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8 siblings ranging in age from two months to 19 years old on the family farm worth $3,300 in the town of Antwerp, Van Buren,
Michigan. His father was working as a farmer and eldest brother Laurentio was a laborer.
At the time of the July 24, 1860 U.S. Federal census, Garrettson was 15 years old and living with his father and three
siblings ranging in age from 10 to 19 years old, Samuel Spiker (age 36 and a farm laborer) and Ira Beddo (age 21 and also a farm laborer) on
the family farm worth $12,000 in Antwerp, Van Buren, Michigan. His father John was working as a farmer and owned $2,000 worth of personal estate. Garretson had attended school within
the census year, as had his other three siblings.
Garrettson and Sue Maria Kennicott were married on June 29, 1871 in Paw Paw, Van Buren, Michigan when they both were 26 years old. She bore him a son, Jonathan Woodman Hunt, who
lived to manhood. Unfortunately Sue died young at the age of 35 on Dec. 15, 1880 just two weeks before her son's second birthday.
Two and a half years later Garrettson married second Adeline E. "Addie" (Palmer) Reynolds, a young widow who previously had been married to newspaper publisher Theodore L. Reynolds. Theo
had died at her father's residence of hemorrhage of the lungs at age 32. After his death, Addy went to live with her mother and worked as a dressmaker.
Garrie was 38 and Addy was 37 years old when they were married in Paw Paw, Van Buren, Michigan on June 7, 1883 by Minister of the Gospel Henry C. Harvey.
Garrie's brother-in-law Jonathan J. Woodman was a witness, as well as John W. Free.
Garrie died in Kalamazoo, Van Buren, Michigan on Dec. 17, 1891 at the age of 46. He
was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Antwerp, Van Buren, Michigan.
 Garrie W. Hunt.—The late Garrie W. Hunt, of Paw Paw, whose untimely death on December 17, 1891, at the early age of fortysix years and nine months, was universally regretted, was in his young manhood a storekeeper and in his later years an extensive buyer and shipper of live stock. He was recognized in all parts of Van Buren county as an excellent business man, an upright and progressive citizen, and an exemplar of the best attributes of American manhood of the most sturdy and sterling kind.
He was born in Antwerp township, Van Buren county, Michigan, on March 3, 1845, and was a son of John and Eliza (King) Hunt. They had nine children: Laurentio, who is now a resident of Antwerp township, this county; Sarah, who has been dead a number of years; Harty, deceased, the former wife of J. J. Woodward, of Van Buren county; Nathaniel K., who resides in St. Cloud. Minnesota; Lydia, the wife of W. W. Dole, of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Garrie W., the lamented subject of this brief memoir; Eliza, the wife of Edward Stevens, of Spokane, Washington; John, whose home is at Mattawan, Michigan; and Simeon, who died a number of years ago.
On June 7. 1883, Mr. Hunt was joined in marriage with Miss Adeline Palmer, who was born at Lyme, Connecticut, on October 15, 1845, and is a daughter and the only child of Elisha C. and Eliza H. (Fowler) Palmer, the former a native of Connecticut, who came to Paw Paw in 1856, and the latter a native of New York. Mrs. Hunt's father was a contractor and prominent in his business. He died at the home of his daughter on February 23, 1878. Her mother died on April 4, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt became the parents of one child, their daughter Ruth A., who was born on October 3, 1885 and died on March 27, 1886. Mr. Hunt was married twice, and by his first marriage became the father of one child, his son J. W. Hunt, who is now a resident of Aurora, Illinois.
Mr. Hunt was a Republican in politics and loyally devoted to the principles and theories of his party. He rendered it effective service at all times, and was regarded as a man of importance in its councils. But he had no aspiration to public office, either by appointment or election, and never sought a political position. His standing in his community, however, was such, and the general esteem in which he was held was so high, that it is probable he would have been compelled to yield to the importunities of the people and accept a position in their service if he had lived a few years longer, for they recognized his ability for official duties and his high character as a man as the best qualifications for effective and acceptable public service, and in time would have demanded that he employ these qualifications for the public good in the most practical way.
He took a great interest in the Order of Patrons of Husbandry (the Grange) and was prominent and influential in its organization. In church relations he was what is known as a Presbyterian Baptist. His consideration for the welfare of his community was shown in many ways, particularly by his warm and helpful interest in public improvements, his ardent support of public education and all other beneficial and elevating institutions, mental, moral, civil and social, and his wisdom and energy in what he did to keep the shining wheels of progress in motion toward desirable ends. No man stood higher in his township and none better deserved the rank he occupied. For he was true to every claim of duty and every requirement of citizenship.
-- A history of Van Buren County, Michigan, Volume 2, by Oran W. Rowland
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