Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 535 - 536 

JOHN J. GARRETT, of the firm of Garrett Bros., dealers in wall paper, paints, etc., came to Wichita in 1876, and established his shop the following spring, and opened his present business on the 1st of December, 1886. He carries a complete stock of wall paper, and does all kinds of sign and ornamental painting in the best manner. He is considered prompt and reliable, and has all the elements of a thorough business man.

            Mr. Garrett was born in Tazewell County, Va., Sept. 11, 1854, and after completing his education in the common school began at an early age learning the trade of paper-hanger. He left his native State when a youth of eighteen years, migrating to Covington, Fountain Co., Ind., where he followed his trade four years, and the spring after his arrival in Wichita opened the shop which he is still running in connection with his other business. As the result of his industry and perseverance he is the owner of a good residence in the city, pleasantly located, and where with his family he is surrounded by all the comforts of life.

            Our subject, in 1878, was united in marriage with Miss Clara Beard, of Wichita, and they have become the parents of four children - Mark D., Jessie S., Clara B. and killed by a kick from the family horse at the age of seven years.

            The parents of Mrs. Garrett were Edward and Deborah Beard, natives of Beardstown, Ill. The father is deceased, but the mother still survives. Our subject has little time to give to political affairs, and is rather conservative in his ideas. A sister of the wife of our subject, Miss Ines Beard, is the wife of George D. Stillman, who is also connected with the firm of Garrett Bros. Mr. Stillman is a native of Unadilla Falls, N. Y., where he was born in 1851. He received an academic and commercial college education, and came to this State in 1869, first employing himself as a book-keeper at Emporia. His next location was at Osage City, where he was occupied as salesman in a hardware store. He came to Wichita in 1877, was clerk in a grocery store one year, then embarked in the confectionery trade, and subsequently traveled for several wholesale houses of the city. He became the book-keeper of Garrett Bros. in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Stillman have three children - Burdett, Agnes and Katie.

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