My Genealogy Hound

Aaron Garretson, a retired farmer of Hurricane Township, Franklin County, was born in Sumner County, Tenn., April 10, 1816, and is a son of Mason and Elizabeth (Hartin) Garretson. His ancestors were early settlers and leading farmers of Carolina, and the grandfather, who served in the Revolutionary War when young, died in 1824. Mason Garretson was born in Carolina in 1782, and located in Sumner County, Tenn., in 1805. He was in Carroll’s brigade in the War of 1812, and fought in the battle of New Orleans. He removed to Giles County, Tenn., in 1818, where he engaged in farming until 1832, when he settled in Philips County, Ark. In 1807 Mason Garretson married Elizabeth, daughter of James Hartin. She was a native of Ireland, and of their eight children but two now survive: Aaron and a daughter, who is now Mrs. Martha A. Howell, of Dardanelle, Ark. Of the two sons, John and David, who served in the late Civil War, the latter died in the service of his country. Mason Garretson, who was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church, died December 30, 1838, his wife having died the previous October 3. Aaron Garretson was sixteen years of age when his parents located in Phillips County, Ark., where he received the greater part of his education, and remained until 1838. Having learned the carpenter’s trade he then settled in Jefferson County, where he lived until 1844, in which year he moved to Yell County, Ark., where he continued at his trade several years. In 1849 he settled on Grand Prairie, now Franklin County, where he engaged in milling and farming until 1879, when he removed to his present farm. In 1839 Aaron Garretson married Martha Holland, daughter of Nehemiah Holland, of Phillips County. Mrs. Garretson died in February, 1846, leaving three children, John, Nehemiah and Mary, now the wife of James V. King. January 22, 1850, Mr. Garretson married Catherine Evens, who was born May 18, 1815, and is a daughter of William Evens. To them were born five children, viz.: William, Henry D., Charles, Martha A. (now the wife of W. F. Southard), and Amanda (who married Dr. J. N. Sipe, of Brownville, Ark.). Aaron Garretson is not a member of any church, and in political preference is Democratic. Henry D. Garretson was born in Franklin County, Ark., October 11, 1857, receiving his education at Booneville and Charleston. In January, 1881, he married Rosa, daughter of John Benner, of Madison County, Ill. Their three children are Walter B., William H. and Anna K. Mr. G. is an enterprising farmer and stock raiser of this county. His wife came here with her parents from St. Louis in 1876.