My Genealogy Hound

John C. Garner, one of the early settlers of Sharp County, and postmaster of Martin’s Creek post office since its establishment in 1876, in his residence, was born in Williamson County, Tenn., December 4, 1808, son of John and Sally (Cochran) Garner. John was born in Tennessee, and was drowned in Spring River, Arkansas, about 1820. He was one of the first settlers of Sharp County, having come from Illinois about 1818. The mother of our subject was born in Tennessee, about 1778, of Welsh descent, and died in Sharp County, near 1860. She was the mother of six children, three of whom are now living, our subject being the first. He was of Scotch and Irish descent, raised in Sharp County, and never saw a schoolhouse till twenty years of age, and never went to school. John C. has been a resident of Sharp County since about 1818; he helped to clear the farm on which he resides, and endured many hardships incident to pioneer life. He was a noted hunter, and shot many deer where Monmouth Spring Village now stands. In 1828 he married Miss Arrena Gray, born in Boone County, Mo., in May, 1811, and who died in 1854; she was the mother of ten children (five of whom are living): Milton (deceased), Redman (deceased), Sally (deceased), Hiram, Betsey (wife of William Ratcliff), Lewis (deceased), Calvin (deceased), Nancy (wife of Elijah Ratcliff), Helena (wife of James A. Graves) and Harden. In 1857 John C. married Mrs. Mary (Farris) Rice, who was born and raised in Tennessee. She was born in 1805, and died in 1887. Our subject has resided on the place he now owns, for some forty years, and has sixty acres of land. He resides with his son, Hiram, who farms the place. It contains 120 acres, forty under cultivation. Hiram was married, in 1859, to Miss Martha Rice, who was born in Tennessee, in 1837, and who died in 1881. She was the mother of six children, two of whom are living. Mary (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Rosetta (deceased), Permetta, Indiana (deceased) and Arazana. Hiram was married the second time in October, 1882, to Melinda (McCanny) Brown, a widow. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Christian Church, as are Hiram and his wife. Hiram served in the Federal army about one year, and has held the office of constable two years. John C. is a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Martin Van Buren. Hiram cast his first presidential vote for Bell, of Tennessee.