George Garvin Has Seen Main St. Grow Up Around Him
Windsor Gazette 5 December, 1940
By Ray Hall
It was just a few Weeks ago that we spent a delightful evening in the company of Mr and Mrs. John Chambers, one of Windsor’s esteemed couples. As we sat by the glow of the fire on a rainy Sunday Mrs. Chambers, told us about her interesting conversation with Mr. Garvin sometime ago.
Mr. George Garvin, Windsor dean of business men, being in the hardware business, approximately sixty years, lives in the home with his daughters, which his father built when he came to Windsor. It's a familiar sight, seeing, Mr., Garvin walking up town every morning to his place of business, greeting everyone with salutations and stopping for a chat, Keen, observant, and extremely active, Mr. Garvin can tell you many stories of the early life of Windsor, Mr. Garvin stays young by seeing good shows, basketball games, attending the social functions of different groups and is always a delightful person with young people.
For nearly seventy years he has watched Windsor pass by his door, but he has not been an idle watcher, as anyone would know after a reminiscent conversation with the 96 year old gentleman He is not afraid to admit his age, because. he explains with characteristic humor, being born was one of the things in his life he could not help.
Mr. Garvin was born March 9, 1854. The home was a one and onehalf story log house, situated where the new Shelbyville post office is now, located. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sherm Garvin, one of a family of six children.
Mr. Garvin’s father was a miller, who came to Windsor in 1865. The next year Sherm Garvin brought his son, George, a mere lad drove two cows from Shelbyville to Windsor. He went to work in the mill for his father, continuing until the latter's death in 1868.
The mill was located between the Smysor building and the Wall Bros.blacksmith shop. The railroad company built a large dam to provide water below where the blacksmith shop is now situated. While working in the mill. Mr. Garvin recalls, buying wheat at $3.50. They sold flour at $18 per bbl. They took wheat on toll. farmers getting 23 pounds of flour for a bushel of wheat. After his father's death, Mr. Garvin went to work in a brick yard shoveling mud at $1.25 per day. The brick yard was located on the property Mr., and Mrs. William Merkle live. Later he became an apprentice tinner in the J. S. Shaffer hardware store in Windsor for $4 per week for 4 years. Here they made everything from tin cups to wash boilers. During one year, 5,000 fruit cans were made.
At the end of his apprenticeship he received a raise to $40 per month, the salary he worked for nine years. Along with an increase in pay, the time had come for him to get married. So on Thanksgiving Day, 1876, he married Mina Arabella Bruce, daughter of Mr. and Mrs J. D Bruce. The family lived where William Anderson now lives. Mrs Garvin died a few years ago. We had the pleasure of attending the golden wedding in November, 1926.
It was not long until Mr. Garvin purchased an interest hardware business. He held partnerships with several men after Mr. Shaffer’s death in 1883. The first year of businesses, a junior member of the firm, they sold three carloads of buggies. In 1906 he became sole owner of the business and his son Bruce became a member of the firm.He sold Moline plows for over fifty years. Thinking of the past, he recalls when Middlesworth was called Long Church, railroad locomotives burned wood, cattle were driven to market, and many a cold winter.
For 49 years he has been a member of Windsor Masonic lodge and 48 years as a member of the Eastern Star. He was, a member of the Federal Grand jury the year Eads bridge was dedicated in St. Louis. Mr. Garvin had the honor of being the first Republican Supervisor elected from Windsor township. Since the organization of the local telephone company, he has served as a member of the Board of Directors and has been, an active member of the Windsor Building and Loan Association Board of Directors for 27 years.
Mr. Garvin has one son and three daughters. Also seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren. Carl George and Kathyrn Lee Leisman, children of Mr. and-Mrs. CarI.Leisman. Always taking an active interest in community affairs, you will find him ready to help make Winds6i a better place to live. Any thought of Mr. Garvin retiring to restful old age would be dispelled by a look into his place of business and seeing him at his desk or busy with other activities, but he always has time for a few words of greeting along with business.