TOMBSTONE TUESDAY: Captain David Hess Garner Sr.

In 1812 Great Britain and the United States went to war over British restrictions on American trade and the forced servitude of American sailors on British ships. It is known today as the War of 1812. American patriotism united the nation and moved men to enter the fight for their new country. Bradley Garner Sr., from Maryland, had moved to Louisiana in 1790. When the war came to New Orleans, Bradley fought with General Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans.  

Bradley and his wife Sarah Rachel had 8 children and made their home in St. Landry (Rapids) Parish. It was here in 1807 that their son David Hess Garner Sr. was born. Bradley was a farmer and David, along with his 7 siblings, learned firsthand the methods of farming. Farming served the Garner family well and was passed down through generations to this day. 

Texas during this same time was caught in the lengthy battle between Spain and Mexico in what became known as the Mexican War of Independence. Mexico won and laid claim to the sparsely populated land that is now Texas. Following what Spain had begun, Mexico began populating Texas with families from Mexico and the United States. The means by which they achieved their goal was offering land grants to incoming settlers. Empresarios (land agents) like Stephen F. Austin, were granted land by the Mexican government for the purpose of setting up settlements and recruiting colonists. Moving to Texas had requirements that every settler had to abide by.  They had to practice Catholicism, learn Spanish, use the lands granted for a profession, and report to the nearest Mexican authority with letters of good standing to receive permission to settle here. The settlers received large tracts of land to farm and raise cattle and a lot within the settlement for building a home or opening a business. 

It was under the Mexican Colonization Law of 1825, that in the the same year David Hess Garner and 4 of his siblings moved to Texas to make a new life. Jacob Harmon Garner, Isaac Garner, Anne (who married Claiborne West), and Sarah (who married John McGaffey) came with David, and settled in Old Jefferson. Then it was a small settlement on Cow Bayou that would become part of Lorenzo de Zavala’s colony in 1831. David and his siblings farmed the land and made it their home. 

One of the leaders of the Mexican War for Independence was Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who by 1835 had overthrown the leader of the Mexican government and taken power as a dictator. His effort to run American settlers out of Texas, caused the settlers to rebel. Santa Anna then sent his brother-in-law, Martin Perfecto de Cos, to Texas to put down the rebellion. It was at this point when David organized a company of volunteers armed with Bowie knives and flintlock muskets and set out for San Antonio de Bexar, included was his brother Jacob. They fought in and won the skirmish known as the “Grass War” before continuing to San Antonio where General Cos and his forces camped. Captain Garner and his company arrived at camp above Bexar on November 16th, 1835. On December 4th in answer to a letter he sent to Stephen F. Austin, on behalf of himself and his men. He was asking to be attached to the the Texas Army, and his men were mustered into the company of James Chessher and William and Willis H. Landrum. While David fought under General Benjamin R Milam in the Siege of Bexar. The result was the capture of General Cos and his men who were sent back to Mexico, and San Antonio de Bexar once again under the control of the Texans. With perhaps a false sense of security the volunteers disbanded and went home, and David was discharged on Dec.13th. Of course, as we know the war for Texas had just begun as General Cos being sent home did not sit well with Santa Anna. David’s brother Jacob and brother-in-laws remained in the army and not only fought in the Battle of San Jacinto but also signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. The stock of the Garner family was as loyal to their home as their father Bradley was to Louisiana, brave and involved. 

In January of 1838 David Garner received a headright certificate for a third of a league (1,476 acres) of land in Jefferson County. For his service at Bexar, he received a donation grant of 640 acres, followed by a bounty certificate for 320 acres for his service from October 5th to December 13, 1835. David farmed his land and expanded his business to cattle and livestock as well. 

On September 18, 1839 David married Matilda Hampshire in Jefferson County. They worked hard and over time increased their wealth and their family by adding 11 children to the family. In the U.S. Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedule for 1850-1880, David Garner in Jefferson County showed 20 acres of improved land, 1,000 unimproved, a cash value of his farm at $1,000 with $50 of farming equipment. He had 45 horses,100 milch cows, 4 working oxen, 400 head of cattle, 13 sheep, 15 swine making a total worth of $3,243, plus 180 bushels of corn. David was a successful self-made man. He was also a man who was respected and a leader within his community. In 1839 he was elected sheriff of Jefferson County. He was elected to one term as a representative to the 4th Congress of Texas. He was re-elected as sheriff in 1843 and again in 1845 – 1855. 

In 1855 Old Jefferson saw Beaumont become the county seat and the population decline and all but disappearing. David decided to move his family as well. It is not clear why David chose to move to Indianola in 1855, but in the 1860 Census he showed himself to be a farmer and stock raiser. It also shows him to have been every bit as successful as he was in Jefferson. Indianola at that time was at its peak. As the county seat Indianola was a bustling city with a port that was 2nd only to Galveston at that time. It had plenty of land to farm and raise livestock as well. It was in Indianola that David and Matilda stayed. Being devoted Methodist, Matilda was busy in church and local activities, and David remained loyal to his city, state, and country. He was a Mason and a man of integrity who was well known and respected in Calhoun County.

During the Civil War David and Matilda’s son Jacob served in the Thirty-third Calvary. David was too old to join the fight, so he showed his support by supplying beef to the Confederate troops. When Jacob returned home his father was penniless, though with pockets full of worthless Confederate money, none the less he was patriotic citizen of Indianola and of the State of Texas. 

David died in old Indianola on April 10, 1864. He is buried in the Old Indianola (on the ridge) Cemetery, beneath a stone that speaks well of a man who was successful in every aspect of life. David’s decedents still live, and farm in Calhoun County, and true to his example they are successful and well-respected citizens. 

RESOURCES:
www.findagrave.com
Shifting Sands of Calhoun County
Jackson County Herald-Tribune, April 30, 2014, Page 5
Our Family History: David Hess Garner
www.wtblock.com
A History of Jefferson County, Texas: Chapter VIII, by W.T. Block
U.S. Censuses of 1850, 1860
Handbook of Texas
www.battlefields.org Battle of New Orleans
www.ancestory.com

Tombstone Tuesday is written and compiled each week by Jody Weaver and Sheryl Cuellar of the Calhoun County Historical Commission, sharing the people and stories behind Calhoun County's history.