My Genealogy Hound

Charles E. Garitt. Newton County, Mo., is fortunate in having within her borders such a man as Mr. Garitt, and although his residence here covers but a few years, yet it has proved of material benefit in demonstrating what can be accomplished in a short time if only the proper spirit is manifested. He was born in the city of New York, May 25, 1816, and is a son of Charles E. Garitt, who was born of Scotch parentage on the ocean during his parents’ voyage to the United States. They located in New York City, and here our subject’s father married Catherine Caniff, who was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., a daughter of Jonas Caniff. Charles E. lived in New York until six years of age, when he removed with his parents to Cayuga County, thence to Buffalo, N. Y., where he remained for some time, and then went to Huron, Ohio, and here learned the trade of ship carpenter. At the age of twenty-eight years he located in Michigan, where he made a farm, and also worked at his trade during the war. During this period he spent several years at ship building for the government, and while thus engaged received permanent and severe injuries. Mr. Garitt came to Newton County in 1884, and owns 200 acres of land. His homestead of eighty acres is one of the most desirable farms in the county, being well fenced and in a high state of cultivation. Mr. Garitt is a strong temperance man, and joined the Sons of Temperance in 1837. Politically he is a Republican. May 19, 1844, he married Seraphina Higgins, of Connecticut, who died April 5, 1872, leaving one daughter, Catherine M., wife of Leonard Johnson, of Michigan. He was next married to Mrs. Betsy C. (Brown) Sheldon, who was born near Rochester, N. Y. She was the widow of Edwin D. Sheldon, of that city, who died February 27, 1868, leaving six children: Elnora G. (Mrs. W. R. Kinnear), Nettie H., Frank G., Oscar A., Eva V. (Mrs. Dwight Roselle) and Grant G.