Garrett married Eliza Clark in 1825 and moved to Chicago from New York in 1834. He had a small auction house near the Chicago River and by the following year had formed a partnership with the Brown Brothers, which allowed him to become a leading land speculator and auctioneer. By October 1836, he had sales of more than $1.8 million.
Elected mayor in 1943, he won re-election in 1844 only to have the election invalidated.
Following his death, Eliza established the Garrett Bible Institute in nearby Evanston, Illinois.
Invalidated Second Inaugural Address (http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/mayors/speeches/garret44.html) Third Inaugural Address (http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/mayors/speeches/garret45.html)