The following was copied from a book by Jeanne Southwood Garrett.

In The Beginning

“In the year 1809, the Indiana lands were opened for settlement for anyone with a strong back and adventurous spirit. Large tracts were sold at Vincennes (Old Fort Sackville) to land speculators, who in turn sold the land in smaller tracts. Robert Anderson bought the land around the present day Johnson, Indiana. In 1818 Presley and Elizabeth Garrett purchased land from Anderson. Later the land was sold to Warrick Johnson who plotted the town and laid out the lots for the village of Johnson.

Long before the town of Johnson came into being three was an interesting little spot just a little south of where the town now stands. There was a grist mill whose water wheel was powered by the spring fed strean. This mill was operated by Shuble Garrett (b. 1793, d. 1864.)

The story has it that the mill ran faster when water was plentiful and slower when the supply was down. One day a farmer brought corn to be ground on a “low” day, and the milling process was very slow. Finally in irritation the farmer mumble “one grain at a time, one grain at a time.” That was it, the disgruntled Shuble “threw in the spounge” so to speak and shut down the mill, never to open again. Afterwards Shuble was called “Contrary” Garrett. No doubt this little trait can be found in many of the Garretts today!

15 Apr 1982 Eva Lou (Garrett) Allen found near the site of the old mill a cemetery near a horse training barn. She and Naomi Williams dug out some of the old stones. As near as they could make them out, they read: 1. Charles A. Jones b. 30 Jan 1862 d. 19 Nov 188? (standing stone.) 2. R. J. Garret b. 10 Feb 1829 d. 23 Dec 1881 (this stone was dug out of the ground, in good condition.) 3. Shuble son of R.J. and F. b. __ 2 1870 (bottom of stone was broken across the age – very worn when dug out.) 4. Corner (sic, footstone) with R.J.G. was dug out of the ground. 5. Corner (sic, footstone) with P.G. 6. Pressley Garret son of R. J. & F. C. Garrett b. 19 Nov 1872 d. 12 Aug 1982 – this stone was broken across the top of death date, note the months, they must be reversed. This stone was standing in 1978 when Eva Lou and her dau-in-law., Mona Allen first seen the grave site. (note Garret spelled with only one t)

After the death of Presly Garrett (1765-1844) Shuble purchased some of his land, and his mother lived with him. After the death of Shuble in 1864, his son Reuben lived with his mother. Ruben was m. to Phebe C. Mobley, may have been spelled Febe. Ruben died in 1881 and Phebe m. Charles A. Jones. After Charles’ death Phebe m. Cornelius Garrett. In 1901 Phebe m. Charles Racine. Presley Garrett (b. 1825, son of Shuble) and wife Emeline Duncan purchased Ruben Garrett’s estate 1882-84.

30 May 1984 Bettie Garrett Sparks and husband Jim, my husband, Bob Garrett and I, went to the site of the old mill. I am the opinion that the sands have most likely covered many of the burial sites of the earlier Garrett’s. As far as I know, no graves have been found for Presly, Elizabeth or any of their children. This book is dedicated to them as living memorial – tho gone – they are not forgotten.”