One Photo: James. E. Garnett
James E. Garnett was the son of William Hopkins Garnett and Mary Victoria Jackson Willis. Born in Adair County, Kentucky in 1864, he used several nicknames: Ed, Ned, and, most frequently, “J. E.” Family members spell his middle name Edmund or Edmon.
I contend that it should be spelled Edmund, because his maternal grandfather was Edmund Terrill Willis, Jr. (1808-1866). Grandson Paul Edmon Rector confidently stated that the name was spelled Edmon, because that was the way he spelled it. To date, I have found no documentation produced during J. E.’s lifetime that spelled out his middle name.
The 1910 Harper County Oklahoma Plat Map; Patrons, Reference, Directory and Agricultural Data lists J. E. Garnett in the Farmer Profiles (page 9) as:
Farmer and Township Trustee. Settled in County 1902. Native of Kentucky. Sec. 11, Twp 27 N., R 25W. Upland farm of 160 acres, all of which can be cultivated. 120 acres in cultivation. 80 acres fenced. 50 fruit and 700 forest trees. Two room sod and frame house. Frame stable 32×16, granary, cave and well.
This clipping from the Doby Springs, OK newspaper, The Harper County Democrat (April 19, 1907), adds some color to J. E.’s portrait. Before coming to Oklahoma, he was a Deputy Sheriff (presumably in Adair County, KY), although no record has been found to corroborate this fact.
The mention of James E. Garnett as a Whiskey Inspector is a bit of a curiosity because the Garnett family had long associated with the Baptist faith (with traditionally staunch anti-liquor sentiments). What was this job? Perhaps a government whiskey inspector was required to make inspection of distillery apparatus. Serving in this capacity for six years? The Cleveland Administration was two, non-consecutive terms. Definitely needs more research.
“A man of forceful personality”
What does that mean?
The photo above belonged to to J. E. Garnett’s grand daughter, Mildred Elizabeth Rector Johnson (1911-1993). Mildred was born in Harper County, Oklahoma and lived in close proximity to both sets of grandparents, so she knew her grandpa Garnett.
During a 1987 road trip to LaMoure, North Dakota to visit Auntie Mildred, she let me make a photographic copy of this portrait. When I say photographic copy, I mean I took a picture of the picture with a hard-body Nikon 35mm camera using black & white film, camera lights and a tripod in her living room.
What do you think?
What were the job duties of a Whiskey Inspector?
Where can we get more information about J. E.’s time in government employ?
Do you have another photo of him?
Edmund or Edmon?