The Peffley, Peffly, Pefley Families in America, A historical and genealogical record of the Peffley, Peffly and Pefley families from 1729-1938; Published in 1938, By May Miller Frost and Clarence Earl Frost

Call Number: R929.2 P375

476 - JOHN GARST JR. (son of No.443) married in Roanoke Co., Va., Aug. 14th, 1856 MARTHA SMITH, born at Mason's Cove, Botetourt Co., Va., (now Roanoke Co.) Sept. 10th, 1832, died Oct. 12th, 1891 (dau. of ABSALOM (II) and MARTHA (Garwood) SMITH). Both are buried at East Hill Cemetery, Salem, Va.

John Garst Jr., was educated in a subscription school known as a "fields school". He was a farmer, miller, active in politics, and was known as the "Green Ridge Lawyer" and called Squire Garst. Justice of the Peace. Served in the Civil War in Co. F. 22nd Va. Vol. He entered the service at the outbreak of the war and served until his health gave out. Then he was returned home and served as enrolling officer.

The home of John Garst is on a farm of 1800 acres, most of it mountain land bought for its valuable hardwood timber. The house is located three miles north of Salem, one quarter mile west of Hanging Rock on the banks of Mason Creek. It was built about 1856. It is 75 feet long, two stories high and contains 12 rooms. It has three front doors with a porch running the entire distance along the front of the building, which faces Mason's Creek and the bluff across the stream. U. S. Highway No. 311 is about ten feet from the edge of the porch. The only battle fought in Roanoke Co., during the Civil War was fought near this old house June 21st, 1864. The Union Troops, 20,000, were camped at Salem and had left on their way to West Virginia. Gen. Early who was camped two miles east of Salem sent an advance party to attack the Union Troops, the skirmish taking place on the bluff across the creek. The house has several bullet holes in it as mute reminder of those grim days.

All the lumber in the house was cut in the water power mill, known as the "Mountain Mill" just across the road from the house. All the doors and windows are hand made. John Garst Sr. had two sawmills on Mason's Creek, the first one two miles below the house where he had a grist mill in connection with it. The Mountain Mill was located in a fine body of hardwood. The dam seven feet high stored the water for power. In this mill were cut tobacco boxes, hauled to Lynchburg to be used in packing tobacco. Both mills were washed away, one in 1878 the other in 1898.

At one time John Jr. used the house as a tavern and kept travellers who were passing through on the old road. At the rear of the house is one of the old out-door ovens used so much in the early days. This is the only one left in Roanoke Co.

The Garst sisters have many old relics, one a large walnut chest that Frederick Garst Sr., brought from Pennsylvania. It was made in Germany; a set of candle molds, a snuffer, and a wooden lemon squeezer; also the old loom used by Martha Smith Garst to make cloth; an old book-case and corner cupboard; an old porcelain jug brought from Penna., over 100 years ago. It is made in the shape of a Colonial figure with a tri-cornered hat, from which the liquid is poured.

One of the remarkable pieces of furniture is a solid cherry desk. It is about four feet high and two feet deep. The leaf lets down and exposes an array of small drawers. Below are several larger drawers. The lumber was sawed at the "Mountain Mill" by John Garst Sr. From this lumber he had a desk made for each one of his children.

Another old treasure is a law book in old English type and spelling, printed in New York in 1788. Other old books with memories of the past are the sccount books of John Garst Sr., dated from 1834 on. In them are recorded many names connected with the Peffley family in this history.

Issue: All born in Roanoke Co., Va.

1 - LULU JOSEPHINE GARST, b. 5-29-1858, d. 3-29-1924, St. Petersburg, Fla.
2 - ANNIE WELDON GARST, b. 9-18-1860, d. 12-12-1920, single. Buried at East Hill Cemetery, Salem, Va.
3 - GEORGE WOODSON GARST, b. 1-4-1865.
4 - JOHN GARST (III), died young.
5 - HENRY GARST, died in infancy.
6 - MATTIE CHRISTINE GARST.
7 - MINNIE BRUCE GARST.
8 - MAY TAYLOR GARST.