John Campbell Garner

As printed in 1881

JOHN C. GARNER.

John Campbell Garner was born in Clarke county, Kentucky, January 21, 1811. His father, Colonel Jesse W. Garner, was a carpenter, architect and draughtsman, and is known here as the original contractor and builder of the Missouri penitentiary at Jefferson City. His father came to Missouri some years before the subject of this article, and young John was reared by his uncle, John Campbell, after whom he was named. John Campbell was a revolutionary soldier and served through the entire war. He held the rank of lieutenant. Mr. Garner's uncle left his nephew, at his death, a handsome legacy, by will, of one hundred and sixty acres of land, and two valuable slaves. After the death of his uncle he took charge of the farm for his aunt. This aunt was the sister of Governor Clark, of Kentucky. Mr. Garner never married, and his aunt and a cousin were his housekeepers, until 1854, when the former died. He then sold his farm for seventy-five dollars per acre, and the next year came to Missouri. He had been very successful in dealing in horses, mules and cattle, in Kentuckv, and he brought about twenty-five thousand dollars away with him from that state. After coming to Missouri he first stopped near Morton, in Ray count) but remaining there only a few months, he removed, in March, 1857, to the place where he now resides, on the Kingston road, nine miles north of Richmond. Here he purchased six hundred and forty acres of land, and at once began improving it by fencing and building a dwelling house and barn. Mr. Garner had just gotten his place improved, and was ready to commence business in earnest, when the war came and his slaves were taken from him. Mr. Garner spent most of his time during the war in Richmond. He has never engaged in any but agricultural pursuits, and owns now about nine hundred and thirty-eight acres of excellent land, all lying near his homestead. Though Mr. Garner has never been a candidate for office, he has always taken a great interest, and kept himself well informed in political affairs. While he was living in Kentucky he organized the second Know-nothing council in Clarke county. Formerly he was a whig, but since dissolution of that party he has acted with the democracy. He has been, for a number of years, a member of the M. E. Church South, at Richmond. Although Mr. Garner did not enjoy many advantages for getting an education in his youth, he has read so much and so diligently and attentively, that his vigorous and retentive memory is well stored with valuable knowledge. His health has not been good for some time, and he is kept much indoors. This gives him a better opportunity to indulge his taste for reading. Mrs. Smith, his sister, keeps house for him. John C. Garner has been very successful as a farmer and stock raiser; he is an obliging neighbor, an honorable gentleman, and a highly respected citizen of the county of Ray.

As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.