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A PIONEER OF COLORADO COUNTY Prominent among the earlier settlers of Colorado county were many men of courage, energy, industry and perseverance, who labored diligently to develope the resources of this part of the state, and through whose earnest efforts much of its present prosperity is due. Of this number no one is more worthy of special mention than Mr. Holland Garrett whose likness is shown above[This “likness” would not reproduce.]. He is now living with his son Mr. S. A. Garrett in Weimar, retired from active pursuits. He was a son of Stephen Garrett and was born July 1st, 1822, in Laurens county, South Carolina, and will be 88 years of age July 1, 1910. "Uncle Holland," as he is familiarly called, is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, his father having married twice, the first wife died in; early womanhood, leaving two children, Polly and Nancy. He subsequently married for his second wife Miss Elizabeth Putnam, a native of South Carolina, and they became parents of nine children: viz, Greenberry, Holland, (the special subject of this sketch:) Harrison, William, Silas, Benjamin, Sally, Melinda and Lucinda. The mother, survived her husband, and died on the home farm, in Georgia. Holland Garrett, during his earlier years assisted his father on the farm. and made the most of every opportunity offered him for obtaining a good education. After the death of his father, he purchased a saw and grist mill on Racoon creek, in Chattanooga county, and was there busily engaged for a few years. Selling out his possessions in 1850, he purchased a tract of land in Mississippi. near Holly Springs. and for five years resided there. In 1855, Mr. Holland Garrett. accompanied by his family, came, to Texas by the overland route, bringing his household goods with him. In his outfit he had two wagons and a carryall, and having laid in a stock of provisions, the family cooked and camped by the way during the six weeks trip. Locating in Fayette county, he bought a tract of land that was in its primitive wilderness and during the breaking out of the civil war was engaged in stock raising or in farming. Then selling that farm, Mr. Garrett bought a tract of land adjoining the present site of the town of Weimar, which was then but an open prairie, with not a building within range. The nearest railway was at Eagle Lake, which until the extension westward of the railroad was,likewise, the most convenient market place. Having here cleared and improved a fine tract of land, he was actively and successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits for a number of years, and still owns the farm which he redeemed from the raw prairie, although he is now making his home with his son in Weimar. Mr. Garrett has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years and is a charter member of Weimar Lodge 423 A. F. & A. M. which was chartered June 19th, 1875. Mr. Garrett married in 1842, Miss Lucinda Moore, who was born in South Carolina, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Moore. She died on the home farm, in 1887. Eight children were born of the union, namely: James R.; Stephen P.; Silas A.; John H.; Mary; Ann; Julia and Elsie. Mr. Garrett was chairman of the vigilant committee in 1875 when there was considerable cattle thieving going on near Weimar and made things hot for the evil doers. Is a man of most excellent character, and is held in high respect not only in Weimar but through this entire section of country, and is a consistant member of the Baptist church to which Mrs. Garrett also belonged. Weimar Mercury, March 25, 1910 |