California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 JOHN RILEY GARNER.� In the Upper Lake region the name Garner carries the idea of substantial business ability, for which its representatives have been noted during the thirty years and more of their residence in Lake county. They are no less conspicuous for high moral qualities and honorable citizenship, as valuable factors in the upbuilding of the community and in all lines conducive to progress and wholesome development. The family is of Revolutionary stock and English origin, John R. Garner being of the fourth generation in this country. It is noteworthy that so far back as the lineage is traced the Garners have been successful stockmen, the branch in California carrying on the traditions of the name in that respect. John Garner, the great- grandfather, came to this country from England in colonial days and settled m Virginia. He fought in the Revolution. His son John, grandfather of John R. Garner, lived at Salem, Marion county, Ill., and died there in 1833, of cholera. Much of the information he possessed regarding the family history died with him. Valentine Garner, father of John R. Garner, was a native of North Caro- lina, was a very successful farmer, trader and stockman, and lived to his eightieth year. In young manhood he moved out to Missouri, where he mar- ried Sarah Edington, a native of Tennessee. Eight children were born to this union. Nancy was the wife of George Linn, and they settled in Napa county, Cal., where she died in 1894; they had three children. John Riley is men- tioned below. William, a retired farmer, resides near Niangua, Webster county, Mo. Martha was the wife of Benjamin F. Shields, and died in Webster county. Mo., leaving three children. Diantha, who was the wife of P. D. Grigsby, came to Napa county, Cal., and died in 1908; she left seven children. Jane, wife of Jesse Elmore, died in Webster county. Mo., leaving three children. Susan, Mrs. Callaway, lived and died in Webster county. Mo., survived by one child. Frances is the wife of John Shook, a retired farmer, of Webster county, Mo.; they have five children. The mother of this family died in her thirty-sixth j-ear. and the father remarried, having seven children by the second union. John R. Garner was born in Webster county. Mo., July 22, 1838. and passed his early years in that state. When a young man of nineteen he came to California with his sister Nancy, who was the wife of George Linn, and the party was prepared to engage extensively in farming operations, bringing two hundred head of cattle, ten horses and six mules across the plains, besides the oxteams to carry their personal effects and household goods. Arriving at Napa September 18, 1857, five months to a day from the time they started, John R. Garner rented land from the Yount grant and farmed same until 1863. Then he bought land near Oakville and he farmed in Napa county for twenty-five years altogether, with more than ordinary success. In 1883 he disposed of his property there, making a trade with Capt. M. G. Ritchie for twelve hundred acres in Long Valley, Lake county, to which he moved in March, 1883. Having added to his original tract by purchase, his interests have continued to expand steadily, and a few years ago the John R. Garner Stock Farm Corporation was formed to make the management more conve- nient, John R. Garner being president of this corporation, in which he is the principal stockholder. The corporation owns twenty-seven hundred acres all in one body in Long valley, and Arabella post office is located on this land. Lentil a short time ago John R. Garner gave most of his operations personal care, but he has withdrawn from the exacting work of late, his sons taking active charge. As previously noted, the Garners have been growers and traders of stock for several generations, handling horses, cattle, hogs and sheep, and their knowledge of the business has made them regarded as authorities wherever they have had dealings. John R. Garner's father and grandfather followed this line as well as farming, and his sons are doing the same. A number of members of the Garner family have gathered great wealth, and there is an estate in probate in St. Louis now, amounting to several millions of dollars, left by Henry Garner who recently died intestate and childless. For the last twelve years John R. Garner has made his home at the vil- lage of Upper Lake, where he has a fine residence on a knoll near the school- house, and seven and a half acres of highly improved land. Besides his holdings in the John R. Garner Stock Farm Corporation he owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres one-half mile east of Upper Lake. As a citizen no resident of Upper Lake or vicinity has higher standing. Clean, upright, conservative but not reactionary in his ideas, he has spent a useful life and is now enjoying its rewards. The Garners are characteristically gen- erous in their dealings with their fellow men, whether in their personal or business relations, and John R. Garner is no exception to the rule. His sense of responsibility toward his fellow men is strong, and he is willing to do his share, but he has declined to serve his community in any official capacity. His intelligent outlook on public affairs, especially such as affect his home locality, and his helpful attitude there, stamp him as one of the most valuable citizens of the county. In church connection he is a member of the Chris- tian denomination, which has the largest religious organization in Lake county � its church at Lakeport ; Mr. Garner and his family have assisted materially in building up this church, and he has filled the office of elder very acceptably. Politically he is now associated with the Progressive party. During his residence in Napa county, November 13, 1864, Mr. Garner mar- ried Miss Aramanta Roberts, a native of Tennessee, who came to California across the plains with her parents in 1861, and died May 13, 1913, at the age of sixty-six years. Twelve children were born to this union : William V. died when three years old ; Thomas E. lives near Ukiah, and is engaged as a farmer and trader; Joseph W., of Santa Rosa, Cal., was formerly a stockman and farmer; John F., a former stockman, resides at Lower Lake, Lake county; Louis L., of Arizona, is employed by a transfer company at Jerome, that state ; Fred W. is on the home ranch ; Bush died unmarried when twenty-four years old ; Julia died when six months old ; Lloyd R. is a stockman and farmer at Upper Lake ; one child, a son, was still born ; Leland J. is a stockman and trader at Upper Lake ; and Florence E. is the wife of Floyd Edward Woodson ot Upper Lake.