Author, Member of the Minnesota State House of Representatives, 6th. District (1859-1860), Medical Doctor, and Land Developer. Dr. Lewis Hector Garrard was author of "Waytoyah and the Taos Trail" and "Chambersburg in the Colony and Revolution", he was brother to American Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier Generals, Jeptha, Kenner and Israel Garrard. He was the great grandson of James Garrard, the second Governor of Kentucky. He was a first cousin to Theophilus T. Garrard, American Civil War Union Brigadier General. In 1846, at the age of 17, Lewis Garrard traveled west on the Santa Fe Trail, from Missouri to Taos, in a caravan led by the trader Ceran St. Vrain. In his fascinating account of his journey, published in 1850, Garrard recounts his adventures and his remarkable ability to observe and make friends with the mountain men and teamsters which are recorded in his book. In the summer of 1854, Lewis Garrard and his brother, Israel, began a leisurely trip up the Mississippi River with the intention to hunt and to enjoy the outdoor life and scenery of the Minnesota Territory. The Garrard's were members of a prominent Cincinnati family, had both traveled extensively along the edges of the frontier. His brother, Israel Garrard was especially searching for opportunities in the upper Mississippi area. As the river widened suddenly into Lake Pepin, the two brothers were struck by the area's beauty. They asked the captain of the steamboat to drop them off at a particularly inviting spot. There the brothers discovered a trading post called "Waconia" which was operated by Everett Westervelt, a Dutch immigrant and cabinetmaker. Westervelt's recently completed home, a large Greek revival structure, was opened to visitors. Israel Garrard returned the following year and acquired land from Westervelt and built his own residence adjacent to Westervelt. There he and his new wife, Kate Wood Garrard, set up housekeeping. In 1857, Israel and Westervelt acquired an additional 4,000 acres, platted a town and named it "Westervelt." In 1858, Westervelt sold half of his land holdings to Lewis Garrard and Israel sold half of his to another brother, Kenner. In 1858, the town was renamed "Frontenac," and Westervelt sold his remaining interests in the town to a fourth Garrard brother, Jeptha. By the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, a small, thriving village was established on the banks of Lake Pepin. Of the four Garrard brothers, three went off to serve in the Union forces. Lewis stayed behind in Frontenac to oversee the family's holdings. Upon their return from the war, three of the brothers would maintain some sort of seasonal residence at Frontenac, but Israel and his family were year round residents. It was Israel who would eventually control the form and destiny of the small village as it became his ideal of a gracious resort where summer visitors from the East could enjoy the experience of the outdoors without sacrificing comfort or amenities. Several fine residences would be built along the low bluff fronting on Lake Pepin, and the old granary on the point jutting into the lake was remodeled to become a hotel named the Frontenac Inn. Jeptha Garrard, brother to Israel and Lewis, experimented with "flying machines," jumping off the bluff top of Point-No-Point. Frontenac, MN is comprised of two unincorporated communities located about a mile apart. Old Frontenac is now a designated Historic District, the first such community in Minnesota, due to the several large homes on tree-lined streets that were built around the civil war era. Some guests of note at the Lakeside Hotel included President Grant, Henry Ward Beecher (brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin"), the Randolph Hearst family, and 19th century stage star Marie Dressler. He introduced thoroughbred Devon cattle and Southdown sheep to the Frontenac, MN area, and was the first person in Minnesota to cultivate orchard grass, the most valuable forage plant the State possessed for grazing or hay. In 1859 he was a member of the county board of supervisors, and several times chairman of the township board. Was a member of the Republican State Convention of 1859 and elected to the legislature of 1859-1860, and draft commissioner for this county. In October, 1862 Lewis Garrard married Florence Van Vliet of Wabasha County, MN. In 1870 he organized the First National Bank and was its president for three years, when he sold his entire interest. In April 1876, was chosen mayor of Lake City In 1877, he was re-elected mayor of Lake City, MN.
Author, Member of the Minnesota State House of Representatives, 6th. District (1859-1860), Medical Doctor, and Land Developer. Dr. Lewis Hector Garrard was author of "Waytoyah and the Taos Trail" and "Chambersburg in the Colony and Revolution", he was brother to American Civil War Union Brevet Brigadier Generals, Jeptha, Kenner and Israel Garrard. He was the great grandson of James Garrard, the second Governor of Kentucky. He was a first cousin to Theophilus T. Garrard, American Civil War Union Brigadier General. In 1846, at the age of 17, Lewis Garrard traveled west on the Santa Fe Trail, from Missouri to Taos, in a caravan led by the trader Ceran St. Vrain. In his fascinating account of his journey, published in 1850, Garrard recounts his adventures and his remarkable ability to observe and make friends with the mountain men and teamsters which are recorded in his book. In the summer of 1854, Lewis Garrard and his brother, Israel, began a leisurely trip up the Mississippi River with the intention to hunt and to enjoy the outdoor life and scenery of the Minnesota Territory. The Garrard's were members of a prominent Cincinnati family, had both traveled extensively along the edges of the frontier. His brother, Israel Garrard was especially searching for opportunities in the upper Mississippi area. As the river widened suddenly into Lake Pepin, the two brothers were struck by the area's beauty. They asked the captain of the steamboat to drop them off at a particularly inviting spot. There the brothers discovered a trading post called "Waconia" which was operated by Everett Westervelt, a Dutch immigrant and cabinetmaker. Westervelt's recently completed home, a large Greek revival structure, was opened to visitors. Israel Garrard returned the following year and acquired land from Westervelt and built his own residence adjacent to Westervelt. There he and his new wife, Kate Wood Garrard, set up housekeeping. In 1857, Israel and Westervelt acquired an additional 4,000 acres, platted a town and named it "Westervelt." In 1858, Westervelt sold half of his land holdings to Lewis Garrard and Israel sold half of his to another brother, Kenner. In 1858, the town was renamed "Frontenac," and Westervelt sold his remaining interests in the town to a fourth Garrard brother, Jeptha. By the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, a small, thriving village was established on the banks of Lake Pepin. Of the four Garrard brothers, three went off to serve in the Union forces. Lewis stayed behind in Frontenac to oversee the family's holdings. Upon their return from the war, three of the brothers would maintain some sort of seasonal residence at Frontenac, but Israel and his family were year round residents. It was Israel who would eventually control the form and destiny of the small village as it became his ideal of a gracious resort where summer visitors from the East could enjoy the experience of the outdoors without sacrificing comfort or amenities. Several fine residences would be built along the low bluff fronting on Lake Pepin, and the old granary on the point jutting into the lake was remodeled to become a hotel named the Frontenac Inn. Jeptha Garrard, brother to Israel and Lewis, experimented with "flying machines," jumping off the bluff top of Point-No-Point. Frontenac, MN is comprised of two unincorporated communities located about a mile apart. Old Frontenac is now a designated Historic District, the first such community in Minnesota, due to the several large homes on tree-lined streets that were built around the civil war era. Some guests of note at the Lakeside Hotel included President Grant, Henry Ward Beecher (brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin"), the Randolph Hearst family, and 19th century stage star Marie Dressler. He introduced thoroughbred Devon cattle and Southdown sheep to the Frontenac, MN area, and was the first person in Minnesota to cultivate orchard grass, the most valuable forage plant the State possessed for grazing or hay. In 1859 he was a member of the county board of supervisors, and several times chairman of the township board. Was a member of the Republican State Convention of 1859 and elected to the legislature of 1859-1860, and draft commissioner for this county. In October, 1862 Lewis Garrard married Florence Van Vliet of Wabasha County, MN. In 1870 he organized the First National Bank and was its president for three years, when he sold his entire interest. In April 1876, was chosen mayor of Lake City In 1877, he was re-elected mayor of Lake City, MN.
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