Abel Weaver Garr: The Fastest Rider in the Rescue — He Galloped Into Camp and the Martin Company Wept

Abel Weaver Garr (December 11, 1833 – 1899) was born in Indiana, the eighth of twelve children of Fielding Garr, who developed a cattle and horse ranch on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake. Abel and his brothers became exceptionally skilled horsemen, raising some of the fastest horses in the territory.

It was precisely these skills — exceptional horsemanship on strong, fast animals — that made him indispensable to the handcart rescue.

In October 1856, Garr joined the first rescue group under Captain George D. Grant and William Kimball. When conditions worsened and the pace of the supply wagons became too slow, Grant's party split: Garr, Joseph Young, and Cyrus Wheelock were sent ahead on the fastest horses to find the companies and bring news of relief.

On October 19, they found the Willie Company. William Kimball stayed to nurse them toward Utah while Grant and others — including Garr — pushed on toward Devil's Gate to find the Martin Company. After a week with no sign of them, Grant sent Garr, Joseph Young, and Daniel W. Jones ahead on saddle horses with packed mules — their last attempt to find the missing company before turning back.

On October 28, they rode into Red Bluff and found the Martin and Hodgett Companies — stranded in snow, 56 already dead. Isaac Wardle recorded: 'The 28th of October was the red letter day to this handcart expedition. On that memorable day Joseph A. Young, Daniel W. Jones and Abel Garr galloped unexpectedly into camp amid the cheers and tears and smiles and laughter of the emigrants.'

On November 3, Captain Grant dispatched Garr and Joseph Young to ride hard back to Salt Lake City with his dispatch to Brigham Young, reporting the desperate condition of the Martin Company. They carried the message that changed everything: that the survivors needed immediate, massive relief.

In later life, Abel Garr rarely spoke of his rescue experience. He was known in his community for regularly bringing packages of freshly slaughtered beef to neighbors in need. His grandson said he governed his whole life by the principle: 'No one should ever go hungry.'