ARKANSAS - ALGERNON SYDNEY GARNETT - Bio ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: California and Californians, Vol. Three. Hunt, Rockwell D., ed. Chicago: Lewis Publishing, 1932. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Algernon Sydney Garnett, M. D.A member of an old southern family, Dr. Algernon Sydney Garnett, physician and surgeon of San Bernardino, has had an unusual, diversified and interesting career in his profession, his activities and services having carried him from the remote and dangerous jungles of Brazil to the frozen wastes of thinly- populated Saskatchewan. Always possessed of the spirit of adventure, he has never hesitated to accept any mission, however dangerous, and his experiences have had a broadening influence that has aided him materially in human understanding and a knowledge of human nature in all of its aspects. Doctor Garnett's birth occurred August 2, 1885, on his father's plantation in King George County, Virginia, near the homes of George Washington and Robert E. Lee, on the Potomac River, fifty miles from Washington, D. C. His father, H. T. Garnett, who celebrated his Golden Wedding anniversary in December, 1929, was a native of Virginia, and is living with Mrs. Garnett at King George, in the house of his birth, which is over 100 years old and one of the historic show places of the community. [p.282] In addition to being a prominent and successful planter, Mr. Garnett has been active in public life and represented the Democratic party in the State Legislature for several years. His parents and grandparents were slave-owners, and one or two of the old loyal retainers still reside on the home place, which is known as "Spy Hill" and commands a wonderful and picturesque view of the beautiful Potomac in either direction for thirty miles. It was the point used by the patriots to observe the coming of the British troops during the War of the Revolution. The Garnetts originally came from England and were among the earliest settlers of the colony of Virginia. During the war between the states Thomas Stewart Garnett, the grandfather of Doctor Garnett, joined the Confederate army, won rapid promotion under Gen. Stonewall Jackson, the great Southern leader, and two hours after he had been elevated to the rank of general met a soldier's death while leading his troops in the bloody battle of the Wilderness. H. T. Garnett married Miss Belle Brown, a distant cousin, of Revolutionary stock, and a member of a family which had settled early in Virginia and had always been plantation owners and slaveholders. Mrs. Garnett's father was prominent in the community and for many years held the position of county clerk. Algernon Sydney Garnett received his primary education in Virginia, following which he took his preparatory course at Emerson Institute, then attending George Washington University, at Washington, D. C., from which he was graduated in 1908 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He served a year's internship in George Washington University Hospital and then embarked in practice at Leesburg, Virginia, but only practiced there for a few months. The spirit of adventure was strong in Doctor Garnett, and when he was offered a position in one of the most desolate places on earth he accepted and in 1909 went to Brazil as contract surgeon for the Madeira Mamore Railway, which ran 200 miles around the falls of the Madeira River to convey rubber to that point so as to reach the Atlantic Ocean, instead of carrying the product over the Andes Mountains. It took Doctor Garnett thirty-six days to reach his destination from New York, going 1,000 miles up the Amazon and then, via canoe and mules, 500 miles up the Madeira River. Indians would work the canoe up the Madeira and at night camp was made on the banks of the river. Doctor Garnett was sent up the line to the Bolivian boundary and later worked at the base construction camp. After three years of hard and adventurous work he returned to the United States in 1912. Hardly had he arrived when Doctor Garnett accepted another unique mission, this, however, being in an entirely different direction. He went to Saskatoon, in the Saskatchewan country of Northwestern Canada, where he practiced for ten years, this also being an interesting experience, although attended with many climatic discomforts. The desire for a milder climate and his own country caused him to come to California in 1922, when he opened an office at San Bernardino in partnership with Dr. Steele Forsyth, which association has continued to the present, with excellent success, the offices being located at 569 Fourth Street. Doctor Garnett is generally recognized as an able, energetic and thoroughly competent physician and a skilled and steady-handed surgeon, is a member of the staff of the Ramona Hospital at San Bernardino, and belongs to the San Bernardino County Medical Society, the California State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is a York Rite Mason, with his Chapter and Commandery at Saskatoon, and belongs also to Wa Wa Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Regina, Canada. He is also a member of the Lions Club, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the San Bernardino Country Club. In his political belief he adheres to the principles of the Democratic party, but has taken only a good citizen's and voter's part in public affairs. He attends the Episcopal Church. At Winnipeg, Canada, January 12, 1913, Doctor Garnett was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Wells Rector, who was born at Trinidad, California, a granddaughter of a former governor of Arkansas, a member of an old southern family of Revolutionary stock, and of English descent. Mrs. Garnett is a brilliant woman, greatly traveled, and is particularly well informed as to the Philippine Islands, Hawaii and Brazil. It was in the last named country that she first met Doctor Garnett and their trails crossed again in the Saskatchewan, where they joined hands for the remainder of the trip through life. Mrs. Garnett is active in club, social and church work, and a member of the Woman's Auxiliary of the Episcopal Church, the Woman's Club and the San Bernardino Country Club. Doctor and Mrs. Garnett reside in a beautiful home at 1098 D Street.