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Below is a family biography included in Biographical Record of Oakland County, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1903.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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George C. Garter, located on a fine farm of 200 acres in sections 24 and 13, Springfield township, and section 19, Independence township, belongs to a family which located on his present place in 1854. He was born at Shelby, Orleans County, New York, May 8, 1843, and is a son of Moses and Clarissa (Bentley) Garter, the former of whom was born in Herkimer County, New York, May 9, 1811, and the latter, in Orleans County, New York, being a daughter of John Bentley, of New England ancestry.

Moses Garter followed farming in his native State until he removed to Michigan in 1854, where he died at the age of 75 years. While in the State of New York, he took a prominent part in the affairs of his own town and was a captain of the local militia. He was a man of great industry, of exemplary life and was known for his honesty and integrity. In business he was very successful and left a comfortable property to our subject, his only child.

George C. Garter was educated in the local schools and after completing his education engaged in farming, at which he has continued ever since with much success. The fine buildings which give such an air of thrift to his farm were erected by his father. Mr. Garter carries on general farming and stock raising and also operates a dairy, keeping for the latter purpose 10 high grade Jersey cows. He has also 50 head of Chester White hogs, registered stock. His land is as fertile as any in the township, and in some years he has produced as many as 250 bushels of potatoes to the acre. He raises annually about 2,000 bushels of potatoes, 1,000 bushels of corn, 400 bushels of rye and 30 tons of hay. His orchards also are very prolific, his 150 apple trees and his peach trees alone producing a comfortable income. Doubtless this prosperity is caused in great measure by the care and attention given his business by Mr. Carter, who is regarded as one of the representative farmers of his section. An old mill still stands on his farm which was built before Michigan became a State, and after many years of use as a saw mill is now put to use as a feed mill. Its days of usefulness are not yet past.

On December 10, 1868, Mr. Garter was married to Tamson G. Swayze, who was born at Belvidere, Warren County, New Jersey, and was brought by her parents and grandparents to Michigan, about 1849, a babe of 10 months. The family drove the whole distance from their Eastern home and settled on the farm in Springfield township, Oakland County, where the parents died. The three children of this marriage were: Kittie, who died in 1870, aged two years; Henry Lee, who lives at home and is his father’s able assistant; and Felix, a graduate of the Clarkston High School, who was a teacher for two years at the Sashabaw Plains School and is now a student at Ferris Institute, Big Rapids, Michigan.

Mr. Garter, like his father, is identified with the Democratic party, taking an active interest in local policies. Mrs. Garter and her son Felix belong to the Methodist Church. The Garters are representative people of Springfield township and Mr. Garter is held in high esteem.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Biographical Record of Oakland County, Michigan published in 1903. 

View additional Oakland County, Michigan family biographies here: Oakland County, Michigan Biographies

View a map of 1911 Oakland County, Michigan here: Oakland County Michigan Map

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