My Genealogy Hound

Andrew A. Garner, whose fine farm of 246 acres, situated in section 5, White Lake township, Oakland County, has been his home all his life, was born in White Lake township in 1843 and is a son of Robert and Mary E. (Armstrong) Garner, both of whom were born in the State of New Jersey.

Robert Garner was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, and died in White Lake township, Oakland County, August 13, 1903, at the age of 93 years. He was one of the earliest pioneers of Oakland County, in 1822 entering not only the farm on which our subject lives, but also five others of 80 acres. He was for years one of the very prominent men of his section and well deserves to have his memory preserved with that of others who were identified with the development of the western part of the county. As a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, he early took measures looking to the establishment of a religious meeting in the community, finally building a suitable edifice and paying a preacher’s salary himself. He was largely instrumental in making the Sunday-school a notable feature of this church, and served as its superintendent up to his 80th year. In political sentiment he was originally a Whig, changing with the party when it was merged into the Republican organization, but in his later years gave his influence in support of the Prohibition party. He was a man of great force of character and at one time was within three votes of being elected a Representative to the Legislature. The mother of our subject was also a noble example of the pioneer woman, bravely sharing her husband’s hardships and rearing her family of 11 children. She died in 1892, aged 78 years. Our subject is one of the four surviving members of the family, namely: Mary J., wife of Lyman Matthews of Clyde, Michigan; Lavina, wife of Isaac Mills, of Bancroft, Michigan; Andrew A., our subject; and Martha, wife of James Pepper.

Mr. Garner first attended the local district schools and then the State Agricultural College, at Lansing, and completed a very liberal education at the Detroit Commercial College. He has intelligently devoted himself to farming and is probably one of the most successful farmers in the township. In 1869 he was married to Clarinda P. Kelly, who was born in White Lake township, Oakland County, in 1849, and is a daughter of Asa and Louisa (Austin) Kelly. Five children have been born to this marriage, as follows: Minnie, who married George J. Kennedy of Detroit; Mattie, who married Augustus Brandt of California; Lizzie, who married James Perry, and is now deceased; Robert, who married Edna Richardson, and is a farmer in Bay County, Michigan; and Andrew, who is a student in the State Agricultural College at Lansing. In politics, Mr. Garner is identified with the Republican party. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees.