Walter Warren Garth

As printed in 1882

W. W. GARTH.

Walter Warren Garth was born in Columbia, January 27, 1848. lis father is Jefierson Garth, one of the oldest and most prominent citizens of Boone county, who came from Scott county, Kentucky,.nd settled here in 1836. Walter Garth was educated at the common schools and at all three of the Columbia colleges — the University, the baptist and the Christian. At the age of eighteen, or in the year 1866, le was appointed deputy circuit clerk by John M. Samuel, the then incumbent of the office. He held this position until 1874, when he was elected to the office, and became, at the age of twenty-six, circuit clerk and recorder of Boone county. In 1878, after a close and exciting contest, he was reelected over Mr. Woodson, one of the most popular men in the county. Mr. Garth has filled the office to the general satisfaction of all the people, and has made for himself hosts of friends by his courteous, accommodating conduct as a public officer and as a man.

Mr. Garth is a prominent member of the Masonic order. He hu taken all the degrees up to and including that of Knight Templar. He has been master of the blue lodge; T. I. G. M. of the council; H. P. of the chapter, and E. C. of the commandery. He and Mrs. Garth are members of the Presbyterian church.

October 7, 18GY, when but nineteen years of age, Mr. Garth married Miss Eva Samuel, a daughter of Hon. John M. Samuel, and a most accomplished young lady, and a graduate of Bellwood seminary, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Garth have had born to them six children, four of whom are yet living, viz.: Mary, Jefferson, Lucy and William. Their oldest son, John, a bright, promising lad of thirteen, the pride and fond hope of his parents, and a favorite with all who knew him, was one of the victims of the Samuel's pond disaster, November 29, 1881, mention of which heart-rending circumstance is to be found-elsewhere in this history.

The Garth family were Unionists, but not Radical, during the civil war. Samuel A. Garth, a brother of the subject of this sketch, commanded a company in the Federal service. Walter Garth is in politics a Democrat, fully in accord with and strong in the faith of the party founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Possessed of a genial, kindly nature, an active, intelligent spirit, troops of friends, a splendid record as to past conduct, ''Wat." Garth's future is promising, and his life can hardly fail of being a success.

As printed in History of Boone County, Missouri (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.