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Will GARNER was fourteen years old when his father drove cattle to Dickens county from East Texas in 1890.
Not any land west of Benjamin was organized at that time. People began to settle in Dickens County in 1891. It was organized in 1891. It was 100 miles to the nearest railroad, and we had to go there for things we needed, the trip took eight to ten days, depending on the weather and how much rain.
Will was one of the early day freighters staying on the job for ten years or more, winter and summer and in all kinds of weather. His livelihood depended on freighting as well as his neighbors. They would write down what they wanted from a spool of thread to groceries. "It was better for you to get what they wanted, if you wanted to keep on good terms with them", stated Will.
This county was organized and all of the county officials were old time cowboys. This was a great cattle country, wild as it could be, and there was plenty of game such as deer, antelope, quail, turkey and prairie chickens, also plenty of good cowboys, the best in the world.
Will had a livery stable in Spur for a number of years. He lived in Dickens from 1890 to 1909 when he moved to Spur.
He married Miss Mona M. PETERS in October , 1912, and they raised four sons, and two daughters, Loretta HULL, Dorothy JONES, Elton, E.W., Keigh, and William Wilson GARNER, who was listed as missing in action, October 25, 1944, off Samar Island during World War II.
Will GARNER could out run a deer, the natives would match a race with him and a horse for a short distance, the horse did not always win.
Source: History of Dickens County; Ranches and Rolling Plains, Fred Arrington, ©1971
Funeral services were held Friday at the Spur Church of Christ for William Wilson Garner, 88. Vernon Williams officiated, assisted by Rev. W.D. McDonald.
Mr. Garner, who was a retired farmer, was born near Sherwood, Tenn. December 22, 1874. He came to Texas with his parents as a small boy. He moved with his parents to Afton, in Dickens County in 1891 and has made his home in the county since that time. He died January 10 about 3:30 p.m.
He was one of the early day settlers of Dickens County. His father helped to organize the county. Mr. Garner handled and operated a freight line, bringing supplies to Dickens County from 100 miles away.
Survivors include his wife and two daughters. Mrs. Loretta Hull, Lubbock; Mrs. Dorothy Jones, Spur; three sons, E.M. (Rip) Garner, and E.W. (Bunk) Garner, spur and D. Keith Garner, Ft. Worth. Another son, William Wilson Garner gave his life in WWII.
There are eight grandchildren and one great grand child.
Sisters of the deceased include Mrs. Maude Morrison, Mrs. M.L. Jones, Morton, TX; Ella Garner, Spur; and Gay Collett, Dallas.
Pallbearers included Jesse Morrison, Horace Hyatt, Luther Jones, Wilburn Ball, Clarence Foreman, Don Morrison, Herman Bostic and Durward Pickens.
Honorary pallbearers included Dick Sampson, Judge W.H. Hindman, A.M. Hoover, Judge H.P. Berry, Gilbert Keith, Bud Morrison, E.S. Lee, Guy Goen, R.J. Bell, Ott Denson and Edd Fuqua.
Interment was in the Spur Cemetery.
©The Texas Spur, January 18, 1962
From the records of Lillian Grace Nay, Spur Museum, transcribed by Becky Hodges, August 2004
Funeral services for Mrs. Mona M. Garner, 85, were held Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church. Church pastor, Archie Echols, officiated, assisted by Rev. John Nay also of the Methodist Church.
Mrs. Garner died Jan. 26 in the Crosbyton Hospital. Born in Palo Pinto County, she came to Dickens County in 1899. She has lived in Spur since 1912. She married W.W. Garner in 1912. He was a Dickens County pioneer who died in 1962.
She was a member of the Methodist Church and was named Gold Star Mother by the Spur VFW Post 7212.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Loretta Hull, Lubbock; Mrs. Dorothy Jones, Spur; three sons, E.M. (Rip) Garner, and E.W. (Bunk) Garner, spur and D. Keith Garner, Ft. Worth. Another son, William Wilson Garner gave his life in WWII.
Ten grandchildren and nine great grand children also survive.
Grandsons serving as pallbearers include Bill Jones, E.W. Garner, Jr., Phillip Garner, Kip Beeson, Paul Geeslin, Andy McAllister, and Emery Garner.
Burial was in the Spur Cemetery.
©The Texas Spur, February 1, 1979
From the records of Lillian Grace Nay, Spur Museum, transcribed by Becky Hodges, August 2004
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