Short Biography of John Garst & Lydia Stambaugh

JOHN GARST. Probably no family has been more prominently identified with the development of Wabash county from the time when it was nothing but a wilderness to the present, when it abounds with prosperous farms and thriving villages, the abode of a happy, contented population, than that bearing the name of Garst, a worthy representative of which is found in the person of John Garst, who is now cultivating a handsome farm in Waltz township. Mr. Garst's life has been one of constant and well-applied industry; he has succeeded in his earnest endeavors, and has become highly respected by those who have come into contact with him in any manner. He is a native of Roanoke county, Virginia, and was born February 10, 1844, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Brubaker) Garst.

The parents of Mr. Garst were both born in the Old Dominion state, and were there married. They were honest, industrious people, but were in modest financial circumstances, and finally came to the conclusion that they could better themselves and find better opportunities for their children in the newly opened West. Accordingly, about 1850, the father secured a horse and wagon, gathered together such means as he could, and with his little family struck out bravely for the woods of Indiana. It was a long, tiresome and dangerous journey, and at times it seemed that the horse would never be able to drag the wagon through the dense timber which the little party of immigrants encountered. However, they finally arrived in Wabash county, where the father took up eighty acres of timberland, on which was located a log cabin, and he spent one dollar for ten apple trees, which he planted in the weeds on his farm. This primitive structure was the family home for some years until the father was able to replace it with a more commodious frame structure. An energetic and hard-working man, Thomas Garst continued to reside in Waltz township during the remainder of his life, although he later added to his holdings from time to time until he owned 420 acres. He won a high place in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and was always known as a public-spirited citizen in whom the utmost confidence could be placed. He and his wife were the parents of eight children: John Jacob, Henry (deceased), Sarah, George, Eliza, Joel, and Mary.

John Garst, the oldest child of the family, was but six years of age when he was brought to Wabash county by his parents, and he still remembers the long and wearisom trip over the mountains, across the streams and through the forests. He was early put to work in assisting his father and brothers clear the homestead of its timber, and because of primitive conditions his education was decidedly limited. The first school which he attended was a deserted log cabin, in which the winter terms lasted for about two months, the teacher usually arriving at daylight and beginning his lessons when the first pupil would arrrive. Later a frame school was erected, and terms in this building lasted three months a year. Thus Mr. Garst's education was slight and his opportunities for culture of a genuine sort were few, but one cannot now be in his presence long before realizing that he is a man of broad general information and with a wealth of knowledge on a number of subjects, so it is probable that he made the most of the opportunities that were granted him. He remained on the home farm, assisting his father, until he reached the age of twenty-six years, at which time he was married to Miss Lydia Stambaugh, daughter of William and Regina Stambaugh, natives of Pennsylvania. She had one brother and one sister: David and Mary. Mr. Stambaugh, after the death of his first wife, was married to Eliza Winger. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Garst: Lizzie, at home, who married Elza Burns, who met an accidental death about six weeks after their marriage, and Cora, who died at the age of six weeks.

At the time his father bought his additional 160 acres Mr. Garst purchased eighty acres, and subsequently purchased the balance of the land in 1883. He now owns 158 acres of farm land and four lots and three acres in Somerset. The present buildings were all erected prior to this time, but he has made numerous improvements of a modern character, and has practically rebuilt the house. From early boyhood he has been accustomed to the various duties pertaining to the management of a farm, and as the years have passed he has adopted modern ideas and methods, so that today he is one of the best-informed men in his line in the county. Public-spirited and progressive, he gives his earnest support to new industries and enterprises, and always contributes to the movements which promise to promote the progress of his county or township. He and his family now reside in Somerset, where they have lived for about thirty-five years. The farm lies across the river from Somerset. His home in Somerset is one of the finest and most modern in the village, and, while he did not erect the house, he has completely remodeled and modernized it. A member of the Brethren Church, he has served as a trustee for fifteen years. In political matters he is a democrat.

Source: "History of Wabash County, Indiana : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, military record, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, personal reminiscences, etc." ³⁰⁰⁷