Kentucky: A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed., 1886. Warren County. ROBERT T. GARVIN was born December 6, 1825, in Hart County, Ky., and is the second of the two sons and two daughters of Valentine and Mary A. (Brawner) Garvin. Valentine Garvin was born in Rockingham County, Va., September 1796, and while still a lad was brought by his parents to Barren, now Hart County, Ky., where he became one of the wealthiest farmers and slave holders; he served as magistrate for many years, also as sheriff and assessor, and was sent to the Legislature in 1836; he was also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and died in September, 1871. His parents, David and Barbara (Baughman) Garvin, were born and reared in Virginia; immigrated in 1808 to Barren, now Hart County, Ky., where they spent the remainder of their lives. David was a farmer and blacksmith, and died in 1836, aged seventy years; his widow died in 1856, aged eighty-four years; her ancestors were Pennsylvania Dutch. David was a son of Isaac Garvin, who emigrated from Ireland when a young man and settled in Virginia about 1745; his wife was a native of Wales. Mrs. Mary Garvin was born in Charles County, Md., and was a daughter of Isaac Brawner, who was born and reared in Maryland; he was a cooper and married Mary Ann Maddox, also a native of that State, who died after a few years. Mr. Brawner then married Ann Taylor, of Maryland; they immigrated to Warren County about 1810; ten years later settled in Hart County. Isaac was a son of William Brawner, who came from England when a young man and settled in Maryland. Robert T. Garvin was reared on a farm, and at the age of twenty started in life for himself, farming and trading in stock. July 25, 1852, he married Virginia T. Smith, of Warren County, a daughter of Benjamic C. and Ellen (Hill) Smith. Four children bless their union; Benjamin H., William V., Charles T. and Mary Ada. Mr. Garvin and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He served in Hart County as constable for two years and as sheriff for the same length of time; was also magistrate for twelve years. In 1865 he located two miles north of Bowling Green on 302 acres, which are highly cultivated and improved with a fine residence and orchard of 400 trees; he lost sixteen negroes by the war. Mr. Garvin was a Whig before the war, and cast his first presidential vote for Henry Clay; he is now a Democrat. Garvin Brawner Maddox Taylor Smith Hill Clay = Hart-KY Barren-KY Rockingham-VA PA Ireland Wales Charles-MD England http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/warren/garvin.rt.txt