Submitted by: Janet Masters Thanks Janet!

James Thomas Garren was born March 1853, in either Buncombe or Henderson Co., NC. James T. Garren age 20 and Mary E. Redmon age 24 were married 22 December, 1872.

James Thomas Garren moved his family to AR after 1885. Family tradition is that Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) said they had planned to go to Texas where other relatives were, but she refused to go as there was an epidemic in Texas, and she did not want to endanger the lives of her children.

2 November, 1889 James T. Garren applied for land under the Homestead Act in Pope Co., AR. After proving residence and improvements under the Act, a Patent was issued to him by President Grover Cleveland 1 August, 1895 for 160 acres, certificate #6489. He sold this land 4 January, 1898.

1900 US C Pope Co., AR Galla Creek Twp.
#65-66
Garren, James T., 47, M
Mary E., 51, F
John K., 21, M
James A., 16, M
Arthur E., 11, M

19 October, 1919 J. T. Garren was donated 80 acres of land in Yell Co., AR from the State of AR under the State’s Act to Regulate the Donation of Forfeited Lands.

James Thomas and Mary Elizabeths granddaughter Kathleen Garren, daughter of James Albert and Nora Garren, wrote: Mama and Grandma Garren were very close, and Grandma talked with Mama about her family back in NC. I have heard Mama say Grandma and Grandpa eloped and for years her family did not know if she were dead or alive, and when finally Grandpa began to correspond with her family, they wrote back and ask that 'Lizzie' write and they would believe she was living if, and only if, it were in her own hand writing.

Grandpa was a school teacher in NC and Grandma was a seamstress. She hand made suits for doctors, lawyers, businessmen, from the finest wool broadcloth.

I well remember when we were expecting Grandma for a visit, Mama would make up several garments for each of us children, and have them ready for Grandma to work the button holes. She could make each one exactly the same, just to precision, never varying one thread. Mama would laugh and say, 'well I never could make a button hole, I just make hog eyes'. Mama had a super sense of humor. I also thought she made a good button hole but not like Grandma.

Grandpa kept a grocery store at one time probably after he and Grandma had a growing family, and I remember we had a big ledger or account book where Grandpa kept charge accounts of customers, and he wrote each item, Sugar, Flour, etc. and the prices. He had a beautiful hand-writing.

James Thomas Garren died in in 1918. In 1920 Mary Elizabeth Redman Garren was living with her son, Christopher. Her Death certificate indicates she died 18 February, 1923 in Pope Co., AR and was buried in Russellville, Arkansas.