Submitted by: Kathy Miller Sarchet

Minnie J. Hill Garrett, was born in Pittsburg, TX to George R. Hill and his second wife Elizabeth Jane Tabb Burgess on January 11, 1874. Her father George R. Hill, his first wife Mary Frances Bailey Wood Hill, and their seven children came to what is now Camp County, Texas in 1865 (at that time Camp County was part of Upshur County) from Clark County, Arkansas. In 1866 Mr. Hill’s first wife Mary Frances passed away and George soon married Mrs. Elizabeth Burgess who was also a widow with one daughter Paralee Burgess.

As a child Minnie was educated in Pittsburg schools and in 1891 she attended the Boscobel Female College in Nashville, Tennessee, designed to educate young women in the arts and music. Upon returning to Pittsburg she was active in the Pittsburg Shakespearean Club and often performed vocal solos and character sketch readings for the local citizenry. Minnie acquired her love of travel early on and traveled often prior to her marriage and again later in life after her children left home.

Minnie married James L. “Jimmy” Garrett, an attorney, on October 27, 1897 and bore three children, all born in Pittsburg:

1. Thelma Garrett born 1898 and married Merle Browning
2. Robert L Garrett born in 1900 and died while in the Army in 1918 from Influenza and Pneumonia.
3. Minnie Elizabeth Garrett born 1902 and married John B Stephens, III

Mr. Garrett died in 1916 and Minnie, who became affectionately known as “Miss Minnie” was left with the responsibility of rearing her children and supporting her family all on her own. She rented rooms in her two-story house located on Mt. Pleasant Street, was active in the First Baptist Church Ladies Aid and Missionary Program and was often called on by locals to help tend to the sick.

The Pittsburg Gazette Newspaper contains many obituaries of local citizens who passed away at the home of “Miss Minnie” because she was tending them during their illnesses and confinement.

Because there was no funeral home in Pittsburg during this time she often helped prepare the bodies for burial, sewed burial garments and would sit with the deceased all night, in accordance with customs of the time period, prior to the burial or funeral.

Before hospitals were built in Pittsburg, “Miss Minnie” helped nurse many of Pittsburg’s newborns and enjoyed crocheting booties for these tiny citizens.

She was solicited by a group of local citizens to run for public office seeking the job of City Secretary and she applied to be the Postmistress of Pittsburg. Even though the job of Postmistress went to another person, there is no doubt “Miss Minnie” could have easily and capably handled the job!

“Miss Minnie” followed in the footsteps of some of the other Hill family members and was active in the annual activities associated with the Northeast Texas Fair and later manned the Camp County Booth at the Tyler and Marshall Fair, always promoting Pittsburg and surrounding Camp County.

In 1926 she was a Camp County Democratic Convention Delegate and a District and State Convention Delegate; well into the 1930’s she continued her civic duties by serving as a librarian at the Carnegie Library.

About 1936, she moved to Tyler, TX where she lived until she passed away on February 13, 1952, spending her final years traveling, visiting friends and relatives and returning to her beloved Pittsburg as often as possible.

Minnie J. Hill Garrett was laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery in Pittsburg along with many of her family members and citizens that she so loyally served during her lifetime.

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