Laura Gertrude Garrett Timeline

I will attempt to give a fuller picture of Laura Garrett’s very hard life.

Oct 14, 1871, near Caldwell, Burleson County Texas. Laura G Garrett is born to Jeptha Norton Garrett and Mary Elizabeth Barnes Garrett.

Dec 19, 1871, Burleson County TX, Laura’s much older half sister Mary Garrett is wed to William Hare.

April 1872, near Caldwell, Texas. Laura’s sister Fannie El Dorado Garrett is born.

About 1873/4, (record I only remember vaguely and have lost), a Caldwell, Texas church record mentions Laura’s older half sister Eugenia Garrett as a member.

About 1874, The family moves to Florence, Williamson County, Texas. The family being much like the Brady Bunch by this time: Jeptha Garrett, Mary E Barnes Garrett, Jeptha’s daughters (by 1st wife) Mary and Eugenia, Victoria Belle Christman and Anna Georgia Thomas (both Jeptha’s step daughters and Mary Barnes daughters by previous marriages), and Jeptha and Mary’s 2 daughters Laura and El Dorado.

April 4, 1875, Florence, TX. Laura’s sister Ella Norton Garrett is born.

Between 1874-1878, Williamson County, TX. Laura’s father dies.

March 10, 1878, Bell County, TX. Laura’s older half sister Eugenia Garrett is wed to Benjamin Franklin Essary.

By 1878, Mary Barnes Garrett and daughters Belle, Annie, Laura, El Dorado and Ella move to Georgetown, TX.

March 14, 1878, Georgetown, TX. Laura’s mother Mary weds James A Mitchell.

1875-1878, Florence or Georgetown, Williamson County, TX. Laura’s half sister Belle Christman meets future husband Archibald Lamb.

July 19, 1878, Round Rock, Williamson County, TX. Laura’s great Uncle John Seaborn Barnes is shot and killed.

the Summer of 1878. Laura’s mother Mary has kept up with Jeptha’s brother Isaiah Garrett, a miner in Stockton. The family is convinced they should move to Stockton, California for more opportunities but Laura’s half sister Belle stays behind in Texas as she is committed to marry Archibald Lamb.

Aug 11, 1878, Stockton, CA. Laura’s half sister Mary Garrett Hare weds Charles L. Weitz.

1878/9, Laura’s half sister Belle Christman moves to Austin, TX and begins living across from the Capital Building, working as a servant.

June 15th, 1880, Stockton, San Joaquin County, CA. The Mitchell/Garrett/Thomas family reside in Stockton with Laura’s Uncle Isaiah K Garrett and possibly another Garrett Uncle.

Sept 15, 1880, Austin, TX. Laura’s half sister Belle Christman marries Archibald Lamb.

April 16, 1881, Stockton, CA. Laura’s half sister Marguerite Estelle Mitchell is born.

By 1881, Stockton, CA. Laura’s half sister Eugenia Garrett Essary has moved to Stockton. Eugenia weds to Pardon Alma Davis on June 22, 1881.

April 21, 1882, Stockton, CA. Laura’s step father James Mitchell dies.

1888, Stockton, CA. Mary and the girls live at 253 Washington St. Mary’s occupation is a dressmaker.

March 17, 1889, Stranger, Falls County, TX. Laura’s half sister Victoria Belle Christman Lamb dies.

1891, San Francisco, CA. Miss Laura G Garrett works as a stenographer, resides at 44 6th St.

Jan 21, 1891, Stockton. Laura’s sister El Dorado is wed to Charles Smith.

Oct 22, 1892, Sacramento County, CA. Laura’s sister Ella Norton Garrett is wed to Eugene Wiener.

By 1894. Stockton, CA perhaps. Laura weds Robert Smith.

Aug 11, 1895, Alameda County, CA. Laura’s daughter Olive L Smith is born.

June 2, 1897, Alameda County, CA. Laura and Robert have their 2nd child, Laura Esther Smith.

Aug 25, 1899, Aberdeen Washington. Laura’s sister Ella weds Frank Dooling.

1900, Oakland, CA. Laura and daughters Olive and Laura E live on 18th Street, boarding with the Bane family, listed as married, occupation book keeper.

Dec 25, 1902, Oakland, CA. Laura’s sister Fannie El Dorado Garrett Smith dies of blood poisoning at the home of their mother Mary in Fruitvale, CA.

Aug 7, 1906, Stockton. Laura weds William Nelson Shannon.

March 31, 1907, Bay area, Raye E Shannon is born to Laura and William. William works around San Francisco at this time.

1910, Stockton, CA. Laura and several of her sisters mention in deed transfer notifications section of the Stockton papers.

Several of the sisters mentioned here, 1910 Stockton Evening Mail

1910, San Miguel, CA. Laura, daughters Olive and Laura E, and son Raye live on L Street, Laura’s husband William may have been in jail at this time.

at this time and for a few years Laura and William Shannon are both mentioned in directories, sometimes at the same address and sometimes not.

1911, Stockton. Laura lives at 1616 Lafayette.

Oct 7, 1911, Stockton, CA. Laura is sued by San Joaquin Valley Bank.

Feb 17, 1912, Stockton, CA. Laura and William make the papers with $1500 mortgage.

1912. Laura’s husband William Nelson Shannon is sent to prison for 2 years for stealing from the Southern Pacific Rail Road station at Peters, CA.

Sept 20 1912, Stockton Daily Record.

1913, Stockton, CA. Laura G Shannon resides at 801 South San Joaquin. Occupation: Grocer

1914, Stockton, CA. Laura G Shannon resides at 1123 East Washington.

1914. Laura’s daughter Olive L Smith attends college at Berkeley.

1914, Laura’s daughter Laura Esther Smith marries Ernest L Michael.

1915, Stockton, CA. Mrs Laura G Shannon resides at 1123 East Washington.

March 11, 1915. Laura struggles with the bills.

Stockton Evening Mail, partial

Spring 1915. Laura’s husband William is released from prison. The family moves to Honcut, Yuba County, CA. He then commits double murder in Marysville, CA by shooting a man and wife in their home while attempting to rob them. This made the papers from May through at least July 1915 as the case dragged on. He was eventually sent to Folsom Prison for life.

May 4, 1915 Stockton Daily Evening Record.

Folsom Prison photo. 1915

1916, Los Angeles. Laura G Shannon lives at 719 Enchandia.

Oct 20, 1917, Oakland, CA. Laura’s half sister Mary Evelyn Garrett Weitz dies.

***1918, Stockton, CA, 4th Precinct, 3rd Ward. Laura Gertrude Shannon of 1123 E Washington registers to vote, Prohibition Party, occupation: housewife. *** Only record I’ve seen that gives her middle name.

Jan 10, 1920, Stockton, Ca. Laura and son Raye board with the Henry family, she works as their housekeeper. She lists herself as a widow.

May 29, 1920, Los Angeles. Laura’s sister Ella marries John Zapf.

Nov 23, 1923, Alameda County, CA. Laura’s half sister Annie Thomas Hillman dies.

1924, Oakland. Laura resides at 715 28th Street. Occupation: dress maker.

1924. Oakland voting precinct no 212. Laura appears on the registered voters list but no affiliation, resides at 715 28th St.

March 3, 1924, Alameda County, CA. Laura’s daughter Laura Esther Michael weds Clyde Jamison.

1924, Berkeley, CA. Laura’s daughter Olive lives at 4634 East 14 st, occupation: seamstress.

March 7, 1925 Laura Gertrude Garrett Shannon dies in San Leandro, CA.