In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1905) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1837, Botetourt County
From Portrait and biographical record of Marion, Ralls and Pike counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties; together with biographies and (1895), A Mirror of Hannibal (1905)
COL. JOHN H. GARTH. There are few men more widely or favorably known in this section of the State than the man whose name heads this sketch. John H. Garth, President of the Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank of Hannibal, IMo., was born in Botetourt County, Va., March 10, 1837. His father bore the name of John Garth, while his mother, prior to her marriage, was known as Miss Emily Houston. The former was born in Louisa County, Va., in 1784, and was one of the sons of David Garth, also a native of the same county, and of English ancestry. David was a planter and after following this business for many years in the Old Dominion, emigrated to Kentucky, where he died.
The father of the subject of this memoir accompanied his parents on their removal to the Blue Grass State, but subsequently returned to Virginia, and later moved to Missouri, settling in Hannibal. This was in 1842. While in his native State he was engaged in the milling and iron manufacturing business. After coming to this city he operated in tobacco and grain, and also had a commission house in New Orleans, La. He was an ardent politician and an oldtime Whig. He died in January, 1857. His wife, Emily Garth, was a native of Rockbridge County, Va., and was descended from an old and well known family of that State. She was a cousin of Gen. Samuel Houston, of Texas fame. She departed this life in Hannibal in 1844.
John and Emily Garth were the parents of two children, John H., of this sketch, and Matthew C., deceased. John H. was reared chiefly in Kentucky, where he secured his preliminary education, and later took a college course at the Missouri University, which he attended in 1851 to 1854. After completing his education he engaged in business with his brother, D. J., operating under the firm name of D. J. Garth & Co., at Hannibal. ‘
During the second year of the late war,- our subject went to New York City, where he engaged in manufacturing and banking and brokerage with his brother and William N.. Hearne. He continued with them in the Empire State until 1871, when he returned to Hannibal, and upon the organization of the Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank, of which he was one of the incor orators, he was made the Vice-President, short ly afterward succeeding to the office of President, which position he still holds. About this time he purchased a farm near Hannibal, comprising six hundred acres, and erected thereon a beautiful residence. There he has lived for a period of twenty years. He gave special attention to the breeding of full-blood short-horn and Jersey cat tie, numbers of which animals were to be found on his fine estate. He did not confine his attention exclusively to farming operations, however, as during this time he was President of the Hannibal Lime Company and also President of the Missouri Guarantee, Savings and Building Association, the Garth Lumber Company, of Delta County, IMicb., besides being interested in various other successful enterprises.
Col. Garth was married October 18, 1860, to miss Helen V. Kercheval, daughter of William
F. and Annie Kercheval. Of the son and daughter born to them, Anna H. is now the wife of Robert M. Goodlett, of Kansas City, Mo., and John D. is attending college at New Haven, Conn. Mrs. Garth is a member of the Episcopal Church. In politics the Colonel is a Democrat and has been an active member of the party, often being sent as delegate to the various National and State conventions. During the campaign of 1884 he was a National delegate to Chicago when Cleveland was nominated. He was a member of the staff of Gov. Francis for four years and Colonel and Aid-de-Camp. He has been a delegate to the Mississippi River Improvement Conventions, one of which was held at Washington and the other at New Orleans. Socially, he is a Mason of high standing. The father of Mrs. Garth was for many years one of the prominent dry goods merchants of Hannibal. Both parents are now living in retirement in Ralls County, Mo.
There is a tendency in chronicling the attain ments of an eminent financier to deal altogether in terms of money; the word success has become almost wholly debased to this use latterly, so that when we speak of a successful man, financial success alone is understood. This is particularly true when among the successful attainments of a man there has been displayed distinguished ability in the great art of money getting, which seems to so dwarf his other successes, if he has achieved any, as to obscure them entirely. This works much injustice in many cases, and it may be that the subject of this sketch has suffered from the prevailing misuse of the term.
Public opinion in Hannibal gives his breeding of gentle and cleanly stock for many years, and mentions his youthful training which carefully disciplined a character well groufided in sterling principles, and from the companions of his boy hood it is learned that he moved among them even as a boy and youth, under nature’s im mutable law which breeds like from like, and which constitutes the boy father to the man. A gentleman, surely the accomplishment of this success is worthy of the term.
Beginning the career of usefulness early, as glanced at in the preceding data, the subject of our sketch inaugurated for himself a course of mental drill in which he has persisted through life, training his mind to conservative judgment; thoughtfully studying the safe process of examining facts and carefully pondering the relations between propositions until his mental discipline has acquired for him a remarkable power to arrive at correct conclusions. His work in life has been all mental, and to his aid he has, with able discrimination, directed his own education through channels of erudition the most advanced. He is a hard student of books and a natural reader of men; to these faculties has been added extensive travel with close observation, re suiting in a culture which of itself is worthy to stamp success upon life.
No portraiture of this life would be complete without mention of a characteristic which ison of its salient features, and which is ever present and inborn — a keen sense of the ludicrous. No ridiculous view of a subject escapes him. It is this quality, with its accompanying pungency, together with other social attributes, which renders his companionship so enjoyable.
As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Marion, Ralls and Pike counties, Missouri, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the counties; together with biographies and (1895). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN H. GARTH, (Deceased,)
This gentleman, who died Oct. 12, 1899, was considered one of Marion County’s most prominent and respected citizens. He was a son of John and Emily (Houston) Garth, both natives of Virginia. He was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, Match loth, 1837. In 1844 his parents moved to Hannibal, where for a number of years his father was engaged in an extensive tobacco business.
He was educated and graduated at the State University at Columbia, after which he engaged with his father and brother in the tobacco business. In 1863 he went to New York, where he carried on the same business for nine years. He then again returned to Hannibal and engaged in various enterprises. He. assisted in the organization of the F. & M. Bank and was made Vice-President of the same until 1880, when upon the retirement of Mr. Hawes, the bank’s first President, he in turn was elected to fill that position. He occupied the President’s chair in this old and trusted financial institution until a short time before his death, when he tendered his resignation and Aaron R. Levering succeeded him.
For a number of years he was also engaged in the lumber trade; was extensively interested in lumber and timber properties throughout this and other states. He was also President of the Hannibal Lime Co., one of Hannibal’s most important and leading industries.
Having been successful in all of his many business enterprises, Mr. Garth became a man of considerable means, and as well a liberal contributor to the promotion of all public enterprises. Throughout the latter part of his life especially, he was revered by all for his many acts of philanthropy and charity.
With his family he resided in the summer on a fine six hundred acre farm, but a short distance from Hannibal, while in the winter months they occupied their beautiful South Fifth Street home.
In 1860 Mr. Garth was married to Miss Helen Kerchival, daughter of William Kerchival, a leading Hannibal resident, and by this union two children were born, one son and one daughter. The son, John David Garth, died Aug. 12, 1895. The daughter is still living, having married Mr. R. M. Goodlet, of Kansas City, Mo.
Since Mr. Garth’s death his wife has continued his charitable practices, and has accomplished a great deal towards relieving the condition of Hannibal’s poor. Throughout the City she is kindly spoken of for her many charitable acts. One of Hannibal’s finest public buildings, the Garth Memorial Library, was erected by her in memory of her deceased husband, the subject of this sketch, while the chimes in the Episcopal Church, said to be the finest in this part of the state, were also presented by her in memory of her husband.
In presenting the Library to the city, Mrs., Garth stipulated that its second floor be set apart for the use of the Woman’s Club during the life of that organization. This club is composed of many of Hannibal’s leading ladies, and is the oldest and largest literary society in this section.
The great good accomplished by the subject of this sketch, and his surviving widow, will for several generations to come cause the name Garth to be highly honored and respected throughout this entire section.
As printed in A Mirror of Hannibal (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Aaron R. Levering (b. 1839)
The printed record stops around 1895. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.