Was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in the year 1756. He was of Scotch descent, his father having been among those who were obliged to flee from Scotland during the reign of terror consequent upon religious persecution. They managed, however, to save their Bibles, which were more precious to them than " all else beside."

Mr. Garner married Ann Crawford, and they became the parents of thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters, of whom three, a son and two daughters, died in Ireland when young. Mrs. Garner was also of Scotch parentage, her people being among the fugitives from persecution, as were the Garners. Her male ancestors were men of marked ability and influence. They also settled in County Antrim, Ireland. After the three children died, it was sixty-seven years before there was another death among them (the children).

Thomas Garner was engaged in the Irish Rebellion, and for three years carried documents inciting the men of Ireland to rebellion against the English government and the establishment of an independent government for themselves.

Mr. Garner was a manufacturer of fine linen, and followed that business for many years while living in Ireland. He left the land of the shamrock in 1801,and in May of that year arrived at New York. He immediately settled in the township of Hardiston, Sussex county, New Jersey, where he followed farming and milling. He owned a flouring mill, and operated it for twenty-one years, when he sold out and removed to Paterson, New Jersey, and worked at manufacturing. In September, 1825, he again caught the spirit of moving, and emigrated to the township of Pultney, Steuben county, New York, where he resided in the vicinity of the famed Crooked lake. While in that county he followed farming. In 1833, when the "Michigan fever" began to be felt among the inhabitants of New York, he again pulled up, although seventy-seven years of age, and came to Oakland County, and purchased a farm in White Lake township, upon which he lived for five years. His death occurred on the 2d day of September, 1838, when' he was eighty-two years and six months old. His wife, to whom he had been married over fifty years, was now left to mourn him who had been her companion for so long a time. She lived until 1861, and died in her ninety-second year. She had been a woman of great strength of character, and influential in every community in which she had lived. Always a foe to intemperance, she so thoroughly instilled her principles into the minds of her children that not one of them ever indulged in the use of liquor, tobacco, nor profane language. Mr. and Mrs. Garner were both exemplary Christians, and lived up to their creed. They were members of the Presbyterian church from their youth, and were among the first members of the church of that denomination, which was organized at W^hite Lake not long after they settled in the township (August 1, 1835).