Elisha James Garrett was born in GIbson County, Indiana, the son of William (1788-1852) and Sarah (Milton) Garrett (c1787-c1816). About 1830 Elisha married Agnes Heffington, daughter of David (c1776-1858) and Dorothy (Lowe) Heffington (1780-1840s).

Elisha and Agnes were the parents of 11 children:
1. William F. Garrett (1831-c1865) - married 1854 Nancy Eveline Matilda Harrison (1835-1919)
2. Sarah Ann Garrett (1833-1913) - married 1853 Joseph J. Matthews (1832-1885)
3. Mary A. Garrett (1836-c1867) - married 1858 Absolom Pinkney Bryant (1837-1906)
4. Martha Jane Garrett (1839-bef 1850)
5. Jesse Benton Garrett (1841-1896) - married 1864 Sarah Jane (Lavender) Mabry (1844-1925)
6. Elizabeth C. Garrett (1843-____) - married 1860 James W. Matthews
7. David L. Garrett (1845-____)
8. Nancy Melvina Garrett (1848-1928) - married 1st 1867 William James Thompson (c1842-1883), married 2nd 1884 John Trump (1846-1921)
9. Elijah James Garrett (1851-1908) - married 1877 Sarah Jennie Stevenson (1854-1913)
10. Elisha Milton Garrett (1853-1909) - married 1871 Caroline Gibbs (1850-1916)
11. Amanda Agnes Garrett (1855-1922) - married 1st 1871 Joseph R. Lavender (c1842-c1873), married 2nd 1873 John Wesley Jackson (1853-1933)

Elisha Garrett paid taxes in Christian Township, Independence County, Arkansas, in 1831, 1832, 1834, and 1835. He paid taxes in Jackson County, Arkansas in 1838 and is listed in Jackson County on the 1840 census. He paid taxes in Conway County, Arkansas, beginning in 1842 and is shown there on the 1850 and 1860 censuses. He is last shown paying taxes in 1865. On Oct. 10, 1865, Joseph Lavender was named administrator of Elisha's estate. In 1866, Joseph Lavender, administrator of the E. Garrett estate, paid taxes for Elisha's estate in Conway County. Elisha's date of death was given in these estate proceedings. Family legend suggests perhaps Elisha and/or his wife Agnes were killed by bushwhackers during the Civil War, but there is no documentary evidence of this. It is not known definitely where Elisha is buried. Marcus Hill Cemetery had not yet been established when Elisha died. He might possibly be buried at Heffington Cemetery, but there is no record or tradition of that. A more likely scenario is that he and Agnes are buried on their property just north/northwest of Enola, Faulkner County, Arkansas.

The photo of Elisha shared on this Find a Grave entry is a copy of a daguerreotype that was originally shared with me by Elisha's great-granddaughter, Lucille (Garrett) Purifoy (1917-2012). She said her father, Thomas J. Garrett (1883-1962) always identified it as his grandfather Garrett (Thomas was the son of Jesse Benton Garrett, Elisha's son). The type of photograph (which, in the United States, was predominant during the late 1840s and 1850s), style of clothing, and apparent age of the individual all support this photo being Elisha James Garrett.
Lucille also shared a copy of a page from the Family Bible of her grandfather, Jesse Benton Garrett, in which he had written the birth date information of his parents and siblings, along with his own children. The page was found folded in four quarters, tucked in a pocket of a purse belonging to Lucille's mother, Fannie (McGaha) Garrett (1888-1978) following Fannie's death.

Charles D. Parsons, great-great-great grandson of Elisha James Garrett