensive
landowners of this section of the state, having twenty-two hundred acres. Of this he rents one thousand acres, while
upon the remainder of the tract he carries on stock raising
on a large scale. He is a very enterprising
and progressive businessman whose success is due to his own well directed
efforts, his enterprise and perseverance.
For a time he was a director of the Central Irrigation Company, and at
all times has been in sympathy with the measures and movements which contribute
to the general good.
Mr. Garnett has always been a
staunch Democrat in his political affiliations and does all in his power to
promote the growth and secure the success of his party. While in Colusa County he was elected
supervisor, in 1876, and held the office for three years. Since his marriage he has been a member of
the school board and is now serving as the president of the high school
board. In 1894 he was elected a member
of the board of supervisors of Glenn County, and so acceptably and faithfully
discharged the duties of his office that he was re-elected in 1898, and is
therefore the present incumbent. Socially
he is connected with Laurel Lodge, No. 245, A. F. & A. M. He and his wife and their children are
members of the Baptist Church, and he has assisted in building every house of
worship of this locality. He has also
served as the superintendent of the Sunday school, and like him, his wife is
active in church work. Extensive reading
and observation have made him a well informed man and he is regarded as one of
the representative citizens of this section of California. All that he has is the reward of his own
labors, and his life illustrates most forcibly what can be accomplished through
determined and honorable purpose.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 110-111. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Glenn County Biographies