C. R. Garner Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1258-1259 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				C. R. GARNER. 

	C. R. Garner, who is successfully engaged in the real-estate, 
loan and abstract business in Onida, was born in Douglas county, 
Illinois, on the 15th of December, 1872, a son of William E. and Hester 
A. (Turner) Garner, both natives of Clinton county. Ohio. They removed 
from the Buckeye state to Illinois shortly after their marriage and 
resided in the Prairie state until 1883, when they came to South Dakota 
and located on a farm near Onida. The father gave his time and energies 
to the improvement of that place until 1910, when he and his wife 
removed to California. They now reside in Banning, Riverside county, 
that state, and he is living practically retired although he engages in 
the growing of fruits and nuts to some extent. He still owns land in 
South Dakota and has many friends here. He was one of the early 
settlers of Sully county and erected the first residence in Garner 
township. Although never an office seeker he was elected to a number of 
township offices. To him and his wife were born two children: Camillus 
R.; and John Newton, who resides in Banning, California, and who is an 
important official in the government forestry service, having charge of 
a large district. 

	C. R. Garner received his early education in the public schools 
of Onida and Pierre and later attended the State Normal School at 
Madison and Huron College. A number of years before completing his 
education, however, he helped provide for his own support, as when 
about sixteen years of age he was employed by others. When twenty-two 
years old he began teaching school in Sully county and for two terms 
taught the Onida school and for seven terms the Waterford school. 
During vacations he farmed and thus added to his income. In 1901, 
however, he became a resident of Onida and engaged in the real-estate, 
abstract and loan business, with which he is still connected. He deals 
in South Dakota lands and also handles real estate in other states and 
has negotiated many important transactions. He also has a gratifying 
patronage in the other branches of his business. He is a stockholder 
and a director in the Mexican Oil Company, whose well at the time it 
was sunk, in 1913, was the second largest in the world; and in the Idol 
Island Oil Company of the same place, which now has three wells. He 
owns farm lands in South Dakota and is one of the substantial citizens 
of Sully county. He devotes practically his entire time to his real-
estate, loan and insurance business and has demonstrated his acumen and 
sound judgment. 

	Mr. Garner was married on the 12th of October, 1914, to Miss Maud 
Cole, a daughter of John F. Cole, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in 
this work. To this union has been born a daughter, Audrey Belle, who is 
attending school. 

	Mr. Garner is a republican and is now serving his second year as 
mayor of Onida. He is a very able official and his conduct of the 
affairs of the office has gained him the commendation of his fellow 
citizens. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church, and 
fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, belonging to the 
blue lodge of Onida, in which he is senior warden, and the chapter of 
Pierre, and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has gained the 
friendship of many and the respect of all with whom he has been brought 
in contact.