Colonel Russell Garrett

Colonel Russell Garrett, a resident of Ventura, had seen this portion of the State in 1849-'50, and was so impressed with the desirability of Ventura that he never lost sight of it, and in 1880 bought the property on Ventura avenue, which is his home. He has also bought a ranch of 600 acres, where he raises wheat and barley. He has built on the ranch and planted fruit trees for home consumption.

    Mr. Garrett was born in Ohio, September 29, 1829. His father, Charles B. Garrett, was born in Virginia, in 1794, and was in the war of 1812, under General Scott. His grandfather, William Garrett, born also in the Old Diminion, was a soldier in the Revolution under Washington, in Lee's army. The family in early day had its origin in Ireland, whence they emigrated to France and became Huguenots. Mr. Garrett's mother, Maria Walker, was born in Detroit, Michigan, August 9, 1807. Her father, William Walker, was born in Virginia, captured by the Indians when a boy and taken to Michigan. Governor William Walker, of Kansas, was her brother, and R. J. Walker, Secretary of the Virginia State Treasury, was another brother. Mr. Garrett, our subject, is the third child in a family of six sons and three daughters, of whom two are nowing. After finishing his education at Chape Hill College, Missouri, he came in 1849 to California overland, and spent two years in the mines, he and his associate being the first white miners on the north fork of Feather River. They obtained on an average about $4 worth of gold to the pan of dirt, and they took out sometimes as much as $500 a day. The deep snow and mountain fever drove them from those rich mines. Returning to Missouri, Mr. Garrett engaged in farming, and when the war commenced he had a number of negroes, and in order to preserve his property he enlisted under General Rosser, of Virginia, and they were drilled all winter before the war.  During the war they formed a portion of the army of General Price and participated in the battles of Lexington, Oak Grove, Pea Ridge and in the retreat from Springfield, Missouri, and at the engagement at Boston Mountain, -- Hill, Helene, and on the Red River and at Campden, - at all of which the Confederates were victorious except at Helena, where they were badly whipped by General Grant's lively regiment. Mr. Garrett was of course in many minor engagements resides the above named. He enlisted as a private; at the battle of Lexington he was promoted to the Colonelcy, when he was permitted to raise a regiment, General Jackson appointing him to that position. After the war closed, according to the advice of General Price, he went to Springfield, Missouri, with 300 of his men, intending to enlist under Colonel Grovely to go out and subdue Indians; but he was the only one of the 300 who enlisted. He was in that service from March 13, 1865, to October 26 following.  Being discharged, he went to Kansas City and engaged in agriculture upon a farm of his own; in 1880 he sold this and came to Ventura, where he has since resided. He was appointed by President Cleveland Deputy Revenue Collector of this district. In his fraternal relations he is a Master Mason.

    The Colonel was married in 1860, to Miss E. J. Lane, a daughter  of Isaac W. Lane, of Utica, New York, of English descent; she was born in Ohio in 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Garrett have had no children of their own, but have brought up three. The girl is now Mrs. Honeywell, and the boys are Charles M. Garrett and John McMullen, all grown up. Mrs. Garrett is a member of the Christian Church. During the war she gave her services one year to the hospital at St. Louis, and afterward had the care of the sick and wounded at Gajoso Hospital in Tennessee.

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