Son of Confederate veteran William M. Garrett and Martha Sylvira (Grider) Garrett. Grand-nephew of Richard Franklin Tankersley, one of the first white settlers of the Concho Valley in West Texas.
Bill Garrett's history is quite interesting, but not as mysterious as he apparently led others believe. He was born in Paint Rock Texas and later moved to San Angelo Texas. He was the third of twelve children. He was still living in San Angelo in the 1900 census; in Colorado in 1910; in Hackberry Arizona in 1918 (per his WW I draft registration); and McConnico Arizona in 1920. All these census showed him working as a cowboy or ranch hand. He moved to the Gold Butte Nevada area before 1930 and lived there until his death.
An extensive obituary/tribute was posted on the front page of the "Las Vegas Sun" newspaper of January 7, 1962. This was expanded upon in an article by Rex Jensen in the "Nevadan Magazine" (Las Vegas Review-Journal) on January 3, 1982 (available online at www.comnett.net/~rex/goldb.htm ). Despite what both sources state, Bill was NOT a nephew of Pat Garrett of New Mexico (surviving relatives have confirmed this)! Nevertheless, he was still a colorful Western 'character who should be remembered by the people in his native West Texas as well as those in Arizona and Nevada.

Bill Garrett Buried on Boot Hill
By GENE TUTTLE and LOIS PERKINS
SUN Staff Writers

“Oh bury me not on the lone prairie…”

This familiar early-west song probably ran through the minds of his friends when they gathered yesterday at Gold Butte’s “Boot Hill” to bury William H. “Bill” Garrett, 83. Bill’s grave was dug deep in rock-spotted desert soil not far from his home by a close friend and a lawman Dep Sheriff Cleo Whitney, of Overton. And the mourners were good, earthy western folk, the kind that Bill would want to have around when he was buried.
For the past 37 years Bill Garrett had lived a life of ease as compared to his first 46 years. He was the nephew of the famous sheriff, Pat Garrett, who shot Billy the Kid in Lincoln County, N.M. Born on a ranch near San Angelo, Texas, in 1878, at an early age he entered the rough competition in western shows. Riding with the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, Bill established a reputation for expertness in roping, riding and sharp-shooting both with rifle and pistol.

Bill claimed a warm friendship with the late Will Rogers, and their many experiences together were the basis for many stories Bill would relate to his friends. Tom Mix was another of his close friends, according to Jack Keate of Overton. Bill rode in Tom’s show and worked with the star during the filming of several movies near Kingman, Ariz. While riding range for ranches in northern Utah, Bill, in his early thirties, was shot during a range war along the border of Colorado. Bill left his horse, found shelter behind a log, where he and the challenging wrangler exchanged shots before Bill killed the man. He was taken into custody by the Colorado authorities and stood trial for murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to be hung. Bill’s fellow cow-hands going back to the place where the gun battle took place, proved it to be in Utah territory. The Colorado authorities turned Bill over for trial in Utah, where he was released and set free, the verdict being self-defense. He spent approximately 10 years riding for various ranchers on the Arizona strip, being foreman for Pat Duncan on the Diamond Bar Ranch, part of this time. It was during his time in Arizona that Bill met Art Coleman and a close friendship started which lasted the rest of their lives. In 1924 Bill Garrett moved to Gold Butte to ride for George Hartman. A year later Art Coleman joined him. They batched together until Coleman’s death several years ago. Running their own cattle for the first few years was good, but the lure of mining caused them to turn their attention to that field. During the years they were hosts to many prospectors. Bill, during his years in the saddle rode in rodeos in Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado and he spent several years in Butte, Mont. Friends made during these first years of his life were always dropping in for a few days visit. When talking with a stranger, it was usually only minutes before Bill and the stranger had discovers a mutual acquaintance.

It is said by many that Bill Garrett asked no more of life that to “live by the side of the road, and be a friend to man.”

Las Vegas Sun, January 7, 1962

(Bio provided by Michael Horne, San Angelo TX)