1848 · Antelope Island, Utah
The Fielding Garr Ranch
In 1848, Fielding Garr was entrusted with a monumental task: establish a working ranch on a remote island in the Great Salt Lake. The stone structures he built still stand today.
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A Family Heritage
THE Garr Family
From a small village in Bavaria to the ranches of Antelope Island, this is the story of our family, preserved for the generations who come after us.
✦Illenschwang, Bavaria · 1685✦The Voyage to America · 1732✦Orange County, Virginia✦Antelope Island, Utah · 1848✦Cache Valley · 1856✦The Elkhorn Ranch✦Millville, Utah✦Dr. John Wesley Garr · 1894✦Fielding Garr Ranch✦Illenschwang, Bavaria · 1685✦The Voyage to America · 1732✦Orange County, Virginia✦Antelope Island, Utah · 1848✦Cache Valley · 1856✦The Elkhorn Ranch✦Millville, Utah✦Dr. John Wesley Garr · 1894✦Fielding Garr Ranch
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The Garr family story begins in 1732, when Andreas Gaar and his wife Eve Seidelmann left their home in Illenschwang, Bavaria, and crossed the Atlantic to start a new life in Virginia. From there, the family spread westward through Kentucky and Indiana, and eventually to the wild, beautiful territory of Utah.
Along the way, the Garrs became ranchers, horsemen, community builders, and pioneers. They established one of the oldest ranches in Utah, survived harsh winters on a remote island in the Great Salt Lake, and helped found new communities in Cache Valley.
This site preserves those stories and serves as a place for the Garr family to remember where we came from.
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From the family archives
Our Stories
“The family lineage was meticulously documented, ensuring that the origins of the American Garr family would never be forgotten.”Dr. John Wesley Garr, 1894
Through the centuries
Family Timeline
1732
1732
The Voyage to America
Bavaria → Virginia
Andreas Gaar and his wife Eve Seidelmann emigrate from Bavaria, crossing the Atlantic to begin a new life in the American colonies.
1732
1732
Settlement in Virginia
Orange County, Virginia
The Gaar family settles in Orange County, Virginia, establishing roots that would eventually branch across the entire nation.
1848
1848
Fielding Garr Ranch Established
Antelope Island, Utah
Fielding Garr is tasked by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to establish a ranch on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake to manage church tithing herds.
1848
1848
The Winter of Survival
Antelope Island, Utah
Teenage Abel Weaver Garr and his brother endure a harsh winter alone in a small hut on Antelope Island, caring for the cattle herd, a testament to the family's grit.
1856
1856
Pioneers of Millville
Millville, Utah
John T., William H., Abel W., and Benjamin F. Garr become among the earliest settlers of Millville, Utah, establishing the Elkhorn Ranch in Cache Valley.
1860
1860
The Command Performance
Antelope Island, Utah
The "Garr Boys" are called upon by Brigham Young to demonstrate their expert horsemanship to prominent visitors on Antelope Island, showcasing skills honed through years of ranch life.
1894
1894
Family Genealogy Published
Dr. John Wesley Garr publishes a comprehensive genealogy tracing the family line back to Andreas Gaar, preserving the family history for future generations.
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This site was put together by Dustin Garr to keep the family’s history in one place. Somewhere it can be found, read, and passed along.
Preserving the heritage of the Garr family, from Bavaria to Virginia to the mountains of Utah. A legacy of pioneers, ranchers, and family.
About this project →