Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
William Garten
History of Knox and Daviess Counties
Goodspeed Publishing Company 1886
WILLIAM GARTEN, an old settler of Daviess County, Ind., was born in Lawrence County, Ind., August 7, 1822, and is one of four children born to James and Betsey (Sears) Garten. Our subject's paternal grandfather was of Welsh descent. He was a pioneer of Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Lawrence County, Ind., having killed deer and wild game of various kinds in each State. He was a skillful marksman and rivaled Daniel Boone in his love for forest life. James was born in Tennessee in 1788. He removed to Kentucky in youth, where he resided until 1816, when he moved to Lawrence County, Ind., purchased land and began tilling the soil. He speculated largely in stock, which he took to Chicago, driving them through unbroken forests and across rivers and creeks. He moved to Daviess County in 1839 and purchased 320 acres of land. He died in said county May 30, 1874. He was one of the first settlers in the township and assisted largeiy in forming the first settlements. The mother died in 1822. Subject's mother died when he was but two week's old. He was reared by his people with whom he remained until twenty-two years old. February 22, 18t4, he married Margaret, daughter of Zacharias and Peggy Dicks. Mrs. Garten was born November 13, 1822, in Monroe County, Ind. To their union eight children were born, seven of whom are living. The children's names are Sarah E., Mary A., Zacharias T., James M.. John L., William H., Zimri M. and Henry S. After marriage Mr. Garten lived on the old home place for two years, and in 1846 he purchased 180 acres of land, where he settled and has since resided. He has been an industrious, hard-working man, and by his energy and close attention to business now owns 330 acres of land, besides giving 145 acres to his children. In politics he is a Republican and cast his first vote for Henry Clay.
Contributed by: Michael L. Tedrow