Biographical Sketch of Joshua L. GARRETT (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, comprising a historical sketch of the county", by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadelphia, PA, 1893, pp. 541-2. "JOSHUA L. GARRETT, a prominent farmer residing near Sugartown, who is also treasurer of the Mutual Security Fire Company, of Chester county, is the eldest son of Isaac and Lydia L. (Garrett) Garrett, and was born on the old homestead, in the southern part of Willistown township, this county, August 19, 1825. His ancestors were English Quakers who came to America and settled in Pennsylvania at an early day. The paternal grandfather, Isaac Garrett, was also a native of Willistown township, born June 11, 1755, and died her January 12, 1837, aged eighty-two years. He was a farmer by occupation, owning one hundred and forty acres of land, and in religion a Friend or Quaker. In politics he was a Whig, and he married Elizabeth Thatcher, of South Carolina, by whom he had a family of eight children: Isaac, William, Mary, Sarah, Edith and Amos, and after the house was destroyed by fire and the two boys, Isaac and William, were burned, two more were born, whom they named Isaac and William. Amos never married. Sarah married Brinton Darlington, Mary married a man by the name of Sheward, and, after his death, wedded Isaac Fred, while Edith married a man named Hoopes. All are now deceased. Isaac Garrett (father) was born at the Garrett homestead on Ridley creek, Willistown township, October 9, 1797, and died there February 7, 1870, in the seventy-third year of his age. He was a farmer all his life, owning a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres of excellent and productive land. Life his father he adhered to the Quaker faith, and served as overseer of his meeting for many years. In politics he was first a Whig, and later a republican, and on November 4, 1824, married Lydia L. Garrett, a daughter of Abner Garrett, of Willistown township. By this union he had a family of four children: Joshua L., whose name introduces this sketch; Elizabeth, born in 1827, married Thomas G. Smedley, on November 29, 1849, and died April 10, 1891, aged sixty-four; Wilmer, died when one year old; and Amos, born May 21, 1833, married Anna M. Chandler, April 25, 1861, by whom he has three children, and now resides in Willistown. "Abner Garrett, maternal grandfather of Joshua L., was a son of Thomas Garrett, and was born March 19, 1776, in Willistown township, where his father had been born April 12, 1736, on the property where Thomas Cox now lives. He was a farmer by vocation, a Quaker in religion, and married Rebecca Maris, by whom he had a family of eight children: Rebecca Ann, Lydia, Abigail, George, Thomas, Jane, Abner and Hannah. He died October 14, 1849, aged eighty years, and his widow, Rebecca, died January 6, 1856, aged eighty-one. "Joshua L. Garrett was reared principally on the farm, where he early became accustomed to the varied and exacting duties connected with successful farm management. He pursued his primary studies in the public schools of his neighborhood, and later attended Professor Griskem's boarding school, near Morestown, New Jersey, and finished his education at Professor Price's school, near West Chester. After leaving school he engaged in farming, and has made that the leading business of his life, now owning a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Sugartown, and also one hundred and thirty-five acres in the north part of East Bradford township, near Bradford hills, in the culti- vation of which he has been remarkably successful. Ever since its organization in 1885, he has been treasurer of the Mutual Security Fire Insurance Company of Chester county, and is recognized as a gentleman of standing and ability in his community. In financial management he is particularly careful, avoiding all speculation and adhering closely to legitimate methods in business. Politically he is a stanch republican, and takes an active part in local politics. He served as supervisor one year and auditor of his township for four years, and has frequently been elected judge and inspector of elections. In religion he is a member of the Society of Friends, and has all his life been connected with the Willistown meeting of that religious organization. On September 18, 1856, Mr. Garrett was united in marriage to Caroline Hoopes, a daughter of Ezra and Rebecca Hoopes, of West Chester, this county."