|
|
ISAAC F. GARNER.
The business of life insurance is one that engages the best efforts of many men of fine abilities and attainments.
Some of the best life insurance men in the country find employment in the Missouri field, and well known among
them is Isaac F. Garner, local agent for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, at Carthage, Jasper county.
Isaac F. Garner was born in the territory of Arkansas September 9, 1832, a son of Robert C. and Mary C. (Forbis)
Garner. The father was a native of Tennessee, born in Rutherford county in 1806, and the mother was a native of
Kentucky, born in 1813. She was a daughter of Isaac Forbis, who was probably born in Virginia. In 1836 the father,
Robert C. Garner, with his family removed to Polk county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming on quite an extensive
scale. In 1845 they removed to Cape Girardeau county, where Mr. Garner died in 1856, and his wife in 1867. The
Garners are descended from Scotch ancestry, some of whom settled early in the United States, notably in the Virginias.
John Garner, the grandfather of our subject, was in the Creek and Seminole war. He married Miss Mary Caruthers,
and died about 1830, on the eve of the family's removal to the western country. Robert C. and Mary C. (Forbis))
Garner had twelve children, nine of whom grew to years of maturity and eight are living at this time, seven in
Missouri and one in Colfax, Illinois.
Isaac F. Garner completed his education in Cape Girardeau county, where he attended private schools. In 1850 he
married Miss Patience E. Bess, who wads born and reared in Madison county, Missouri, a daughter of Henry and Mary
Bess, natives of North Carolina. They were descended from pioneers who settled on Albemarle sound in 1710.
For three years after his marriage Mr. Garner farmed during the spring, summer and fall, and taught school in the
winters, and later gave his attention exclusively to farming until he entered the mercantile business at Arcadia,
Missouri, in 1857. He lived for a time in St. Louis, removing thence to Franklin county, Missouri, and from Franklin
county returned to St. Louis, where for six years he was the proprietor of a hotel. In 1874 he located at Carthage
and engaged in the manufacture of brick. Afterward he opened the first stone quarry in that vicinity, and also
erected the first stone dressing plant, and was also the pioneer in the lime manufacturing business at Carthage.
His company was known as the Carthage Marble and White Lime Company, and he was one of the principal partners in
the concern. After he sold his interest in that enterprise he accepted the local agency of the Mutual Life Insurance
Company of New York, and has been their agent for the past twelve years.
Isaac F. and Patience E. (Bess) Garner have three children. Their daughter Angie, the eldest, married E. O. Brown,
an attorney at law of Carthage, Missouri. Their second daughter, Bessie, married L. Knox, of St. Louis. Robert
W., the youngest child and only son, married Miss Margaret Duncan, of Pierce City, Missouri. He is an accomplished
electrician, and has charge of the telephone system of Carthage. Mr. Garner, the subject of this sketch, is an
old school Democrat, and a man of influence in the councils of his party, but has always steadfastly refused to
accept public office. His influence is always cast on the side of clean politics and substantial improvement, and
he has demonstrated his public spirit so many times and in so many ways that his fellow citizens know that they
can rely upon him to advance every movement for the public good to the extent of his ability. He has always taken
a leading part in church work; being a life long member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, and was a lay
delegate to the general conference of that church which met in Richmond, Virginia, in May, 1886.
From:
The Biographical History of Jasper County, Missouri
By Hon. Malcolm G. McGregor
The Lewis Publishing Co.
Chiago 1901
Privacy Policy for
OnlineBiographies
|
NAVIGATION
Jasper County, MO
Biographies
Online
Biographies
New York
Histories
New York
Biographies
Maine
Histories
Pennsylvania
Histories
Pennsylvania
Biographies
For all your genealogy needs visit Linkpendium
|