1000 Years of Garrett Family History Page 52 52
1000 Years of Garrett Family History Page 52 52
1000 Years of Garrett Family History Page 52 52
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<strong>1000</strong> <strong>Years</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Garrett</strong> <strong>Family</strong> <strong>History</strong> <strong>Page</strong> <strong>52</strong><br />
My direct ancestor is Charles Pearson GARRETT being my Grandfather. He was called either<br />
“CP” or “Charlie”. Perhaps the reason for the <strong>Garrett</strong>s settling in Benton County, AR (which<br />
adjoins what was then Indian Territory) can be seen by the actions <strong>of</strong> Charles Pearson<br />
GARRETT and his brother, Thomas Marion <strong>Garrett</strong>. They both courted girls <strong>of</strong> Cherokee<br />
heritage in Indian Territory. The photo below was taken in 1892 and shows C.P. GARRETT<br />
(the tall one) standing with the Blackwood family. On CP’s left is the girl (Margarette Louise<br />
Blackwood) that he will marry the following year. The girl on CP’s right is Mary Catherine<br />
Blackwood who will marry CP’s brother Thomas Marion <strong>Garrett</strong> in a few years.<br />
genes were as brothers and sisters.<br />
<strong>52</strong><br />
The story goes that in 1893 CP<br />
had to get the permission <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Cherokee Chief to marry<br />
Margarette Blackwood who<br />
was 1/16 th Cherokee. Brother<br />
Thomas Marion <strong>Garrett</strong><br />
married Magarette’s sister,<br />
Mary Blackwood in 1897.<br />
This set up the rights for their<br />
children to be allotted land<br />
owned by the Cherokee Nation,<br />
West. It also setup the unusual<br />
situation <strong>of</strong> brothers marrying<br />
sisters so that while their<br />
children were 1 st cousins, their<br />
Children <strong>of</strong> Charles Pearson GARRETT and Margarette Louise BLACKWOOD were:<br />
John E. GARRETT was born August 8, 1894 on Mosley Prairie, Going Snake<br />
Dist., Cherokee Nation, Delaware Co., OK; married Millie Prediger<br />
Hubbard in 1924; died July 14, 1973 in Siloam Springs, AR after a<br />
stroke.<br />
Gracie G. <strong>Garrett</strong> was born February 10, 1899; married Fielding F. McClung<br />
and died in Delaware Co., OK. They lived within a half mile <strong>of</strong> CP<br />
GARRETT’S station and Gracie was an Oklahoma tag agent and a<br />
Notary Public working out <strong>of</strong> the station.<br />
Loy D. <strong>Garrett</strong> was born February 12, 1901; married Virginia Moore; moved<br />
family to Arvin, CA where he died. Loy took his family to California<br />
during the dust bowl years which made him an “Okie”. He spent the rest<br />
<strong>of</strong> his life as a worker for the De Giorgio Fruit Company.<br />
Annie Elizabeth <strong>Garrett</strong> was born June 8, 1903; married Harold B.<br />
McLaughlin; was still living in 2000. Harold and Annie spent their life<br />
in Siloam Springs where Harold (Mack) was a barber.<br />
Theodore (Ted) Roosevelt <strong>Garrett</strong> was born February 18, 1905; married Mary<br />
Ruth Hawk on May 19, 1932 and died April 2, 1991 in Siloam Springs,<br />
AR. Ted and Mary Ruth lived on a farm 3 miles down the river from<br />
Dad’s (John E. GARRETT) farm that had belonged to Mary Ruth’s<br />
father. They later retired to live (and die) in Siloam Springs.
<strong>1000</strong> <strong>Years</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Garrett</strong> <strong>Family</strong> <strong>History</strong> <strong>Page</strong> 53<br />
Thomas Henry <strong>Garrett</strong> was born November 18, 1908; married Dolly<br />
Pilkington; died in Siloam Springs, AR. Tom and Dolly were<br />
entrepreneurs owning and operating a various times; a service station; a<br />
café, a hotel; a motel, two auto supply stores; a dress shop and a TV<br />
cable service.<br />
Ruby Irene <strong>Garrett</strong> was born December 19, 1911; married and divorced A. J.<br />
Lacy; married Sam J. Steele; and died about 1998 in Siloam Springs,<br />
AR. Ruby’s first husband was the owner <strong>of</strong> a automobile body shop in<br />
Tulsa, OK and an alcoholic.<br />
Carmen Julius <strong>Garrett</strong> was born May 27, 1918 and died 1919, 18 months old.<br />
Preparatory to Oklahoma statehood that would occur in 1907, those having Cherokee blood were<br />
entered on the “Cherokee Roll”. Margarette’s roll number was 1872. Oldest son John<br />
GARRETT was 1873; Grace <strong>Garrett</strong>’s was 1874; Loy <strong>Garrett</strong>’s was 1875; Anne <strong>Garrett</strong>’s is<br />
probably M something; Ted <strong>Garrett</strong>’s number was M2961. Children with Cherokee blood born<br />
after 1903 were called “too lates” meaning that they were born too late to receive a land allotment<br />
– they did however, receive an allotment <strong>of</strong> cash.<br />
So, CP’s wife and three children received land allotments; two children received cash allotments<br />
and the youngest two received nothing – they were known as “too damned lates”.<br />
Thomas Marion <strong>Garrett</strong>’s wife and two oldest children received land allotments; Millie Ruth<br />
<strong>Garrett</strong> was born soon enough to receive land but Thomas Marion <strong>Garrett</strong> said that all <strong>of</strong> the<br />
good land had been taken so he opted for a $600 cash allotment.<br />
Nora <strong>Garrett</strong>, daughter <strong>of</strong> John GARRETT married Lewis Bradford Allen who was part<br />
Cherokee Indian. Lewis Bradford Allen was born in Indian Territory (near Flint Creek). His<br />
mother was Nancy Mitchell, born February 1, 1839. Nancy was the fifth granddaughter <strong>of</strong> Chief<br />
Moytoy <strong>of</strong> the Cherokee Nation. She was born on the "Trail <strong>of</strong> Tears". Nancy's name sake was<br />
Nancy Ward, Cherokee princess better known as White (or Wild) Rose.<br />
The allotments were from 70 to 90 acres each and the <strong>Garrett</strong>s receiving them took them in one <strong>of</strong><br />
two places. One was in what is now Delaware County, OK and about 3 miles west <strong>of</strong> the state<br />
line in an area called “Moseley Prairie”. The other place <strong>of</strong> favor was 3 or 4 miles south <strong>of</strong><br />
Moseley Prairie on land adjoining the Illinois River in the county that is now Adair County.<br />
After the land allotments, the <strong>Garrett</strong>s owned seven farms all within a few miles <strong>of</strong> each other.<br />
However; the Illinois River turned out to be a divider with those north <strong>of</strong> the river seldom visiting<br />
those south <strong>of</strong> the river. For example, my cousin Glenn Stinchcomb, who was born and raised on<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the land allotments on the Moseley Prairie, and I, who was born in the same year south <strong>of</strong><br />
the Illinois River never knew each other until we were 65 years old.<br />
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<strong>1000</strong> <strong>Years</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Garrett</strong> <strong>Family</strong> <strong>History</strong> <strong>Page</strong> 54<br />
Below is one <strong>of</strong> the actual land allotments given to John E. GARRETT. There is a second one<br />
that I have. Note that it is from ”The Cherokee Nation” and is dated the 19 th <strong>of</strong> September, 1908.<br />
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<strong>1000</strong> <strong>Years</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Garrett</strong> <strong>Family</strong> <strong>History</strong> <strong>Page</strong> 55<br />
The above map shows the area including Moseley Prairie; the Illinois River lands; the southern<br />
part <strong>of</strong> Delaware County; the northern part <strong>of</strong> Adair County and Siloam Springs in Benton<br />
County, AR. The red circle is Moseley Prairie; the western red blocks are some <strong>of</strong> the land<br />
allotments; the yellow is for cemeteries where the <strong>Garrett</strong>s are buried; the red square on the state<br />
line is the location <strong>of</strong> CP <strong>Garrett</strong>’s service station and home; the black square is the location <strong>of</strong><br />
John GARRETT’s home; the orange and pink involves ancestors on my mother’s side; and the<br />
heavy green line is the 14+ mile road from my father’s land allotment and home to Siloam<br />
Springs, AR.<br />
Little is known <strong>of</strong> CP GARRETT’s life as a young man; however he must have gone to school<br />
since he could read and write. He loved machinery and owned both a large steam engine and a<br />
threshing machine. My father and CP’s oldest son, John E. <strong>Garrett</strong> had to quit school (5 th<br />
grade) and run CP’s steam engine and threshing machine. Dad would thresh for all <strong>of</strong> the farmers<br />
in a large area going from farm to farm. This would take from one to two months during which<br />
he and his crew would have to eat and sleep with the farmer-customers. He told many stories <strong>of</strong><br />
bad food, bed bugs, hair lice and sleeping in the barns as a part <strong>of</strong> the horrible living conditions.<br />
He attributed that experience to his stunted growth <strong>of</strong> 5’ 4” height and weight <strong>of</strong> less than 140<br />
pounds.<br />
Most <strong>of</strong> Charles Pearson GARRETT’s life was spent operating his business on old Highway 33<br />
at the Arkansas/Oklahoma state line. His place was on the Oklahoma side. His main business<br />
was that <strong>of</strong> a “gas station”. Around 1920 when sons Ted and Tom were still at home, they would<br />
walk westward on the dirt Highway 33 and wait until a car came along, at which time they would<br />
run along beside the car, jump upon the running board and talk the driver into stopping at CP’s<br />
station for gasoline.<br />
On the next page is a photo (looking east) <strong>of</strong> Charles Pearson GARRETT’S service station<br />
taken sometime in the 1930’s. Their living quarters were in the back <strong>of</strong> the station, on the north<br />
side. CP had made his field just north and west <strong>of</strong> the station into an air field and I believe the<br />
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<strong>1000</strong> <strong>Years</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Garrett</strong> <strong>Family</strong> <strong>History</strong> <strong>Page</strong> 56<br />
people in this photo were attending an air show. The state line is just beyond the building where<br />
the tree line is seen. The car in the lower right foreground is on old Highway 33. CP leased the<br />
air field to John Brown University (located west <strong>of</strong> Siloam Springs and a mile north <strong>of</strong> the<br />
station) but in the 1940’s, CP claimed that John Brown University “cheated” him out <strong>of</strong> it.<br />
The space between the station and the Arkansas line served several functions. At one time it was<br />
a “Port-<strong>of</strong>-Entry” where all trucks entering Oklahoma had to stop. It was a liquor package store<br />
at one time and later a shop from which Grace <strong>Garrett</strong> (oldest daughter <strong>of</strong> CP and Margarette)<br />
sold automobile license plates and notary public services.<br />
To the left and in back <strong>of</strong> the station was CP’s equipment barn where he stored his threshing<br />
machine. At one time, he also had a few tourist cabins built there. Later on, to the left (west <strong>of</strong> the<br />
station was a large windmill that provided water for their home and station. Awfully, a smelly<br />
outdoor toilet was next to the windmill.<br />
During C.P. GARRETT’s lifetime:<br />
The Dr. Pepper s<strong>of</strong>t drink was invented in 1885 by Charles Aderton.<br />
The Coca-Cola s<strong>of</strong>t drink was invented in 1886 by Dr. John Pemberton.<br />
The Pepsi-Cola s<strong>of</strong>t drink was invested in 1898 by Caleb Bradham.<br />
In 1912, Otto Fredrick Rohwedder invented the bread slicer.<br />
The automobile was invented, developed and manufactured by the millions.<br />
The Wrights invent the airplane in 1903.<br />
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<strong>1000</strong> <strong>Years</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Garrett</strong> <strong>Family</strong> <strong>History</strong> <strong>Page</strong> 57<br />
The Cherokee Connection<br />
The small amount <strong>of</strong> Cherokee blood in the <strong>Garrett</strong>s, all comes from the Blackwoods.<br />
Margarette Blackwood <strong>Garrett</strong> was 1/16 th Cherokee. Her father, John William Blackwood<br />
was a white man from TN. I have a copy <strong>of</strong> a hand written letter to Margarette Blackwood from<br />
John William Blackwood’s brother, James Thomas Blackwood. In his letter, James tells <strong>of</strong><br />
Margarette’s birth as being “on Little Cypress Creek in Wayne County, 4 miles <strong>of</strong> the Ala. Line –<br />
about 20 miles south <strong>of</strong> Waynesboro”. As it turns out, the location is less than 70 miles from<br />
Belle Mina, AL where CP’s ancestors were from. James T. Blackwood had been a minister at<br />
the Cross Roads Church a “short distance away” from where Margarette was born.<br />
Margarette’s mother was Emma Elizabeth Ward, 1/8 th Cherokee from Winston County, AL<br />
which is in northern Alabama (see yellow dot) and on the edge <strong>of</strong> the original Cherokee Nation,<br />
East.<br />
Margarette’s grandmother was Margaret Ann WELCH who was 1/4 th Cherokee. Margaret<br />
Ann Welch’s father was George<br />
Washington Welch who along with his<br />
wife, Margaret Jones were both 1/4 th<br />
Cherokee. Minor (not principle) Chief<br />
George Washington Welch lived in<br />
Cherokee County, GA and owned a mill that<br />
he built with slave labor in 1820 and a store<br />
built in 1830. The location <strong>of</strong> the mill and<br />
store is represented by the black dot on the<br />
map on the left and was only a few miles<br />
from where Frances Bates <strong>Garrett</strong>’s<br />
grandfather (William Erwin Bates) was<br />
born. When George Washington Welch<br />
was dispossessed, the government appraised<br />
his property at $12,500. According to the<br />
1835 Cherokee Census, in George Washington Welch’s household were “6 quarter bloods, one<br />
slave, one marriage with white race, one farmer, two readers <strong>of</strong> English, one weaver and two<br />
spinners’.<br />
George Washington Welch’s mother, Elizabeth McSwain and her father, David Welch were<br />
both 1/4 th Cherokee.<br />
Elizabeth McSwain’s mother, Nannie Downing was ½ Cherokee. Her father was Alexander<br />
“Trader” McSwain who, as the name implies, was a trader. Nannie Downing was born where the<br />
yellow dot is on the above map. Nannie Downing’s mother was a full blood Cherokee <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Wolf Clan whose Indian name was Cheto Wolf and whose English name was Hannah Fawling.<br />
Hannah Fawling had married an English soldier, named Major John Downing around 1735.<br />
Some accounts say that Major Downing was captured by the Indians, tortured, mutilated, and<br />
burned at the stake at Fort 96, South Carolina. The red dot on the above map is the area <strong>of</strong> where<br />
Major John Downing may have been killed. Other accounts report that he died a natural death<br />
in 1793 in Northumberland Co., VA.<br />
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