Charles Crain Garr was born on October 24, 1884 to parents Charles Russell Garr and Sallie Rebecca Crain Garr. He was the first child for the couple, and would later be joined by a brother, Clyde Lewis Garr. Charles attended local schools for his early education, before starting at Vanderbilt University when he was just 16 years old. He decided to follow in his father's footsteps and become a doctor, getting his medical degree from Hospital College of Medicine in Louisville, just as his father had. When it came time to start his career, Charles settled in Lexington, Kentucky, where he first went into medical practice.
When World War I started, Charles answered his country's call, and joined the Barrow Unit. This was a unique military unit based out of Lexington, Kentucky and made up of doctors primarily from Kentucky. After training in Oglethorpe, Georgia and doing a surgery course in New Orleans, Charles was ready to be deployed. He first went to England, where members of the Barrow Unit helped to run a hospital. Later in the war, he was sent to France, and it was from there that he returned home. Throughout his time in the war, Charles rose to the rank of Captain.
After returning from the war, Charles went back to practicing medicine in Lexington. This was most likely where he met Elisabeth Higgins Headley , whom he married in 1921. Together the couple had two daughters, Elisabeth "Betty" Headley Garr and Charlotte Russell Garr. Throughout his life, Charles continued to practice medicine, specializing in orthopedic surgery; he was a leader in this field in the state of Kentucky, being the third orthopedic surgeon in the state and the first in Lexington. He served as the chief surgeon for the Cheasapeake and Ohio Railroad, and was a part of the founding of the Lexington Clinic. Charles took a special interest in helping children with physical disabilities, especially from rural areas where health care was still limited in the early decades of the 20th century, such as his native Fleming County, and Eastern Kentucky. Charles often helped to get children to Lexington to undergo surgery, and gave them a place to stay afterwards. After a long life spent in service of others, Charles passed away on July 28, 1957 at the age of 72 in Lexington. He is buried in the Lexington Cemetery.
Documents
Correspondence
1920 from Boston requesting to see her when he returns to Lexington, 1922 from Boston where he is attending a medical conference put on by Harvard Medical school, 1924 from Rochester, Minnesota where he was attending a medical event, 1925 from Lexington while Betsy is visiting her sister Fanny in Houston, 1928 letter from Minnesota where he is attending a medical event and comments on the stock market, 1929 these are all from Lexington while Betsy is in a hospital recuperating in Baltimore they include all the activities at home and news about the children along with comments on the sale of Elsemere Park and the stock market, 1940 from Lexington while Betsy is attending Frances Carter Carruth (Kerr)'s wedding in Houston (60 letters)
1903 postcard from Atlantic City, 1916 a letter from W. B. McClure concerns Lexington news and a check,1918 letters from friends in the states and a few letters from one of the girls he sees while he's at the Base hospital in England, 1919 letter from the office of the army surgeon general thanking him for his service, 1933 a couple birthday cards, 1943 funny letter with a photograph of Dr. Garr and his friends playing golf, 1949 pamphlets and newsletters from the Federal Council of Churches (17 letters)
Photographs
