J. C. Garrett was born in the State of Tennessee in the year 1840, and moved to Hopkins County, in the year 1863 with his father Presly Garrett. With the exception of a few years he has lived in the county continuously since. At the age of twenty-five he married Miss E. J. Garrett a distant relative. By this marriage eleven children were born to them, five boys and. six girls, eight of whom are living at the present time. W. E. married Miss Willie McFall, he is a farmer, a taxpayer and a good citizen of the county. John P. married Miss Tempie Lenon, he is an all around business fellow. Martha A. married J. D. Blount, a farmer of industrious habits. C. C. married D. T. Knowls. Melissa married Frank Pippin. Emma Lou married T. P. Lee, a farmer. Miss S. C. is single and lives with her parents. The youngest whose name is Lawrence Sullivan Ross and lives at home. This family is a remarkable one in some respects. They are sober, moral, industrious, honest upright men, and all merit the respect and esteem of the entire county. They are social, genial and hospitable, and are a good class of people to meet.
The mother of these children was raised in Texas, being here in an early day she has experienced the trials and hardships common to pioneer life. She has been an eye witness to many gangs of wild Indians as they would pass her father’s home. She has seen many buffaloes, and saw her father shoot and kill one within one hundred yards of his house. She is a hail, hearty, healthy woman, and physicially able to perform all of her household duties to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, Mr. Garrett has engaged in Indian fighting and assisted in driving the Indians from the country. He was a soldier during the Civil war, was elected Captain of a company and served during the war as such. He was faithful in the discharge of his duties as an officer, and held the respect and confidence of his men to the end. He and his wife are both members of the Primitive Baptist Church. He has never turned any one from his door hungry and in want. He is in easy circumstances. He is loved for his noble qualities of mind and heart.