Robert Marion Garrett

  General Notes:

The 1870 Federal Census for Staunton, Bedford Co., Virginia, Liberty P. O., page 849B, dated August 3, 1870 records Robert Garrett (30 - VA/VA/VA) with his wife Martha C. Garrett (24 - VA/VA/VA) and son Alonza (3). Robert is a Merchant with real estate valued at $1,500 and a personal estate valued at $1,000.

The 1880 Federal Census for Staunton, Bedford Co., Virginia, District 25, page 334A, dated June 15, 1880 records Robert Garrett (40 - VA/VA/VA) with his wife Martha C. Garrett (34 - VA/VA/VA) and children Alonza E. (13), Geo S. (8), Ro M. (6), Beulah B. (4), and Angee (1).

The 1900 Federal Census for Keystone, Browns Creek, McDowell Co, West Virginia, District 69, page 109B, dated June 21, 1900 records R M Garrett Jr. (Nov 1873 - VA/VA/VA) working as a Merchant. Nearby are R. M. Garrett Sr. (1840 - VA/VA/VA) with his wife Kate (1865 - VA/VA/VA) and daughters Kate N. (1890 - VA) and Ola May (1899 - WV). R M [Robert] is a Salesman. Robert and Kate have been married for 13 years and have had 4 kids with 2 still living.

1920 United States Federal Census for Cave Spring District 122, page 165A, dated January 5, 1920 records Robert M. (74 - VA/VA/VA) and Kattie T. (58 - VA/VA/VA) Garret (sic) with children Tudor T. (18 - VA/VA/VA) and Rosa L. (16 - VA/VA/VA) Garret. Robert is a farmer.

1930 Federal Census for Roanoke, Roanoke (Independent City), Virginia, District 29, page , dated records K. T. Garrett (66 - VA/VA/VA) and her daughter Tudor T. Garrett (28 - WV/VA/VA) [Public School Teacher] living at 1029 Highland Ave SE.

The bio below is taken from http://www.jubalearlyudc.org1840 - 1924
Robert Marion Garrett, Co. C, 42nd Va. Infantry

Robert Marion Garrett was born in Bedford County, Virginia on May 24, 1840. He was the son of Sarah Cafrin Martin and Absolam Garrett. Robert married first to Martha Clay Saunders who was born June 5, 1846. There were seven children born to this union. Martha died March 20, 1885 and Robert married Kaziah Tabitha Gill who was born March 1, 1864. There were six children born to this union.

On May 18, 1861, Robert enlisted in the Confederate Army in Lisbon, Virginia and was a Lieutenant in Company C, 42nd Virginia Infantry commanded by Captain John Buford. He also served under Captains James Wilson, William T. Graves and Waddy Burton in Troop F, 2nd Virginia Cavalry, known as the Bedford Southside Dragoons.

Robert did not speak much of the war and only mentioned that a hole was shot through his hat. He received not a scratch in the four years of the war, but once became so hungry that when issued pork bacon, he ate it raw, as he couldn't wait to cook it. His father told him when he left for the war that if he chewed tobacco it woul ward off diseases. He chewed tobacco for the rest of his life.

In 1916 he received a pension for his service to the Confederacy. He was a member of the Baptist Church and the Masonic Order. He was asked by a family member, shortly before his death, if he wanted a preacher at his bedside. His response was, "No, God has looked after me this long and I'm not afraid to trust Him the rest of the way." He died at his home in Roanoke County on July 20, 1924 and is buried by the side of his first wife in the Saunders Cemetery at Old White House in Bedford.

The William Watts Chapter of the UDC placed a Confederate Cross and a bronze marker on his grave in 1970. His youngest child, Rosa Garrett Kesler was a member of that Chapter and a Real Daughter. She died March 27, 1977. Her daughter, Frances Kesler Murray joined the Jubal Early Chapter of the UDC in June 2002.

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The 1880 Federal Census for Staunton, Bedford Co., Virginia, District 25, page 334A, dated June 15, 1880 records Robert (40 - VA/VA/VA) and Martha C. (34 - VA/VA/VA) Garrett with children Alonza E. (13), George S. (8), Ro. M. (6), Beulah B. (4), and Angee (1).

Robert married Kaziah (Kate) Tabitha Gill circa 1886 in Bedford Co., VA. (Kaziah (Kate) Tabitha Gill was born on 1 Mar 1864 and died after 1941 in Roanoke City, VA.)

Robert next married Martha Clay Saunders. (Martha Clay Saunders was born on 5 Jun 1846, died on 20 Mar 1885 in Bedford Co., VA and was buried in Saunders Cemetery, Bedford Co., VA.)