My Genealogy Hound

Rev. David Garrison, a well-known and prominent minister of the Baptist Church, and a farmer of Prairie Township, Franklin County, is a native of the State of Georgia, and was born July 13, 1820, the son of Caleb and Rachel (Box) Garrison. The grandfather of our subject, Hezekiah Garrison, was born in South Carolina, and was a descendant of one of five Garrison brothers, who emigrated from England to America in the early history of this country, and located in the colony of Connecticut. These brothers and their descendants took active parts in the early wars of the colonies for the protection and preservation of the Union. Hezekiah Garrison served in the Revolutionary War, and was also in the War of 1812 with his son Caleb; he led an active life, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died about the year 1830. Caleb Garrison, father of our subject, was born in Franklin County, Ga., which was his home until 1850, when he located in Conway, Ark. He held a commission as sergeant in the War of 1812, and was granted land in his native county for his services in that war. He married Rachel Box, a native of South Carolina, and of the eleven children born to their union but two are now living, David and James F., the latter of whom served in the Union army during the late war, and is now a resident of Conway County, Ark. The mother died in 1852, having been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty-nine years, in which church the father had held membership twenty-nine years, and acted as class leader; he died about 1862. In this family of seven sons, two, now deceased, were ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. David Garrison lived in his native State until grown, and in 1841 went to Alabama, where, three years later, he married Mary J. Blasgiam, who was born in Madison County, Ala., in 1827. To Mr. and Mrs. Garrison were born ten children, of whom four still live, viz.: Thomas J., George W., Benjamin F. and Rachel Emily. Those deceased are Jonathan A., James M., Christopher C., William J., Mary A. and Frances. Mrs. Garrison and her daughter are devoted members of the Baptist Church. In 1848 Mr. Garrison removed from Alabama to Lake County, Miss., where he resided until 1855, when he located in Upshur County, Tex., where he engaged in saw-milling and grinding. In 1860 he returned to Pine Bluff, and for one year turned his attention to brick manufacturing, when he again went to Texas, locating in Grayson County. He took an active part in the late war, serving with honor and credit in the Confederate army under Gen. Cooper, until the close of the struggle. In 1865 he removed his family to Franklin County, Ark., locating on the farm where he has ever since resided, and which consists of 270 acres, with 175 acres under cultivation. Mr. Garrison was converted in 1852, and so earnest and enthusiastic was he, that after a hard day’s work on his farm he would devote his evenings to hard study of his Bible, and consequently soon became a minister of the gospel. He took a still more active interest in church work in 1872, and without reward would often travel miles through storm and cold across the country, in order not to disappoint some waiting congregation. He has made many converts, and surely his crown will be bright.