History of Taylor County, Iowa: from the earliest historic times to 1910 by  Frank E. Crosson. Chicago, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1910
(transcribed by Linda Kestner: lfkestner3@msn.com)
 
 
Page 673
 
JACOB GARRETT
 
Jacob Garrett is an enterprising and progressive farmer of Washington township, owning and operating eighty acres of land. He was born in Muskingum, Ohio, on the 8th of December, 1835, his parents being Luke and Elizabeth (Collins) Garrett.  In the family of Jacob Garrett, the paternal grandfather of our subject, there were six children, namely: Luke, Mary, Mahala, Jacob, Washington and LeRoy.  Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Collins, the maternal grandparents of Mr. Garrett, of this review, reared a family of eight children, as follows: Elizabeth, Samuel, George, Gibson, Catherine, Lydia, Miranda and Euphemia.  Unto Luke and Elizabeth (Collins) Garrett were born five children: Jacob, Thomas, Margaret, Robert and George.
 
(Page 674) The year 1866 witnessed the arrival of Jacob Garrett in this state and he has made his home in Taylor county for about thirty-eight years.  The farm of eighty acres in Washington township on which he now lives has been his place of residence for about seventeen years, and in its cultivation and development he has won a gratifying measure of success.  The many substantial improvements on the property indicate the progress that has been made in agricultural lines, and the well tilled fields annually yield golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which is bestowed upon them.
 
In November, 1866, Mr. Garrett was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Ann Coin, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Jackson) Coin and a granddaughter of Hugh Coin.  She has five brothers, namely: Jack, Hugh, William, George and Robert.  Mr. and Mrs. Garrett are the parents of ten children: John, William, Clyde, Frank, Samuel, Charles, George, Jane, Rachel and Carrie.
 
On attaining his majority Mr. Garrett joined the ranks of the democracy but later became a socialist and is still a stalwart adherent of that party, believing that its principles, if carried into practice, would best conserve the general welfare.
 
Coming to the state at an early period in its development, he has not only witnessed the changes which have transformed this district from a wild prairie region into a prosperous and thriving agricultural center, but has borne his full share in bringing these conditions about.  He has now passed the seventy-third milestone on life's journey and receives the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on this earthly pilgrimage and whose career has at all times been upright and honorable.