Reuben Garnett and his brother Louis (deceased) were Kentuckians by birth, and came to Missouri at a very early day. Louis settled on a farm in Ralls County, Mo., on which he resided until his death, which occurred in 1873. Reuben Garnett settled in a little town on the Missouri River now known as Jefferson City. He was a brick-mason by trade, and helped to erect the first brick buildings of that city. He afterward moved to a farm a few miles from there, on the Missouri River bottom, on which he resided until 1844, when he settled on a farm in the northwestern part of Cole County. Shortly after moving there his first wife died, leaving a family of three children: George, the eldest, residing on a farm in Texas; James L. is a farmer, and lives in Cole County; Sarah, wife of William Alcorn, is living in Texas. Mr. Garnett was subsequently married to Miss Jane Hayter, a daughter of Israel Hayter, who was a settler of Missouri from Tennessee some fifty years ago, their union taking place about 1847. Shortly after they moved to the farm on which Mrs. Garnett now resides, which comprises two tracts of 280 acres. The father died in 1873, mourned by all who knew him. In addition to the old homestead, some new buildings have been erected recently by Israel, the eldest son, who now owns a half interest in the place, and superintends its work. He is only thirty years of age, but is already ranked among the leading farmers of the neighborhood. He was married in 1883 to Miss Agnes Longan, a lady of culture and refinement, by whom he has an interesting little family of three children; Oscar R., Henry Carl and Effie Grace. Mr. Garnett has always supported the principles of the Democratic party. His brothers and sisters are as follows: Mary, wife of Henry Scott, is the mother of four children; Ellen, who married Robert Page, from Illinois, is now residing on a farm in Nebraska, and is the mother of five children; Harvey is a farmer of Cole County, is married and has three children; Columbus, Lloyd and Joseph are young men. Mrs. Garnett, wife of Israel, is a daughter of Jesse B. Longan and granddaughter of John B. Longan, the latter being of old Kentucky stock. He came to Missouri when it was a Territory, and was engaged in preaching the gospel, being a Baptist minister. Jesse B. Longan was married to Polly Crum, a daughter of James Crum, who came from Virginia.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).