SANFORD QUAY GARRETT

 

     Sanford Quay Garrett, b January 22, 1897 at Stranger, Falls County, Texas, d February19, 1962 in Lake Jackson, Brazoria County, Texas and buried in Stranger Cemetery - was the youngest child of James Odell and Elizabeth Ann

(Jackson) Garrett, and a grandson of Thomas McKissick and Linea Frances (Brandon-Cornelison) Garrett - early settlers in The Republic of Texas.

     Sanford attended Stranger School through the seventh grade, when he quit to work on his father's farm.  His father put him to grubbing stumps. He was baptized in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Fairview, where his father was an elder; and Sanford, later, became a Deacon in the Methodist-Presbyterian Union Church at Stranger - remaining a member of the Presbyterian denomination all his life.

     Music was a family talent, and Sanford's beautiful baritone voice was often heard at home, church, and many community and county affairs.

     At an early age, Sanford met and courted Agnes Estelle Mitchell, b August 21, 1896 at Blue Ridge in Falls County, d October 6,1974 in Fort Worth and buried in Stranger Cemetery - the youngest child of William Henry and Margaret Lucinda (Chamberlain) Mitchell. Agnes' grandparents, Memnon A. and Martha (Harlan) Mitchell, came to Texas - Coahuila, Mexico, in the Fall of 1834 with Martha's parents, Dr. Isaiah and Nancy (Henry) Harlan - both of South Carolina who first moved to Indiana and subsequently to Texas.

     Agnes was attending Baylor Belton College for Women (now Mary Hardin Baylor University) in Belton in 1916, but dropped out to marry Sanford on February 28, 1917. The couple lived with his parents for a short time before leasing some land near Blue Ridge. In 1922, he leased the Robert Jasper Garrett and farm at Stranger, with an option to buy the place; but after sixteen years, he realized that Jasper's widow was expecting him to improve the place but planned to give it to her son-in-law.

     Sanford leased the Robert Forbes Big Creek farm for several years - purchasing the 630-acre farm plus the William M. McKinney in 1938. The family lived there until 1956 when the place was sold and Sanford and Agnes moved to Lake Jackson, Texas, where his sons were pharmacists, and owned drug stores.

     Sanford Q. Garrett was president of the Stranger Cooperative Gin, a charter member of the Production Credit Association, a School Trustee, and a leader in developing Highway 7 East to Marquez, by persuading the farmers to provide the right-of-way. He assisted his neighbors in stock care, loan of farming equipment and wagons; and helped anyone in need.

     The seven children of Sanford Q. and Agnes (Mitchell) Garrett were:

     Sanford Quay Garrett, Jr., b February 1, 1918, d July 12, 1985 in Angleton, Brazoria County, Texas ­ married December 5, 1942 to Hazel Vandalea Reed, b July 15, 1915 in Falls County, d December 5, 1971 and both buried in Stranger Cemetery.

     Marian Mitchell Garrett, b August 12, 1919 ­married August 31, 1941 in Cleburne, Johnson County, Texas to Garland Gillis Gibbs, b May 3, 1919 in Rosebud, Texas, d July 1, 1976.

     James Odell Garrett, b May 13,1921, d March 20, 1968 in Diboll, Angelina County, Texas - married September 9, 1949 to Rebecca Ann Bradshaw, b June 25, 1926, of Lubbock, Texas.

     William Henry Garrett, b November 6, 1922, d March.13, 1969 in Diboll,

Angelina County, Texas ­ married first November 12,1945 to Norma Jo (Smith) Williams; and married second on October 2, 1960 to Leigh Stanford.

     Margaret Ann Garrett, b October 8, 1924 - married November 11, 1945 to Blanchard Monroe ("Doc") Dixon, b March 23, 1919 in Mount Vernon, Illinois. "Doc" was in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II, and became a watchmaker, jeweler and pawn shop owner in Fort Worth, where Margaret worked as his bookkeeper and Secretary-Treasurer of their company. They had three children: James Monroe Dixon, b July 7, 1947 - married Janet Sue McComb of Fort Worth, and had James Patrick Dixon; Cynthia Kay Dixon, b April 7, 1950 who married Jess Densley Mayfield and had three daughters: Rachel Ann Mayfield, Jennifer Joy Mayfield, and Dixie Leigh Mayfield, and reside in Oklahoma; and Marsha Kay Dixon, b March 23, 1952 who married Thomas Jerry Malone and had Andrew Malone, and reside in Fort Worth, Texas.

     Joydelle Garrett, b July 4, 1926 at Stranger, married Bertram Wolfram, Jr., b February 22, 1922 in Galveston, d November 12,1952 in Galveston.

     Thomas Rice Garrett, b July 23,1929 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas - married July 18, 1949 in Marlin, Texas to Mrs. Mary Evelyn (Walker) Bratton, b December 29, 1926 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, d October 8, 1965 in Lake Jackson, Brazoria County, Texas. Tom served in Korea and Japan after World War II ended, and as the Korean "Police Action" was beginning. He first attended Texas A&M University, before transferring to The University of Texas at Aus­tin, where he received his Pharmacy Degree. He adopted Mary's two sons by her first marriage, and they also had two daughters: Thomas Sidney Garrett who married Billie Kay Keesee and had Kristina Erin and Kara Brooke Garrett; Dennis Walker Garrett who married Paula Ann Tate and had Matthew Thomas Garrett, Brian Tate Garrett, and Amanda Mary Ann Garrett; Janet Elaine Garrett who married Frank Bartis Martin and had Colby Frank Martin and Brady Garrett Martin; and Joy Ann Garrett who married Randall Lynn Chessher and had Thomas Garrett Chessher, Nathan Randall Chessher, Charles Austin Chessher, and Randall Lee Chessher. Thomas Rice Garrett was a Pharmacist and Drug Store owner in Lake Jackson, Texas until he established the Garrett Pawn Stores, in business with his son, Dennis, in Clute and Angleton, Texas. He lives on his acreage near Angleton, where he raises Beef Master Cattle, and horses.

 

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing these bio of these Falls County Families to this Web page "Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 178

Member of Falls County Historical Commission