ABEL GARR, deceased, resided on section 2I, Oronoko township, and when called to his final rest the community mourned the loss of a representative citizen. He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, December 3I, I807. His father, Abraham Garr, was a native of Virginia, born February 28, I769, and removing westward, he settled in Wayne county, Indiana, in 1807. The ancestry of the family is traced back to Andreas Garr, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, in I685, and came to America in 1732, crossing the Atlantic on a sailing vessel, which was eighteen weeks in completing that voyage. He located in Culpeper county, Virginia, and became the progenitor of the family in the new world. Abel Garr was the sixth in a family of eight children and the youngest son, there being four sons and four daughters. He was reared upon the farm in Wayne county, Indiana, which his father had entered from the government and the district schools of a pioneer settlement afforded him his educational privileges. He was denied many of the privileges which are now known, owing to his residence upon the frontier but there were also pleasures and opportunities which are unknown now. Through the period of his youth he remained at his father's home and afterwards learned the trade of cabinetmaking, which he followed in Richmond, Indiana, until 1832, when, attracted by the new settlements of southwestern Michigan, he came to Berrien county and took up his abode in Niles. It was then a small town but the county was already giving indications of the enterprise and spirit of progress, which were soon adhered to and made it one of the leading counties of this great commonwealth. Mr. Garr worked at his trade in Niles, being in the employ of James Hall until he had saved from his earnings a sufficient sum of money to enable him to buy land. He received a wage of but fifty cents per day at cabinet-making and from this sum he bought the land on section 21, Oronoko township, now constituting the old homestead, upon which his widow and daughter reside. His first home was built of hewed logs and there he kept bachelor's hall for several years, in the meantime clearing up the farm and as the timber was cut down he plowed his fields and planted his crops. On the 4th of December, I847, Mr. Garr was married to Miss Harriet Storick, who was born at Selin's Grove, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1819, a daughter of Lewis Storick, whose birth occurred on Chestnut street, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in which city he was reared. He became proprietor of what was then called a tavern, and some years later he removed to the present town of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, whence he came to Michigan in 1836, establishing his home in Oronoko township on the place where Mrs. Garr now lives. After three years, however, he removed to the northern part of the township, where he purchased a farm. His last days, however, were spent on the old homestead where Mrs. Garr now resides. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Maria Sellers, was also a native of Pennsylvania. His grave was among the first made in what is called Oak Grove cemetery. the land having been given by Abel Garr for the purpose. Mrs. Garr was the youngest of ten children, five sons and five daughters, and is the only one now living. She was a maiden of but fifteen years when she became a resident of Berrien county and is now eighty-six years of age, so that her residence in Oronoko township covers the long period of seventy-one years. She is today the oldest living resident of the township and she receives the respect and veneration which is certainly due her. Following their marriaPe Mr. and Mrs. Garr located on a farm which is still her home and there they spent their entire married life. His attention was given to the cultivation of the fields and he was successful in his business owning at one time four hundred acres of rich and arable land, which returned him a gratifying income for the care and labor he bestowed upon the fields. He also took an active part in public affairs and left the impress of his individuality upon the public thought and action, especially in an earlier day. He served as a captain of the home militia, was supervisor of his township for some years and acted as school director for many years. He continued to reside upon the old home place until his demise, which occured December 20, I889. Thus passed away one of the honored and worthy pioneer settlers, but he is yet remembered by many who knew him and who were associated with him in years of an active and useful career. He left a goo(d 1r-moperty to his family, his wife and daughter now owning three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land. There were six children in the family but two of the number died in infacy, and Maria, Lewis and Rosa are also deceased. The only surviving member of this family is Martha, who gives personal supervision to the interests of the farm and is caring for her mother. The name of Garr has long been an honored one in Oronoko township and no history of this county would be complete without mention of Abel Garr, who was a prominent factor in public affairs during his life time, and of his wife, who is still an esteemed resident of Oronoko township.
Info from pgs 823-824 of A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan Orville W. Coolidge

In I834 Abel Garr came from Indiana and located in section twenty-one, nearly in the center of the township. Mr. Garr was supervisor in I843. He died several years ago. His widow and daughter, Martha, now occupy the place, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, and called the "Excelsior Grain and Fruit Farm." There is still growing on this place a noble forest of valuable timber, perhaps the most valuable of any in the county. The growing timber alone upon this place is estimated to be worth at least fourteen thousand dollars. (A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan Orville W. Coolidge, pg 203)