Person:James Harvey Garten (1)

Harve's obituary in the Odon Journal read: "Jas. H. Garten, one of the counties foremost men and one of the town's leading citizens passed away at the Methodist Hospital at Indianapolis last Wednesday morning at 1:30. His death was due to complications of diseases in which gravel and cancer secured a grip from which there was no release. Mr. Garten was of robust constitution and had enjoyed excellent health until a few months ago when the disease first made its appearance. He went to Indianapolis and underwent an operation in the hope of securing relief. The operation was only partially successful and other complications arose from which he never recovered. Mr. Garten was born near Springville in Lawrence County Indiana on November 13, 1836. He was a son of James and Lydia Garten was one of their four children. When he was about 19 years of age his parents moved to Daviess County. When he was twenty-one he was married to Lucinda Sears, a daughter of Andrew Sears who had moved to this community from Lawrence County and to this union was born one child a daughter, Delight, who died when a little girl, while her father was away in the war of the great rebellion. In the fall of 1862 when the country was rent asunder by the great struggle between the north and south, and the call for volunteers to put down the rebellion came, Mr. Garten was one of the first to respond and enlisted with Company C of the 91st Ind. Vol. When the company was organized at Evansville he was made an Orderly Sergeant and soon promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. At Russellville, Kentucky he was promoted to first Lieutenant. Then came the long arduous campaign of Atlanta and the series of battles and hard struggles that characterized that part of the great struggle. It was during this campaign and at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain that Capt. Z.V. Garten, his brother, who had charge of the company, was wounded and Mr. Garten was at once promoted and took charge of the company. During the Atlanta campaign and while the series of engagements around Atlanta were being fought, Mr. Garten was seriously wounded at Peach Tree Creek, being shot through the shoulder. He was taken to the hospital and his life was despaired of for some time. His robust constitution enabled him to regain his strength and he was discharged and returned home, receiving his Captain's commission after he was at home. The ball which had penetrated his body never could be located and the wound did not entirely heal and it was sometime after he was practically well that he sustained a fall which jarred the pellet near the opening in his shoulder from which it was removed. His wife passed away in the year of 1868 and somtime later he was married to Mary Ellen Taylor. To this union was born two children, who survive. These are J.E. Garten of Chicago and Mrs. E.E. Hastings of Washington. His second wife also passed away and he was again married to Mary Ellen Kohr who survives him. Mr. Garten was one of the strongest citizens this town ever had. He was one of the founders of the Farmers Bank of Odon and was president of that institution at the time of his death. The remains arrived here yesterday at 3:10 and were taken to the residence on West Main Street. The funeral will be held at the residence. ..."

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 James Harvey Garten Family Bible.
2.   Odon Journal, Odon, Daviess, Indiana.