Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 336.

A. N. Garrison [Editor inserted: Abram N. Garrison]

A. N. Garrison is a veteran of the great war of the Rebellion. He was born in Tompkins County, New York, March 26, 1845, the son of John and Sarah (Cooper) Garrison, both natives of New York, the former born in 1820. His grandfather, Abram Garrison, was also born in that State, in Putnam County, his ancestors being among the early settlers of the State. The subject of this sketch was the third of a family of five children. He was reared and educated in that State, and spent some time clerking in a store. The war broke out, the old flag was fired on at Fort Sumter, and the fires of patriotism burned in the hearts of the loyal people of the North. President Lincoln called for volunteers. War meetings were held. Every little town had its company of volunteers, and the larger places more. The fife and the drum could be heard every day. When the strife began Mr. Garrison was only sixteen years old, and, although eager to enter the service, could not on account of his youth. The following August, 1862, when seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Seventh New York Volunteer Infantry. It was in answer to Mr. Lincoln's 300,000 call; and they went forth into the deadly strife singing, "We are coming, Father Abraham, 300,000 more." In a little over a month they were in the battle of Antietam; and the peaceable farmer boy and clerk and student from school had, as by a miracle, been transformed into a hero. Then they were at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and at the battle of Lookout Mountain, and in the great and notable march with General Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. he participated in all the battles that his regiment was in during the last three years of the war, and never received a scratch, nor was sick a day - a noble record for a youth of seventeen. He came in at the grand review at Washington, when the war veterans, crowned with victory and glory, made their triumphant march through the beautiful capital of the great country that their heroism had saved. What a glorious chapter in a man's life was that!

On being mustered out of the service, Mr. Garrison returned to his home and was in the oil regions for a time; and not long after engaged in business in Saginaw, Michigan, four years as a merchant and four years as a dealer in stock and produce. In 1876 he came to the Golden State, and was engaged in farming and stock-raising in Yuba County. While there he was burned out and met with several financial reverses. He is now, 1890, located in Ventura County, four miles east of Hueneme, on an 800-acre ranch, raising barley, hogs, horses and cattle and is very successful. Last year he sold $3,000 worth of stock from the ranch. Everything about the place indicates industry and thrift.

August 11, 1877, Mr. Garrison wedded Miss Mary Bayley. She is a native of Vermont, daughter of George B. Bayley, also of the Green Mountain State. In his political views Mr. Garrison is a Republican.


Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.