Barber County Kansas
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Barber County Kansas |
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Henderson Franklin Garten
August 26, 1868 - November
12, 1931
Photo courtesy of Jana (Garten) Schnelle & Bonnie (Garten)
Shaffer.
The Barber County Index, September 20, 1899. A race between R.R. Kathren's bay colt and Hen Garten's gray mare will be run on the Sparks track south of town this afternoon. It will be a lap and tap with $40 on the side.
The Barber County Index, September 27, 1899. A race for a purse of $10 was pulled off on the Sparks track on Monday between Garten's Grey and Cliveland's Black. It was an easy take for the grey mare. Next Tuesday the Garten mare will run against Kathren's Bay for $100 on the side. These are the same ones that ran last Wednesday.
The Barber County Index, October 11, 1899. The Garten mare won again on Tuesday of last week. Another race for the same amount was pulled off yesterday.
The Arkansas Gazette, November 12, 1900. WEALTHY CATTLEMAN
Finds a Bride in Hot Springs, Weds and Leaves for Home.
Mr. H.F. Garten, a wealthy cattleman of Kansas, was married Sunday afternoon to Miss Fannie Rowe, of this city. The contracting parties attempted to keep their wedding a secret, in order to surprise relatives, but the secret leaked out, as it would necessarily do in time. The wedding was performed by Justice Alford at his residence. The groom is a wealth cattle owner of Kansas and the bride is a splendid young lady of this city.
The Lindsay News, November 13, 1931. Dr. Garten Is Dead
Cold Body is found in Home -- Murder is indicated
Dr. Henderson F. Garten, Veterinary, and old time citizen of Lindsay (Garvin County, Oklahoma), was found dead, his body cold, lying on the floor in his home at 2:30 Thursday afternoon. A revolver was lying near one of his hands. Apparently he had been dead for some time.
The discovery was made by Rube Graham who lives across the street east of the Garten home; I. W. Eagan and Leslie Coats (the latter a guest at the Graham home) were with Graham. These men notified city officials and the marshal, Frank Murray, Justice of the Peace and Dr. Pratt, went to the scene and made a hasty examination, after which the body was taken to the Brown Undertaking Parlor.
An examination of the body showed a bullet wound, the bullet having pierced the body, entering just below the left shoulder and coming through the left breast just above the heart. Evidently the wound had been made by some one other than Dr. Garten. The revolver found near the dead body contained no empty shells. Mrs. Garten had been living with other relatives lately and Dr. Garten was occupying his home alone.
Further details and obituary will be published next week.
The Lindsay News, November 20, 1931. Dr Henderson Franklin GARTEN IS LAID TO REST
Pioneer's Funeral Was Saturday - Lived in Lindsay 26 Years
Funeral services for the late Dr. H. F. Garten were held Saturday, Nov, 14, 1931, in the Lindsay Baptist church conducted by Rev. Anson Campbell of Oklahoma City.
Arrangements were made by Tip Watts, funeral director of Oklahoma City. The pall bearers were some of the "Neighbors" of the deceased in Lindsay Camp Modern Woodmen of America. The remains were laid to rest in Green Hill Cemetery.
Dr. Garten was a man of generous impulses and never forgot the hospitable ways of a pioneer. The stranger, even though a beggar, never failed to find food and shelter if sought at his hands. He was honest, kind hearted and had many virtues. He will be missed in Linddsay by many friends.
Henderson Franklin Garten was born in Bourbon County Kentucky, Aug. 26, 1868 and died Nov. 12, 1931, at his home in Lindsay. He was united in marriage with Allie Marie Morris, Aug. 31, 1891, at Purcell, Oklahoma, moving to Medicine Lodge, Kansas to make his home. Two daughters survive from this union, viz; Jessie L. Seela and Mrs. Christine Walker, both of Oklahoma City. His first wife died in 1899.
On May 26, 1901, he was married to Huldah Taylor Jump of Velma, Oklahoma. To this union seven children were born, five of whom survive.
They are Rowe M. Garten, Mrs. Blanche Moses, Mrs. Goldie Mae Simmons, Okla S. Garten and Miss Augusta Garten. An infant son, Luke Solomon, died in 1907 and a daughter (Charity Garten Harper) died in 1926.
Dr. Garten lived in Kansas in the early part of his life, moving to Medicine Lodge from Kentucky while a young man. During the territorial days in Oklahoma, he was engaged quite extensively in stock raising, driving his cattle overland from the territory country to the Kansas markets.
In 1905, he moved to Lindsay, Oklahoma, taking up veterinary work as a profession, having graduated from the American Institute of Veterinary Science of Chicago, Ill. in 1898. He bought his home in Lindsay soon after he came here and had been more or less active in the community life of this city until his passing. He was a member of several fraternal organizations in this city and maintained his membership in the local camp of the Modern Woodmen of America until the time of his death. He was a staunch democrat and took an active part in local politics since Oklahoma became a state.
The Lindsay News, November 20, 1931. SLAYER IS HELD
James Seals Arrested for Murder of Dr. Garten - Confesses
James Seals, aged 69, a resident of Lindsay a number of years, is on jail at Paul's Valley and has confessed to the slaying of Dr. H. F. Garten, Lindsay veterinary, on the night of Nov. 11.
Seals claimed he shot Garten in self defense; he used a 32 caliber rifle and says he shot Garten from the front. The wound, however, showed that the bullet entered the body in the back, just below the left shoulder, and the coroner's jury so found. When Garten's body was found a revolver was found under one of his hands but it contained no empty shells.
According to Seals' story, he went to Garten's home to deliver two pints of whiskey which Garten had ordered and paid for, and that Garten accused him of stealing his pocketbook and threatened to shoot him, which prompted him to fire the fatal shot. Seals confessed his guilt here early Tuesday night, to Marshal Roland, County Attorney Hurt, Sheriff Barnhill and others, after statements of his guilt had been made by his wife and step daughter through "sweating" executed by Roland and Hurt. Seals' guilt had been suspected from the first but not enough evidence had been secured to justify his arrest until Tuesday.
The Lindsay News, January 15, 1932. GARTEN'S BODY EXHUMED
Autopsy held Monday to Determine Facts as to Murder
The body of the late Dr. H. F. Garten, veterinary, was exhumed and an autopsy held in the Brown Funeral Home here Monday; the object being to determine if possible whether or not the slain man was shot from behind.
Three physicians examined the body, namely, Ray Lindsay, Paul's Valley, C. M. Pratt and T. F. Gross of Lindasay. Present at the autopsy was Attorney J. K. Wright of Oklahoma City, who will help County Attorney Hurst prosecute the case against Seals and Henry Hinkle, Jr. attorney for the defense.
James Seals, confessed slayer of Dr. Garten will plead self defense to the murder charge. The case is set down for hearing in district court of Garvin County for Jan. 18.
Attorney Henry Hinkle, Jr., assisted by Moman Prulett of Oklahoma city, will defend Seals. Garten was found dead in his home in Lindsay Nov. 11, his chest and back having been penetrated by a bullet.
The Lindsay News, January 22, 1932. SEALS DRAWS EIGHT YEARS
Convicted of Manslaughter in Slaying of Dr. H. F. Garten
James Seals, resident of Lindsay, must serve eight years imprisonment in the state penetentiary for the killing of Dr. H. F. Garten, long time resident of Lindsay, a Garvin County jury announced by their verdict early Tuesday morning.
Record time was made in the presentation of the case to the jury. The trial was started at nine o'clock Monday morning and by supper time all the evidence was before the jury. Arguments were completed about 11 o'clock and the jury immediately retired. They deliberated about an hour Tueday morning and brought their verdict into court.
It was considered a difficult case to present to the jury as there were no eye witnesses to the killing which occured at the home of Dr. Garten the night of Nov. 11th. The body was discovered the next day by some neighbors. Officers went to work immediately on the clues found. On Tuesday, Nov. 17th, Seals made a confession to Homer Hurt, Count attorney, F.M. Roland, city marshal and L. W. Barnhill, sheriff. At this time he admitted to the shooting and claimed self defense and accident. This was the story told upon the stand at the trial. Although there were no eye witnesses to dispute the story, exhaustive work by the officers had developed enough of the physical facts to refute his statement, with the result that his story was impeached and the jury convicted him.
The case was defended by Henry Hinkle, Jr., young attorney of Lindsay with the assistance of Moman Pruiett, of Oklahoma City, veteran criminal attorney. Most of the burden fel upon Mr. Hinkle as Pruiett did not arrive at Paul's valley until the trial was well under way, and was not too familiar with the proceedings already had. According to court room comment Mr. Hinkle acquitted himself very well in his first major criminal case.
J. K. Wright, former county attorney of Oklahoma county was retained to assist the county attorney in the prosecution. It was a hard fought battle and the court room was packed at all stages of the trial.
The Barber County Index, November 8, 1899. Died
Mrs. Mary Allie Henderson Garten, of Mingona township, died last Thursday morning of consumption. The funeral services were held on Friday and interment was in the city cemetery. Mrs. Garten leaves a husband and one child to mourn.
The Cresset, November 10, 1899. Died
Mary Allie Garten, of Mingona township, who died November 2nd, was only 24 years, 11 months and one day old. The cause of death was consumption. Her husband and relatives desire to express their heart-felt thanks to the many friends who tendered sympathy and assistance in their bereavement.
Also see:
John Garten, brother of Henderson Franklin Garten. John Garten was the subject of "A Whiskey Murder" in When Kansas Was Young by Thomas Allen McNeal.
Nancy Ellen (Pendleton) Garten, mother of Henderson Franklin Garten.
Forrest City/Garten Cemetery, Barber County, Kansas, burial place of Nancy Ellen (Pendleton) Garten, mother of Henderson Franklin Garten.
Thanks to Bonnie (Garten) Shaffer for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news articles to this web site!
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