Abel Weaver Garr - Handcart Company Rescuer

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Abel Weaver Garr

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Abel Weaver Garr (1833 - 1899) Gathered from various sources

A Child of the Frontier

Able Weaver Garr was a quiet man who didn't talk much about his experiences. Fortunately his older sister and wife helped pass a history on to his posterity. Able was 11 when his mother died in Nauvoo. His father, 52- year- old Fielding Garr, joined the migration West the next year, bringing Able, six siblings, the youngest age 4, a grandbaby, and his live stock successfully across the Plaines. At one point their company was100 miles ahead of Brigham. When asked to return to Winter Quarters for greater safety, they complied. Fielding settled his family on Antelope Island where he developed a successful cattle and horse ranch. Able and his brothers were known as skillful horse and cattlemen.

Belated Emigrants of 1856: Rescues of the Martin and Willie Handcart, and Hogget and Hunt Companies

The development of exceptionally strong and fast horses on Antelope Island, and Able's skill as a rider may have contributed to his being called to join the first handcart rescue group led by George D. Grant and William Kimball. They reached Fort Bridger on October 12, where they split into two groups; a slower group heavily loaded with provisions, and a faster group with only one wagon and a few extra mounts led by William Kimball and George Grant. They took Able Garr, Joseph Young, and Cyrus Wheelock to push ahead as conditions worsened and slowed their progress.

October 19, they were forced to stop and wait out a blizzard. Fortunately, the next day James Willie and Joseph Elder, a search party from the Willie Company, discovered their camp. Within minutes the camp was struck, and the men hastened through the storm to find the starving and freezing members of the Willie Company.

William Kimball stayed with some provisions to nurse the Willie Company on toward Utah. George Grant and others left, through deepening snow, to continue the search for the Martin Company, believed to be at Devil's Gate.

After another week Grant was forced to stop. His rescue party was several days beyond the point where they expected to find the Martin and Hogget Companies. Grant sent Able Garr, Joseph Young, and Daniel W. Jones ahead with saddle horses and packed mules, in a final effort to locate the Martin and Hogget companies. Both were found two days later on October 28. They had been stranded in the snow several days. Fifty-six people had already been lost. The rescue party had no food, only good news. They got the company moving again based on the hope that food and warm blanket were close at hand. Joseph led them forward to the Willie Company, while Garr and Jones left to find the Hunt Wagon train, still two days east. After finding and getting the Hunt Company moving, they returned and helped the immigrants as they struggled up Avenue Hill toward the Sweetwater River.

On the morning of November 3rd, Captain Grant sent Able Garr and Joseph A. Young to Salt Lake City with the following dispatch to President Brigham Young.

There is not much use for me to attempt to give a description of these people; for this you will lean from your son, Joseph and from Brother Garr who are the bearers of this message. You can imagine between five and six hundred men women and children work down by drawing carts through mud and snow fainting by the way side, children crying with cold, their limbs stiffened, their feet bleeding and some of them bare to the frost, The sight is too much for the stoutest of us. Our party is too small be of help in comparison to what is needed. I believe that not more than one third of the Martin Company will be able to walk any further. I have never held so much interest in any mission I have ever before been called to perform, and all of the boys who are with me feel the same. We have prayed without ceasing and the blessings of the Lord have been with us. (S .F. Kimball, Improvement Era, Vol.XVII, 1913 p.203)

Able seldom talked and didn't write about his experience as a young man involved in the rescue. As an adult he was known for bringing packages of his freshly slaughtered beef to neighbors and people in need. My father talked about how important it was to his grandfather that no one ever go hungry.

Early Valley Settlers

In 1855 Pres. Brigham Young influenced John T., William H., Abel W. and Benjamin F. Garr, sons of Fielding Garr, early settler and developer of Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake, to bring their stock with stock belonging to the Church and locate in Cache Valley. The Garr Brothers built three log cabins, about 1 1/2 mile northwest of the present center of Millville, and helped establish the Church's Elk Horn Ranch, later known as the Church Farm. During a severe winter in1858, which threatened to destroy the herd, the stock was driven in back to pasture nearer the Great Salt Lake. Able settled and lived in the valley from 1855 until his death.

Excerpt from Isaac Wardle History Chapter Ten

“The 28th of October was the red letter day to this handcart expedition. On that memorable day Joseph A. Young, Daniel W. Jones and Abel Garr galloped unexpectedly into camp amid the cheers and tears and smiles and laughter of the emigrants.” (Jaques, CH)