General Jesse Winston Garth
General Jesse Winston Garth (Find A Grave) |
General, War of 1812
Notes:
• Son of Thomas Garth (1758 - 1834) and Susan Durrett ( - 1829) - Ancestry.com
• Married Unity Spottswood Dandridge (1800-1833) in 1821. - Tripod
• General Garth is on James Record's list of Generals having called Madison County home, at least for a short time. Most of his life and influence centered around Decatur, Alabama. However, he owned land in Madison County and a son settled in Madison County. - Record
• "GARTH, JESSE WINSTON, banker, planter, lawyer, was born October 17, 1788, in Albemarle County, Va., and died September 7, 1867, at Decatur; son of Thomas and Susanna (Dourette) Garth, who lived on a plantation near Charlottesville, Va.; grandson of Thomas and Judith (Bowcock) Garth, the former who was of Welsh stock, came from England to Virginia in colonial days, and held offices there under the king and after the Revolution, and of Richard and Elizabeth (Davis) Dourette, III, who lived in Albemarle County, Va. Gen. Garth was descended through his mother from the Winstons of Virginia, and was a cousin of Patrick Henry. The Dourettes were descendants of French Huguenots. He attended school in Charlottesville, Va., and later entered the school of Dr. Waddell, at Hillsboro, N. O, from which he was graduated at the age of sixteen with honor. He was a friend and classmate of Jefferson Randolph, and was often at Monticello, where he became acquainted with Thomas Jefferson. He studied law in Charlottesville, Va., and was admitted to the bar at that place in 1809. He began the practice of law in Charlottesville, among such contemporaries as Gen. William F. Gordon, William C. Rives, and Valentine Southall. He served in the Virginia militia, on the coast, in the War of 1812, and was promoted to the rank of major. He was elected to represent Albemarle County in the Virginia legislature in 1815, where he met Hon. John Tyler, later president of the United States, between whom existed a lifelong personal and political friendship.
Gen. Garth emigrated to St. Louis, Mo., in 1817, carrying with him testimonials of esteem and confidence from Philip P. Barbour, Gen. Gordon, Mr. Carr, and Thomas Jefferson, the latter of whom, in a letter to Gov. Clarke, of Missouri, warmly commended him as a young man of uncommon merit, who had been tried in war, in the legislature of his native state, and at the bar. Owing to the severity of the climate of St. Louis, he remained there but a short time, moved to Alabama in June, 1817, and located in Cataco, now Morgan County, where he engaged in planting and practicing law. He continued at the bar of Alabama for a brief space of time, then devoted himself mainly to agriculture, becoming in time, one of the largest planters in the state. He helped form the constitution of Alabama, and was elected president of the first State senate. He was elected brigadier-general of militia at an early period in the history of the state, and frequently served in both branches of the legislature. In 1831, he was defeated for congress by the Hon. Samuel W. Mardis. He was president of the First National Bank in Decatur, and built the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. Before leaving Virginia, he donated the land upon which the University of Virginia is located. Gen. Garth was a Whig; was baptized in the Episcopal church, but attended the Presbyterian church after coming to Alabama as there was no Episcopal church there; and was a Mason.
Married: August 23, 1821, in Morgan County, Unity Spottswood Dandridge, daughter of Nathaniel West and Sarah (Watson) Dandridge, who lived at Hanover County, Va.; granddaughter of Gov. Spottswood of Virginia; a descendant of Lord Delaware; and a relative of Martha Dandridge Washington, and of Dolly Madison. Children: 1. Susan Elizabeth, m. Dr. Francis William Sykes, both deceased; 2. Sarah Dandridge, m. Dr. Charles Fenton M. Dancy. both deceased, child, Mary Lou, New Decatur; 3. Col. William Willis (q. v.); 4. Mollie F., m. Gen. John Gregg, both deceased; 5. Jesse Winston, jr., was elected to the State legislature from Morgan County in 1853, m. Virginia Manning, both deceased. Last residence: Decatur." - Owen
• "Very prominent planter and railroad promoter who also was an important public servant. Born in Virginia, he came to Alabama in 1817, settling in Cataco (now Morgan) County. Here he engaged in planting, becoming one of the largest planters in the state. He was one of the framers of the first constitution of Alabama and was elected president of the first state senate. He also served in both branches of the Alabama legislature afterwards. For a lengthy period of time he was brigadier general of militia. He constructed the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and was president of the First National Bank of Decatur. He died in Decatur." - Marks
• "Of sturdy Welsh stock and a native of Albemarle County, Va., was physically, mentally and morally a fine specimen of the manhood of 'The Old Dominion' - six feet four inches tall, and erect. He was educated at the famous school of Dr. Waddel, in Hillsboro, N. C. Entering the bar at Charlottesville, Va., he served in the War of 1812, represented Albemarle Count in the Legislature of 1815, and moved to North Alabama in 1817. In youth he saw much of Thomas Jefferson, the sage of Monticello, which was near the home of his nativity, now owned by Colonel S. H. Buck, of Huntsville, Ala. And he was a contemporary and friend of Gen. Wm. F. Gordon, Wm. C. Rives, V. Southhall and John Tyler. In manner General Garth was quiet and retiring, and, while self-reliant and decided in opinion, he was careful and wise in action. He took a self-interest in public affairs and spent his time and invested his money freely in matters of public benefit. As an example, he took $60,000 of stock in the project of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad in its inception. Judicious investments, chiefly in lands, and by successful and economic planting, he accumulated a large fortune; and, having led an active, useful, pure and patriotic life, he died in 1867, at the age of seventy-nine, at the house of his son in Huntsville. Even after the losses and disasters and depreciation of the sectional war, he left his two sons and four daughters rich for people of the South. Miss Unity Spotswood Dandridge, the wife of General Garth and mother of W. W. Garth, was a member of the old Virginia family of which Martha Washington was one and the wife of Patrick Henry another." - Deland & Smith
• Included in the Find A Grave site is an article the Decatur Daily about the Garth Cemetery. It also offers the following biographical information:
"Born to Thomas Garth and Susan Durrett Garth on Oct. 17, 1788, in Albermarle County, Va., Garth left Virginia after losing an election in 1817.
By July 1818, Garth had recorded almost 1,500 acres in Morgan County. An 1837 survey map shows Garth's home is the only structure within miles of Decatur. The 1850 Morgan County census shows him owning 189 slaves, $150,000 in personal property and real estate valued at $75,000.
A veteran of the War of 1812, where he received the rank of general, Garth opposed secession.
Wiery said Garth spent time at Monticello and Thomas Jefferson may have influenced his opinion on secession.
'They had fought for and were loyal to the Union,' Wiery said.
Garth was too old to serve in the Union or Confederate armies, but two nephews from Lawrence County fought for the Confederacy.
A Mason who also served in the state legislature, Garth died Sept. 8, 1867. His plantation house was gone by 1880. Garth's second home, called Cotton Gardens, was submerged when Wheeler Dam was constructed in the 1930s." - Find A Grave
• October 13, 1855. Train named after General Garth. "The first train arrived in Huntsville on the newly laid tracks of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. A spectator called it 'the greatest day in the history of Huntsville since John Hunt!' The 'General Garth' enjoys the distinction of being the first train to arrive at the Memphis & Charleston Headquarters. Thomas Dunn serves as the first railroad agent." - Eden
Related Links:
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• Col. William Willis Garth (1826)
• Deland & Smith
• Eden
• Owen
• Record
| Born: | October 17, 1788, Albermarle County, Virginia |
| Died: | September 8, 1867, Morgan County, Alabama |
| Buried: | Garth Cemetery, Decatur, Alabama |
| Father of: | Col. William Willis Garth (1826) |
Notes:
• Son of Thomas Garth (1758 - 1834) and Susan Durrett ( - 1829) - Ancestry.com
• Married Unity Spottswood Dandridge (1800-1833) in 1821. - Tripod
• General Garth is on James Record's list of Generals having called Madison County home, at least for a short time. Most of his life and influence centered around Decatur, Alabama. However, he owned land in Madison County and a son settled in Madison County. - Record
• "GARTH, JESSE WINSTON, banker, planter, lawyer, was born October 17, 1788, in Albemarle County, Va., and died September 7, 1867, at Decatur; son of Thomas and Susanna (Dourette) Garth, who lived on a plantation near Charlottesville, Va.; grandson of Thomas and Judith (Bowcock) Garth, the former who was of Welsh stock, came from England to Virginia in colonial days, and held offices there under the king and after the Revolution, and of Richard and Elizabeth (Davis) Dourette, III, who lived in Albemarle County, Va. Gen. Garth was descended through his mother from the Winstons of Virginia, and was a cousin of Patrick Henry. The Dourettes were descendants of French Huguenots. He attended school in Charlottesville, Va., and later entered the school of Dr. Waddell, at Hillsboro, N. O, from which he was graduated at the age of sixteen with honor. He was a friend and classmate of Jefferson Randolph, and was often at Monticello, where he became acquainted with Thomas Jefferson. He studied law in Charlottesville, Va., and was admitted to the bar at that place in 1809. He began the practice of law in Charlottesville, among such contemporaries as Gen. William F. Gordon, William C. Rives, and Valentine Southall. He served in the Virginia militia, on the coast, in the War of 1812, and was promoted to the rank of major. He was elected to represent Albemarle County in the Virginia legislature in 1815, where he met Hon. John Tyler, later president of the United States, between whom existed a lifelong personal and political friendship.
Gen. Garth emigrated to St. Louis, Mo., in 1817, carrying with him testimonials of esteem and confidence from Philip P. Barbour, Gen. Gordon, Mr. Carr, and Thomas Jefferson, the latter of whom, in a letter to Gov. Clarke, of Missouri, warmly commended him as a young man of uncommon merit, who had been tried in war, in the legislature of his native state, and at the bar. Owing to the severity of the climate of St. Louis, he remained there but a short time, moved to Alabama in June, 1817, and located in Cataco, now Morgan County, where he engaged in planting and practicing law. He continued at the bar of Alabama for a brief space of time, then devoted himself mainly to agriculture, becoming in time, one of the largest planters in the state. He helped form the constitution of Alabama, and was elected president of the first State senate. He was elected brigadier-general of militia at an early period in the history of the state, and frequently served in both branches of the legislature. In 1831, he was defeated for congress by the Hon. Samuel W. Mardis. He was president of the First National Bank in Decatur, and built the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. Before leaving Virginia, he donated the land upon which the University of Virginia is located. Gen. Garth was a Whig; was baptized in the Episcopal church, but attended the Presbyterian church after coming to Alabama as there was no Episcopal church there; and was a Mason.
Married: August 23, 1821, in Morgan County, Unity Spottswood Dandridge, daughter of Nathaniel West and Sarah (Watson) Dandridge, who lived at Hanover County, Va.; granddaughter of Gov. Spottswood of Virginia; a descendant of Lord Delaware; and a relative of Martha Dandridge Washington, and of Dolly Madison. Children: 1. Susan Elizabeth, m. Dr. Francis William Sykes, both deceased; 2. Sarah Dandridge, m. Dr. Charles Fenton M. Dancy. both deceased, child, Mary Lou, New Decatur; 3. Col. William Willis (q. v.); 4. Mollie F., m. Gen. John Gregg, both deceased; 5. Jesse Winston, jr., was elected to the State legislature from Morgan County in 1853, m. Virginia Manning, both deceased. Last residence: Decatur." - Owen
• "Very prominent planter and railroad promoter who also was an important public servant. Born in Virginia, he came to Alabama in 1817, settling in Cataco (now Morgan) County. Here he engaged in planting, becoming one of the largest planters in the state. He was one of the framers of the first constitution of Alabama and was elected president of the first state senate. He also served in both branches of the Alabama legislature afterwards. For a lengthy period of time he was brigadier general of militia. He constructed the Memphis and Charleston Railroad and was president of the First National Bank of Decatur. He died in Decatur." - Marks
• "Of sturdy Welsh stock and a native of Albemarle County, Va., was physically, mentally and morally a fine specimen of the manhood of 'The Old Dominion' - six feet four inches tall, and erect. He was educated at the famous school of Dr. Waddel, in Hillsboro, N. C. Entering the bar at Charlottesville, Va., he served in the War of 1812, represented Albemarle Count in the Legislature of 1815, and moved to North Alabama in 1817. In youth he saw much of Thomas Jefferson, the sage of Monticello, which was near the home of his nativity, now owned by Colonel S. H. Buck, of Huntsville, Ala. And he was a contemporary and friend of Gen. Wm. F. Gordon, Wm. C. Rives, V. Southhall and John Tyler. In manner General Garth was quiet and retiring, and, while self-reliant and decided in opinion, he was careful and wise in action. He took a self-interest in public affairs and spent his time and invested his money freely in matters of public benefit. As an example, he took $60,000 of stock in the project of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad in its inception. Judicious investments, chiefly in lands, and by successful and economic planting, he accumulated a large fortune; and, having led an active, useful, pure and patriotic life, he died in 1867, at the age of seventy-nine, at the house of his son in Huntsville. Even after the losses and disasters and depreciation of the sectional war, he left his two sons and four daughters rich for people of the South. Miss Unity Spotswood Dandridge, the wife of General Garth and mother of W. W. Garth, was a member of the old Virginia family of which Martha Washington was one and the wife of Patrick Henry another." - Deland & Smith
• Included in the Find A Grave site is an article the Decatur Daily about the Garth Cemetery. It also offers the following biographical information:
"Born to Thomas Garth and Susan Durrett Garth on Oct. 17, 1788, in Albermarle County, Va., Garth left Virginia after losing an election in 1817.
By July 1818, Garth had recorded almost 1,500 acres in Morgan County. An 1837 survey map shows Garth's home is the only structure within miles of Decatur. The 1850 Morgan County census shows him owning 189 slaves, $150,000 in personal property and real estate valued at $75,000.
A veteran of the War of 1812, where he received the rank of general, Garth opposed secession.
Wiery said Garth spent time at Monticello and Thomas Jefferson may have influenced his opinion on secession.
'They had fought for and were loyal to the Union,' Wiery said.
Garth was too old to serve in the Union or Confederate armies, but two nephews from Lawrence County fought for the Confederacy.
A Mason who also served in the state legislature, Garth died Sept. 8, 1867. His plantation house was gone by 1880. Garth's second home, called Cotton Gardens, was submerged when Wheeler Dam was constructed in the 1930s." - Find A Grave
• October 13, 1855. Train named after General Garth. "The first train arrived in Huntsville on the newly laid tracks of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. A spectator called it 'the greatest day in the history of Huntsville since John Hunt!' The 'General Garth' enjoys the distinction of being the first train to arrive at the Memphis & Charleston Headquarters. Thomas Dunn serves as the first railroad agent." - Eden
Related Links:
• Ancestry.com - Page owned by MargaretFrancis86 and can be viewed only with an Ancesty.com paid subscription. (Originally found at http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/16690020/person/20475680515.)
• Deland & Smith - Northern Alabama: Historical and Biographical, by T. A. DeLand and A. Davis Smith, 1888, page 770.
• Eden - Eden of the South: A Chronology of Huntsville, Alabama, 1805-2005, by Raneé G. Pruitt, Editor, 2005, page 34.
• Find A Grave - Page created by SFC Franklin Delano Irons, Sr.
• Marks - Alabama Past Leaders, by Henry S. and Marsha Kass Marks, 1982, page 109.
• Owen - History of Alabama and Dictionary of Alabama Biography, Volume 3 By Thomas McAdory Owen, Marie Bankhead Owen, 1921, page 640 - 643.
• Record - A Dream Come True: The Story of Madison County and Incidentally of Alabama and the United States, Volume I, by James Record, 1970, page 373.
• Tripod - Genealogy
The Following Pages Link to this Page:
• Col. William Willis Garth (1826)
• Deland & Smith
• Eden
• Owen
• Record