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William Thompson “W. T.” Garratt

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William Thompson “W. T.” Garratt

Birth
Waterbury, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA
Death
14 Jan 1890 (aged 60)
San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, USA
Burial
Colma, San Mateo County, California, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
"The Bay of San Francisco: The Metropolis of the Pacific Coast..." Vol. 2

Lewis Publishing Co, 1892. - Pages 535-537

William Thompson Garratt one of the most conspicuous characters in the manufacturing history of the Pacific Coast, and a representative California pioneer, was the son of Joseph Garratt and Catharine nee Thompson, both of English birth, but at the time of their marriage, and a number of years previous, residents of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Joseph Garratt's brother William established the first brass foundry in the Quaker City, in which Joseph learned the trade and was employed for years. After his marriage to Miss Thompson they went to Waterbury, Connecticut, where he was engaged in constructing a brass foundry, and there, October 4, 1829, William T. Garratt, the subject of this memoir, was born. Soon after completing this foundry, his parents moved to Baltimore, where his father erected another brass foundry.

Believing the "Great West" offered superior advantages for the business, Mr. Garratt removed with his family in 1834 to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there built still another brass foundry, in which William T. learned his trade of foundryman. At twenty years of age he left the parental roof to seek his fortune in the newly discovered gold fields of California, expecting to return after he had acquired it. Going down the river by steamboat to New Orleans, he sailed thence for the Isthmus of Panama. Crossing the Isthmus partly by boat, on the Chagres river, and partly on mule-back, he took passage on the Pacific side for California on board the whale ship Norman, and landed in San Francisco, July 20, 1850. Having traveled thousands of miles to wrest from Nature her hidden treasures, Mr. Garratt proceeded to the mines, near where Nevada City now stands, and spent about two weeks placer mining with the long tom and rocker, when ill health compelled him to abandon that occupation, which necessitated constant exposure and contact with the cold mountain water. Returning to Sacramento, he accepted employment with Messrs. Warner & Ferrell, brick manufacturers, and old friends of his family.

Judge G. W. Schultz, who had knowledge of Mr. Garratt's capabilities, learned of his arrival in California, and sent for him to come and join him in the foundry business in San Francisco. Mr. Garratt came, and in October 1850 was established the foundation of the present extensive manufactory which bears his name, under the firm style of Schultz & Co. In addition to general mechanical work the firm made most of the coin dies which at that time were used quite extensively by private individuals and banks. They also made the machinery for coining $5 and $10 pieces, and did coining for Burgoyne & Co. and other banks. This department of the business was under the control of Judge Schultz; and upon the dissolution of their partnership he took that interest. It was soon after extinguished, however, by the passage of an act by the Legislature prohibiting private coinage.

Mr. Garratt's first foundry was located on Clay street, opposite the Plaza, from which he moved to Leidesdorff street, near Sacramento street, where he did a prosperous business until his property was swept away by the great fire of May 4, 1851. He started again on Hallock street, but soon removed to near the corner of Market and First streets. In 1866 the Alta Flouring Mills in the rear of his foundry took fire, and again his establishment was wiped out. He next located on the corner of Mission and Fremont streets, where, in 1870, the same calamity befell him, caused by the burning of the Mechanics' Mill on the opposite side of the street. His loss by this fire was estimated at $130,000. These successive disasters would have disheartened most men, but Mr. Garratt's indomitable will and energy were not to be conquered by misfortune, and he once prepared to re-establish his business on the corner of Fremont and Natoma streets, where he built and thoroughly equipped the largest brass and bell foundry west of the Mississippi river. Here he carried on a very successful business until 1885, when, in view of its great and constantly increasing magnitude, he deemed it advisable to incorporate and thus distribute the responsibilities of its management among several competent assistants. The corporation took the name of W. T. Garratt & Co., and the stock was mostly taken by members of his family, who still own it. Mr. Garratt continued as the directing head until his death, January 14, 1890, from heart disease.

The life of W. T. Garratt was so interwoven with the material and social progress of San Francisco and the Pacific coast that it forms an essential and important part of the history of the city and State. Being a strong Union man during the war of the Rebellion, and a zealous supporter of and liberal contributor to the sanitary fund, he was naturally a Republican in his political affiliations; and his intellectual qualifications and great force of character made him one of that party's ablest local leaders. While he was an active worker in all that pertained to the public weal, he had no ambition for office; and the only political position he ever filled was that of State Senatorship of his district, from 1870 to 1874. He also served on the Board of Education for some years. Mr. Garratt was a member and one of the leading promoters of the Mechanic's Institute during its struggling days. He was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow, and a member of the organization of Territorial Pioneers, of which he was one time president. In his efforts to develop and foster productive industries on this coast, Mr. Garratt expended a large sum of money and much labor to establish beet-sugar cultivation and manufacture in California; and, though his experience was not a financial success, it demonstrated that under more favorable conditions beet sugar could be profitably produced here. The repair of broken castings by the burning-metal process, now universally employed throughout the world, is Mr. Garratt's invention. He was prominently connected with steamboating, railroading and mining enterprises in this State, and was a potent force in these lines of activity. Socially he was highly esteemed for his kind, generous nature, his scrupulous honesty and his sterling character. It is said of him by those who knew him best, that he was never heard to speak an unkind word to or of a human being. While he, by persistent effort and fine business capabilities--and despite repeated heavy losses--accumulated an ample fortune, it was solely the result of legitimate industry and enterprise; and no dollar of his large estate was ever stained by the tears of the oppressed.

Mr. Garratt was twice married. May 3, 1854, he was wedded to Miss Mary Donohue, who bore him ten children, of whom seven are living, namely: William T. (Jr.) and Milton, Mrs. James E. Bond (Emma), Mrs. Henry D. Morton (Clara), Mrs. W. A. Allen (Amelia m. first Allen, then Fred C. Morgan) and Julia (m. James R. Trussell) and Mary ( Mary Alice) Garratt (later m. Edward Wakeman McLellan). His second wife was Miss (Anna Poole) Gibbons, daughter of the late Dr. Henry Gibbons (Pioneer Physician b. 1808 in CT) who survives him.

The Manufactory

This institution, which is one of the largest of its class in the United States, still continues under the name of W. T. Garratt & So. A number of years ago another department was added, for making all kinds of iron castings and general machinery. The plant for his branch is situation on Fifth and Brannan streets consists of extensive and commodious buildings furnished with the latest improved machinery and appliances for doing heavy work of this line. The company manufacture all kinds of brass goods for steam, gas and water purposes; also bells, windmill pumps, and general machinery supplies. Two hundred hands are employed in the different departments of the manufactory, and the company has representatives in all the principal cities of the Pacific slope.

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, Pages 535-537,
"The Bay of San Francisco: The Metropolis of the Pacific Coast..." Vol. 2

Lewis Publishing Co, 1892. - Pages 535-537

William Thompson Garratt one of the most conspicuous characters in the manufacturing history of the Pacific Coast, and a representative California pioneer, was the son of Joseph Garratt and Catharine nee Thompson, both of English birth, but at the time of their marriage, and a number of years previous, residents of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Joseph Garratt's brother William established the first brass foundry in the Quaker City, in which Joseph learned the trade and was employed for years. After his marriage to Miss Thompson they went to Waterbury, Connecticut, where he was engaged in constructing a brass foundry, and there, October 4, 1829, William T. Garratt, the subject of this memoir, was born. Soon after completing this foundry, his parents moved to Baltimore, where his father erected another brass foundry.

Believing the "Great West" offered superior advantages for the business, Mr. Garratt removed with his family in 1834 to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there built still another brass foundry, in which William T. learned his trade of foundryman. At twenty years of age he left the parental roof to seek his fortune in the newly discovered gold fields of California, expecting to return after he had acquired it. Going down the river by steamboat to New Orleans, he sailed thence for the Isthmus of Panama. Crossing the Isthmus partly by boat, on the Chagres river, and partly on mule-back, he took passage on the Pacific side for California on board the whale ship Norman, and landed in San Francisco, July 20, 1850. Having traveled thousands of miles to wrest from Nature her hidden treasures, Mr. Garratt proceeded to the mines, near where Nevada City now stands, and spent about two weeks placer mining with the long tom and rocker, when ill health compelled him to abandon that occupation, which necessitated constant exposure and contact with the cold mountain water. Returning to Sacramento, he accepted employment with Messrs. Warner & Ferrell, brick manufacturers, and old friends of his family.

Judge G. W. Schultz, who had knowledge of Mr. Garratt's capabilities, learned of his arrival in California, and sent for him to come and join him in the foundry business in San Francisco. Mr. Garratt came, and in October 1850 was established the foundation of the present extensive manufactory which bears his name, under the firm style of Schultz & Co. In addition to general mechanical work the firm made most of the coin dies which at that time were used quite extensively by private individuals and banks. They also made the machinery for coining $5 and $10 pieces, and did coining for Burgoyne & Co. and other banks. This department of the business was under the control of Judge Schultz; and upon the dissolution of their partnership he took that interest. It was soon after extinguished, however, by the passage of an act by the Legislature prohibiting private coinage.

Mr. Garratt's first foundry was located on Clay street, opposite the Plaza, from which he moved to Leidesdorff street, near Sacramento street, where he did a prosperous business until his property was swept away by the great fire of May 4, 1851. He started again on Hallock street, but soon removed to near the corner of Market and First streets. In 1866 the Alta Flouring Mills in the rear of his foundry took fire, and again his establishment was wiped out. He next located on the corner of Mission and Fremont streets, where, in 1870, the same calamity befell him, caused by the burning of the Mechanics' Mill on the opposite side of the street. His loss by this fire was estimated at $130,000. These successive disasters would have disheartened most men, but Mr. Garratt's indomitable will and energy were not to be conquered by misfortune, and he once prepared to re-establish his business on the corner of Fremont and Natoma streets, where he built and thoroughly equipped the largest brass and bell foundry west of the Mississippi river. Here he carried on a very successful business until 1885, when, in view of its great and constantly increasing magnitude, he deemed it advisable to incorporate and thus distribute the responsibilities of its management among several competent assistants. The corporation took the name of W. T. Garratt & Co., and the stock was mostly taken by members of his family, who still own it. Mr. Garratt continued as the directing head until his death, January 14, 1890, from heart disease.

The life of W. T. Garratt was so interwoven with the material and social progress of San Francisco and the Pacific coast that it forms an essential and important part of the history of the city and State. Being a strong Union man during the war of the Rebellion, and a zealous supporter of and liberal contributor to the sanitary fund, he was naturally a Republican in his political affiliations; and his intellectual qualifications and great force of character made him one of that party's ablest local leaders. While he was an active worker in all that pertained to the public weal, he had no ambition for office; and the only political position he ever filled was that of State Senatorship of his district, from 1870 to 1874. He also served on the Board of Education for some years. Mr. Garratt was a member and one of the leading promoters of the Mechanic's Institute during its struggling days. He was a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow, and a member of the organization of Territorial Pioneers, of which he was one time president. In his efforts to develop and foster productive industries on this coast, Mr. Garratt expended a large sum of money and much labor to establish beet-sugar cultivation and manufacture in California; and, though his experience was not a financial success, it demonstrated that under more favorable conditions beet sugar could be profitably produced here. The repair of broken castings by the burning-metal process, now universally employed throughout the world, is Mr. Garratt's invention. He was prominently connected with steamboating, railroading and mining enterprises in this State, and was a potent force in these lines of activity. Socially he was highly esteemed for his kind, generous nature, his scrupulous honesty and his sterling character. It is said of him by those who knew him best, that he was never heard to speak an unkind word to or of a human being. While he, by persistent effort and fine business capabilities--and despite repeated heavy losses--accumulated an ample fortune, it was solely the result of legitimate industry and enterprise; and no dollar of his large estate was ever stained by the tears of the oppressed.

Mr. Garratt was twice married. May 3, 1854, he was wedded to Miss Mary Donohue, who bore him ten children, of whom seven are living, namely: William T. (Jr.) and Milton, Mrs. James E. Bond (Emma), Mrs. Henry D. Morton (Clara), Mrs. W. A. Allen (Amelia m. first Allen, then Fred C. Morgan) and Julia (m. James R. Trussell) and Mary ( Mary Alice) Garratt (later m. Edward Wakeman McLellan). His second wife was Miss (Anna Poole) Gibbons, daughter of the late Dr. Henry Gibbons (Pioneer Physician b. 1808 in CT) who survives him.

The Manufactory

This institution, which is one of the largest of its class in the United States, still continues under the name of W. T. Garratt & So. A number of years ago another department was added, for making all kinds of iron castings and general machinery. The plant for his branch is situation on Fifth and Brannan streets consists of extensive and commodious buildings furnished with the latest improved machinery and appliances for doing heavy work of this line. The company manufacture all kinds of brass goods for steam, gas and water purposes; also bells, windmill pumps, and general machinery supplies. Two hundred hands are employed in the different departments of the manufactory, and the company has representatives in all the principal cities of the Pacific slope.

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2, Pages 535-537,


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