Lee-Chambers County AlArchives Biographies.....Garrett, Matthew 1828 - 1903
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
John Simmons http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007486 June 7, 2018, 7:51 pm

Source: Personal research of author
Author: John Simmons

Matthew was born in Upson County, Georgia in June of 1828. His parents were 
James and Francis Loflin Garrett. His father, James, was from Oglethorpe 
County, Georgia. The Garrett family had moved to Georgia from North 
Carolina.
 Matthew worked as a farm laborer on his father's farm until he met and 
married Nancy Ann Mahala McHargue on the 1st of March in 1855 in Upson 
County. 
He had at least four brothers and sisters. His known sisters were Matilda P. 
and Catherine E. Garrett. He had a brother, Miles C. Garrett. 

Matthew and Nancy left Upson County sometime after 1855 and moved to 
Chambers County, Alabama. The 1860 census locates the family in the southern 
division of Chambers at Cussetta Post Office. The census of that year 
indicates that he has three children, Ann, William, and Archie. 

The following year war came to the south and to Alabama. Matthew answered 
the call to arms and enlisted in the 37th Regiment in Company G  He served 
through the war with the 37th and was wounded in the jaw in fighting near 
the city of Corinth, Mississippi in June of 1863. Later the regiment formed 
part of the garrison at Vicksburg and He was captured with that place along 
with his regiment. The garrison  suffered greatly from losses and 
privations. 
After the fall of Vicksburg his regiment was exchanged and paroled at 
Demopolis, Alabama. The 37th was reformed and transferred to the Army of 
Tennessee and took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain on the 24th of 
November and Missionary Ridge on the 25th. His regiment was part of Moore's 
Brigade. 

Matthew continued fighting with his regiment in the battles of the Georgia 
Campaign, at Rocky Face Mountain, Resaca, and New Hope Church. Casualties 
were great in the battles around Atlanta and Matthew was wounded again. This 
time he was wounded in the foot in July 1864. 
His regiment fought again at Bentonville and later surrendered in North 
Carolina near Durham Station. 

Matthew survived the war and returned home to Chambers County and to his 
family and farming,  The 1870 census shows the family in a different area of 
Chambers near the town of Berlin and Chambers Courthouse Post Office, Beat 
13.  His family had grown by this time to include Fannie, Amy, Matthew Lee, 
and Clanton. By 1880 the family is living in Bluffton or as is known today 
Lanett, Alabama. Matthew has more children by this time to include Thomas, 
John, James, and Ida and an infant girl not named. He is listed as a laborer 
on this census. In 1897 Matthew and family were living in Oakbowery and made 
application for a pension for this service in the Confederate Army. He 
received a pension. He later moved to Auburn,Lee County, Alabama and file 
again for a pension. 
By 1900 many of his family have gone their separate ways. The census 
indicates that Matthew and Nancy had 13 children and 10 were living in that 
year. 
He and his wife were living in what is now the county of Lee in the town of 
Gold Hill. One of  their sons, William,  and his wife are living near by. 
Matthew passed away in November of 1903 and he was buried at Farmville 
Cemetery in Lee County, Alabama. His wife Nancy died about 5 years later in 
1908. 

Additional Comments:
After Matthew died his wife Nancy A. Garrett filed for a pension as a widow of 
a pensioned Confederate veteran. She continued to receive the pension until 
about 1908 to 1909 when she passed away. 

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/lee/bios/garrett1102gbs.txt

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