Thomas Augustus Garrett

THOMAS AUGUSTUS GARRETT

was born on a farm June 19, 1870, in what was then Hempstead County, Ark. (now Nevada County, Albany Township). His parents were Thomas Odel Garrett (b. 1827 in Lauderdale County, Ala. @.1876 in Nevada County, Ark.) and his wife, Matilda Adeline Wylie (b. Jan 14, 1832, in Franklin County, AL, Feb. 15, 1906, in Nevada County, Ark.) Thomas Odel's parents were Joseph Elias Garrett (b. 1802) and Sarah Stacy Reeder who were married near the present city of Hope, Hempstead County, Ark. Matilda Adeline Wylie’s father was Elias Wylie. The Garretts and Wylie’s were neighbors in Ala. They came in the same wagon train to Arkansas, the Wylie’s settling near Falcon, Alabama Township, end the Garretts in Albany Township in 1645. Thomas Augustus Garrett was the youngest son of 11 children born to Thomas Odel and Matilda Adeline (4ylie) Garrett. The others were: Fannie (married Larkin H, Hitt); William Baxter (married Mollie Hare); Joseph E. II (mar. Anna Eliza Brooks); James Franklin (mar. 1st Sallie Thompson, 2nd Mrs. Jamie Thompson Evens); Eudora (mar. W.L. Phillips); Martha Alice (mar. J.D. McMath); Ella died at 7 years; John Wesley died at 3 years; Sarah Stacy (married D.L. Wood).

The subject of this sketch was 6 years old when his father died. He attended the schools the community afforded which, for the most part, were of 25 to 3 months duration (subscription) in the summer, and about 3 mo. (free) in the winter. He remained at home until he was 21 yrs. of age when he went to Texas and stayed one year, returning in the year 1892, On Jan. 12, 1898, Thomas Augustus Garrett was married at the home of the bride's parents to Lydia Permelia McGough (b. Jam.28, 1892). She was the daughter of James Presley McGough (b.Apr.5, 1840.d.Apr. 17, 1917) and his wife, Martha Jane Mathis (b. May 6, 19842.d. Oct 14, 1923) both natives of Ala. The Mathis and McGough’s were neighbors in Ala. They traveled in the same wagon train to La. (near Farmersville) in 1842, They came to Ark. in the Fall of 1867, settling near Laneburg, Nevada Co.

Lydia Permelia McGough's brothers and sisters were: Albert Sydney, mar. ‘Mrs. Julie Ward Munn; Idonia, mar. Preston Jones; Presley Randolph, mar. Sarah Munn; James Tedford, mar. Ada Alsabrook; Abagail, mar. George Wren Duke; Robert Bussy, mar. Lily Rogers. Two sons died in infancy.

Extraordinary arrangements were made for the marriage of Thomas Augusts Garrett and Permelia McGough. The ceremony was to have been performed by the Rev. Larkin H. Hitt, Baptist minister and brother-in-law of the groom. On the morning of the appointed day, a heavy rain same and Terra Rough Creek, near the McGough home in Albany Township, overflowed its banks so that the minister could not cross. The marriage was performed by the bride’s cousin, J.B. Murry, Justice of the Peace.

Children born to Thomas Augustus Garrett and his wife, Lydia Permelia McGough are: Lottie Mae, mar. Esten Wright Rieff; Millard Augustus died 12-12, 1914, age 12 yrs.; Edith Rachel, mar, Ernest Sydney Hesterly; Presley Odelle, mar. Bessie Josephine Gaylord; Joseph Emerson, mar. Doris UcClarty; Lewis Elijah, mar. Ava Shell.

Thomas Augustus Garrett moved to Prescott, Nevada's county seat November 26, 1926. With the assistance of his sons, Odel and Lewis, he is successfully engaged in the retail grocery business on East second street (this 1941).

Data furnished by Rachel Garrett Hesterly, daughter of the Subject.