Lauritz Nielsen Garff was born in Eskebjerg, Holbaek, Denmark on 13 Jan 1853, being a lad of 4 when his family left that native land for the frontiers of America. In America he would be known as Louis. A pioneer, he would live a full life before his death, at the early age of 49.
An astute businessman, he commanded several properties in Lehi, where he made his home, as well as sharing several ventures with his brothers, as indicated in the Garff Brothers' Sanitary Market. Louis also made a name for himself.
Active in the community, which certainly included the LDS church, the politics as well as the business, he was well liked and highly regarded by his peers.
Louis was among early LDS Missionaries entering Mexico in 1875 who, as noted in LDS Church News, reported optimistically on prospects for church activity and growth. Among others, Louis taught the missionary lessons to the Papago Indians in the Arizona/Mexico border area, where he recorded enjoying abundant fruit from his labor. He also told of hostility toward himself and his companions which included being stoned by mobsters.
When he had returned to Utah Louis began his business career in earnest. He started in the mercantile business as early as 1885 and expanded to such entities as the Garff Opera House which opened in 1887 with a gala, attended by approximately 200 couples on Christmas Eve. This two-story building on Main Street had the Garff's Hall in the upper level while the ground floor boasted a complete stock of dry goods, grocery, stoves, clothing and furnishings. Advertisements claimed safe refrigerated meat, which unfortunately became contaminated when the Arctic-Ice machinery leaked coolant into the food storage area.
Louis had a fine home on Main Street which was later incorporated into the Wing Mortuary.
Louis served on the Lehi City Council in 1891 and 1892, and was a long time teacher in Lehi Sunday School, where he assisted with the Theological classes. A tribute was presented by that program when he passed away, calling him 'a very efficient and faithful teacher...exceptionally well read' in church doctrine.
Louis' health made it difficult for him to continue his business activity after the turn of the century. Financial concerns also took their toll. He died 21 July 1902; his wife Amelia Bromley followed him in 1908.
Louis and Amelia married in 1890 and had five children, Erma Rosina G Cook, Mary G Featherstone, Louis B Garff, Cora G Wilson and Niels O Garff. Louis and Amelia are buried in the Lehi City Cemetery.
Decan Westmoreland Garff finds his birth reported in many accounts of Mormon immigration. We are fortunate to have a part of his story as our own. His birth was recorded in the ship's reports as 3 May 1857, Lat 46 45", Long 26 23". This being upon the Atlantic Ocean, for a tangible idea of his first abode, the LDS Museum in Salt Lake City has a display of the common ship accommodations at the time.
Decan lived near his brothers. He is found in Springville, Utah at the time of the 1880 federal census where he is listed as a brick maker. He was single at that time and no marriage records have come to notice at this point.
Many family records show Decan's death as September 15, 1886. Place of burial continues to elude this writer.
