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 R. J. S. GARNER, who for the last twenty-two years has been a successful practicing
physician of the village of Salisbury, owns
a well-improved farm of sixty acres adjoining the village, and is a prominent citizen of
that locality. He is a native of Russell County,
Ky., born Oct. 14, 1831, and comes from an excellent North Carolina family. The paternal
grandfather of our subject, Paris Garner by name,
was a native of North Carolina, and spent the
greater part of his life in his native State. He
was there married to Miss Lydia Ann Curtis, a
native of the same State, and they became the
parents of seven children, namely, Francis; Paris,
Jr., the father of our subject; Curtis, Nancy, Permelia, Lilly Ann and Henry. These are all deceased.
Grandfather Garner was active and enterprising in
character, and previous to the War of 1812, visited
Pulaski County, Ky.. where he purchased a tract
of land. Upon the coming on of the war he
shouldered his musket and served as a soldier all
through the conflict, and died when within three
miles of his home, while on his return there after
receiving his honorable discharge. His wife had
died three years before. Their son, Paris, Jr., the father of our subject, was the second born, his birth taking place in North Carolina in 1801. He left his native State with his parents and located with them in Pulaski County, where he was reared to manhood and received a good common-school education. He was but twelve years old at the time of his father’s death, and was then taken by his uncle, Vincent Garner, with whom he remained until his marriage. The maiden of his choice was Miss Sarah L. Pierce, who was born in 1806, and became his wife in 1822. Her parents were James and Elizabeth Pierce, natives of Kentucky. The elder Garner after his marriage purchased a tract of land in Russell County, Ky., which he occupied and cultivated with marked success until 1840, then selling out purchased 800 acres in Wayne County, and became the owner of twenty slaves, by which means his land was cultivated and improved. He put up one of the finest residences in that section, also a grist and saw mill and a large distillery, and remained a resident there until 1860. That year he purchased a valuable farm in Grayson County, which remained his final residence. While on a visit to his son-in-law. Charles King, of Hart County, Paris Garner was seized with fatal illness and passed away in February, 1866. His wife survived him for a period of nineteen years, her death taking place in Wayne County, Ky., in 1885. Both were devoted members of the Baptist Church. Paris Garner held the various offices of his county, including those of Sheriff and Assessor, and was in all respects prominently identified with the business and agricultural interests of the Blue Grass State. The children of the parental household were named respectively, Curtis, James P., Lettice B., Sarah A.; J. S., of our sketch; Mary Elizabeth, Martha F., John P., Sarah and Jane. The latter two are deceased. The subject of our history, who was the fifth child of his parents, remained under the home roof until nineteen years old, receiving the benefits of the common school and gaining a good insight into the labors of the farm. His taste, however, lay in a different direction, and he commenced the study of medicine under the instruction of J. S. Pierce, of Lancaster, Ky., with whom he remained two years and then attended a course of lectures at Louisville. He commenced the profession as the partner of his tutor, and six months later, going into Wayne County, practiced there until 1860. Thence he removed to Grayson County and purchased a farm of eighty acres. He did not abandon his practice by any means, but extended his professional duties into Breckinridge County, where he also purchased another tract of land, comprising 120 acres. Dr. Garner was a strong Union man, and during the summer of 1863, while the Rebellion was in progress, recruited Co. K, 48th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, of which he was tendered the commission of Captain, but preferred that of First Lieutenant, and served with this rank about eighteen months. He was subsequently appointed Surgeon of the regiment. He did not hide himself from danger behind his professional duties, but was present with the balance of the regiment at the various battles and skirmishes encountered by the Army of the Cumberland, and at the surrender of Lee received his honorable discharge, and was mustered out in December, 1864. After the war ended Dr. Garner returned to Breckinridge County, Ky., and during February, 1865, sought the Prairie State and began practice at Salisbury, where he has since remained. His life has been one of energy and activity, and he has witnessed with unabated interest the growth and development of one of the most promising of the Western States. The marriage of Dr. Garner and Miss Minnie E. Roberts was celebrated on the 24th of April, 1854, in Wayne County, Ky., at the home of the bride’s parents. Mrs. Garner was born in the latter named county, and is the daughter of Squire and Penelope Roberts, also natives of the Blue Grass State. Her father died in Wayne County, in 1861, and the mother in 1883. They were members of the Baptist Church and the father was Justice of the Peace for a number of years in his township. The record of the seven children of Dr. and Mrs. Garner is as follows: Marietta, born Aug. 11, 1858. was married to John D. Muncy, a farmer of Finney County, Kan.; Emma A., born Aug. 12, 1859, is the wife of G. M. Roberts, of Meade County, Kan.; John P. L., born Feb. 21, 1861, married Miss May C. Davis, and is engaged in farming in Ashmore Township; Minnie M., born Dec. 27, 1866, is at home; Viola B., born March 9, 1869; Edwin M. S., July 9, 1871, and Lulu M., Oct. 5, 1873, are at home with their parents. The Doctor and his wife are regular attendants of the Baptist Church at Salisbury. He is a stanch Republican, politically, and socially, a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Lodge No. 698, at Diona. |
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