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Augustus Simeon Garriott (1846 - 1921)
Generation #4
Biographical research shows the following: "Augustus S. Garriott, Little York, a prominent citizen and farmer of Gibson Township and a native of the county and township, where he yet resides, was born February 22, 1846. He is the second son in a family of six children - Samuel H., Nancy (deceased), Augustus S., Eliza Jane (deceased), Mary E. (Mrs. Warner) and Lydia A. (Mrs. Price) - born to Amos M. and Mary A. (Haines) Garriott, the former a minister of the United Brethren Church and both members of the denomination. These parents died January 8, 1861, and December 24, 1854, respectively, and both lie sleeping in the cemetery at Mount Hebron. The subject of our sketch remained at home until his parents’ deaths, and in early years attended the district schools, afterward the graded schools of New Philadelphia and Salem. He embarked in the teacher’s profession, which he has followed sixteen winters, and now holding a certificate of the highest grade has made the profession a success. He is the owner of 1,000 acres of land, 600 acres being improved; is a Republican in politics, and was married May 7, 1867, to Martha E., daughter of John and Jane (Lee) Densford, by whom he is the father of these children: Gertrude J., Ida A., Amos M., Carrie E., Mertie A., and Mary I. He and wife belong to the United Brethren Church." Augustus served in the Indiana House of Representatives: "Garriott, Augustus Simeon. HOUSE, 1895 (WASHINGTON). Born February 22, 1842, Gibson Township, Washington County, Indiana. Attended district schools; graded schools at New Philadelphia and Salem, Washington County. Married Martha Densford, 1867 (8 children). United Brethren. Farmer; teacher. Republican. Township trustee; Washington County commissioner. Died April 13, 1921, Washington County, Indiana." It appears that Augustus defeated Asa Elliott in the "Republican Landslide of 1895" - by a mere 50 votes. Our cousin Horace Price gives us a special insight in his letter, dated November 9, 1996: "I am no genealogy expert or fan, but I have enjoyed your reports on Amos Milton Garriott (1822 - 1861) and Augustus Simeon Garriott (1846 - 1921). I knew the latter as my great "Uncle Gus" and his wife, who we called "Aunt Matt." I didn’t know that her name was Martha until I read your October newsletter. My parents annually took us 5 kids down to the old Price farm in Gibson Township, Washington County, Indiana, to visit folks from his family background, and we often stayed with Uncle Gus and Aunt Matt. The Price family farm was about 3 miles northwesterly of Hager Jr. which originally had 240 acres, and had the only sawmill in the area. Also the Price schoolhouse was on the farm, which was very much like "Jugwater" school on the Garriott farm. The Price church home was the same as the Garriott church home, namely: "Mt. Carmel United Brethren Church," which was erected at the expense and labor and lumber from the Price Mill and the Garriott and Price families about 1884. The United Brethren denomination has since merged with the United Methodist Church, since their doctrines were very similar, and Mt. Carmel Church has been demolished, and its membership has been transferred to the Mt. Hebron Church nearby, where the succeeding Garriott families in the community are still active members." Dad (George Augustus Garriott) reminisces about his grandfather in a letter dated December 27, 1996: "I don’t remember too much about my grandfather as I was only 7 when he died at 75. As I think about it though, 3 or 4 things do come to mind. He was always called Uncle Gus, by the neighborhood and friends as he got older. When I was 5 or 6 years old, I can remember going to the Chiropractor with him in his buggy. The office was in New Philadelphia and we had to go up the big hill by Orville and Iva’s house. I was introduced to Chiropractic quite early in life. He had his own seat in the Amen Corner at church. If he agreed with the preacher, at times he could be quite vocal in his enthusiasm. One time I was sleeping on a church bench, woke up suddenly and rolled onto the floor. It could have been his loud voice that did it! I’ve heard my dad tell this: One February, a neighbor observed
him taking his one row corn planter to town for repairs, he said, ‘Hey Uncle Gus, you
gonna plant winter corn?’ Well, he didn’t plant winter corn but he was ready
when spring came. He always lived and worked by the old saying, ‘Don’t put off
until tomorrow what you can do today.’ I know he was involved in state and local
politics some and had quite a career as a school teacher. But of course that was all
before my time. Don’t know how he worked it all into his schedule but I think it
points to the fact that he was a pretty good planner." My genealogy records differ slightly from the above reports, perhaps due to the way family members remembered and wrote down children’s names and nicknames. Nevertheless, here is my listing of their 8 children:
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Augustus was the second child of Amos and Mary Garriott and was born
on February 22, 1846. Augustus married Martha E. Densford (1848 - 1923) on May 7, 1867 at
the home of James Densford. He died on April 13, 1921 and is buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery
in Scottsburg, IN. Martha died on October 17, 1923 and is also buried at Mt. Carmel.