History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 81
was elected secretary of the Northern Illinois College of Law
Alumni Association. He became a member of the Dixon Marine
Band at the time of its organization in 1905, and remained with
same for about seven years. Recently Mr. Gehant became a member
of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Dixon Lodge
No. 779, and is now serving a term as timstee of the People's
church. His interests are varied, indicating a broad-minded man,
and his social qualities render him populai' so that the circle of his
friends is constantly growing. He is well known in this coimty,
where the greater part of his life has been passed, and his own
record bids fair to rival in usefulness and the attainment of promi-
nence the records already made by those in the legal profession of
this county.
JAMES GARRETT.
Although thirty-nine years have elapsed since James Garrett
passed away there are yet many who remember his integrity of
character and personal characteristics as well as the enterprise
and industry which made him one of the valued and respected
citizens of Lee county, where for many years he was successfully
connected with ag]'icultural interests. He was a pioneer of this
county, his residence here dating from 1865, and he was numbered
among those who contributed in substantial measure to the county's
growth and advancement. He was a native of County Down,
Ireland, born October 4, 1827, a son of James and Rebina (Pat-
terson) Garrett, of Scotch Presbyterian stock from the north of
Ireland.
James Garrett of this review came to America in 1854 after
serving an apprenticeship in a linen draper's establishment in Bel-
fast, Ireland, and located first in Rockdale, Delaware county,
Pennsylvania, where he remained for about three years in the
employ of William Brown, a dry goods merchant there. At the
end of that time he moved to Illinois, settling on a farm in Ogle
county about the year 1857. After a time he went to Rochelle
and there turned his attention to the mercantile business, operating
a store for three years. In 1865 he removed to Lee county and
purchased a farm where the town of Ashton now stands. For a
number of years thereafter he remained active in agi'icultural and