Born about 1818 in Marion county, Ga, he was a typical Southern gentleman, a wealthy planter and one of the most influential cotton merchants in the South in the ante-bellum days, when "cotton was king." He died at his residence, "Hilton," near Columbus, Ga., in 1866, aged forty-eight years. He married first, Mary M. S. Urquhart, who was born May 13th, 1820, and died May 27th, 1841. Their daughter Mary Isabel Garrard, married Dr. William A. Robertson, of St. Landre parish, La. He was a man of prominence, and at one time Speaker of the House of Representatives of Louisiana. He is now deceased. They had no children.
Mr. Garrard married secondly, Frances Isabel Garteray Urquhart (sister of his first wife), who was born in Richmond county, September 14th, 1818. Her father was David Urquhart, who was born in Cadbell, in the Parish of Fearne, County of Ross, in Scotland, May 15th, 1779. He died at his residence "Hilton," near Augusta, Ga., November loth, 1842. The wife of Mr. Urquhart was Catherine Brooks Garteray, who was born in Prince Edward county, Va., July 7th, 1783. She died at the family residence, "Hilton," near Augusta, Ga., October 6th, 1835. Mrs. Garrard died at her son's residence near Columbus, Ga., August 13th, 1890. The Rev. Dr. Carter her minister in his obituary of her, says:
"Mrs. Garrard was the daughter of Mr. David Urquhart, a planter of large means and a princely gentleman. Of his large family only one survives, Mrs. L. T. Downing, of Columbus, Ga. Miss Isabel Urquhart married Mr. William W. Garrard, one of Georgia's most prominent citizens, who died many years ago. She leaves to mourn her loss three daughters and two sons ; Mrs. Humphreys Castleman, of Atlanta; Mrs. James Harris, of Chattanooga; Mrs. J. T. Glenn, of Atlanta; Col. William Garrard, of Savannah, and Hon. Louis F. Garrard, of Columbus, Ga. She was in her seventy-second year.
"Mrs. Garrard was a remarkable woman, as all who knew her can testify. The culture inherited from her highstrung and noble race, she illustrated in her life. `The honored heir loom of her ancestors she handed down untarnished to her descendants Left with the care of a large household, she dedicated herself to rearing her children, and in their honored and useful lives are the living proofs of her success. There was a dignity in her bearing that impressed all with the nobleness of her character. Singularly courteous in her manner, she won the respect of all who knew her. The loving tribute of a loving daughter but expresses the estimate of a true regard. Of her gracious presence, of her loveliness of character, her worth as a wife and mother `whose children rise up and call her blessed,' it may be very justly said, `none knew her but to love her, none named her but to praise.' It was during the long sickness, which from the first with death's prophetic power she anticipated the end, that the writer of this sketch became so well acquainted with her as to know her noble and true character. The calmness with which she anticipated the inevitable hour, the patient cheerfulness with which during the long and weary months she bore the almost continual suffering, is rarely ever witnessed. It was indeed a precious relief when at last came to her `the sleep from which none ever wakes to weep.'"
Anna Russell des Cognets, Governor Garrard of Kentucky: His Descendants and Relatives. Higginson Book Company: ISBN 0832887080/72. 1898, 1962, 1997
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