William J. M. Garrison & Elizabeth E. A. Roberts

William John Mitchell Garrison and Elmira Elizabeth Ann Roberts were my 3x great-grandparents.

William John Mitchell Garrison

William John Mitchell Garrison, known as "Mitch", was the oldest child of William Claiborne Garrison, Jr and Malinda Minerva Wilson. He was born on 5 May 1831 in Buncombe County, NC. He had no formal education, but according to the 1900 census he was able to read and write. At age 31, Mitch enlisted in the Confederate Army on 8 July 1862, leaving his wife and two-year old daughter behind. He was assigned to the North Carolina 60th Infantry Regiment, Company C, but it appears he did not serve long as he was mustered out on 29 October 1862.

Mitch was a farmer, and spent his life on the family farm in Buncombe County. According to family history (per Ancestry.com user Marjory M Watts), his death came as a result of working in the fields. He apparently had a stroke and was attempting to make it back to his daughter, Mary's, house when he fell off a log footbridge into the creek. He died a few days later on 7 August 1915 due to what the death certificate lists as "sun stroke and complications". He was 84 years old. Mitch is buried beside his wife, Myra, at Mt Zion Methodist Cemetery (now called Jupiter Cemetery) in Jupiter, NC.

Elizabeth Elmira Ann Roberts

Elizabeth Elmira Ann "Myra" Roberts was born on 24 May 1834 to Thomas Osbourn Roberts and Cinthia Fox. Myra had no formal education; she learned to read but was not able to write according to the 1900 census. She was born in Buncombe County, NC and lived there her entire life, moving from her family farm to the Garrison farm when she married William John Mitchell "Mitch" Garrison at the age of 16

Myra died on 3 August 1907 when, according to family historian Janice Black, she was thrown from a buggy due to her horse getting "spooked". She hit her head on a tree stump and was killed. She was 73 years old. She and Mitch had been married 56 years when she died, and she is buried beside Mitch at Mt Zion Methodist Cemetery (now called Jupiter Cemetery) in Jupiter, NC.

The Marriage and Children of Mitch and Myra Garrison

Mitch and Myra Garrison were married on13 February 1851 in Buncombe County, NC. According to the 1900 census, they had eleven children. Sadly, many of these children died in early childhood and have not been identified. The known children of Mitch and Myra Garrison are: Syntha Wilson Catherine, Robert F, James, Mary Elizabeth, Jacob, Absolem Jerome, and Sarah.

Syntha Wilson Catherine "Kate" Garrison was the oldest surviving child of Mitch and Myra Garrison. She was born on 3 May 1860 in Buncombe County, NC. According to family historian, Janice Black, she was named after her grandmother, Cinthia Fox Roberts. Kate married Andrew Thomas Garrison, her first cousin once removed, on 18 Jan 1880. The story passed down orally through the family says Andrew - who had lived in Texas, Iowa, and Missouri - rode into Flat Creek on a big white horse, and Kate was smitten from the moment she saw him. They had three children:

• Andrew, b. October 1880, d. abt 1902
• Edward Ethan, b. 20 August 1882, d. 14 May 1966, married Cora Mae Burnette
• Unidentified child listed on the 1900 census as deceased. 

Kate and Andrew's marriage ended dramatically. Andrew had not told Kate that he had a wife, Emily Frances Stotts, and a child in Missouri. When Andrew left Missouri for North Carolina, Emily had been granted a divorce and remarried, but her new husband was abusive and Emily sent a letter to Andrew asking if his daughter could come live with him in North Carolina. Kate found the letter, discovered what had happened, and threw Andrew out. Andrew then went back to Missouri and eventually to Oklahoma. When Kate and Andrew's son, Andrew, was about 19 years old he went to Oklahoma to see his father. He became ill either on his way home or soon after he got there and died a short time later. Kate never remarried; she listed herself as a widow on census records and lived with her son, Edward, and his family. She also apparently had a close relationship with her brother, Jerry (Absolem Jerome). Kate died of heart failure related to senility on 23 May 1953 at the age of 93. She had lived in Buncombe County, NC her entire life and was buried at Flat Creek Cemetery in Weaverville, NC.

Syntha "Kate" Garrison and Absolem Jerome "Ab"/"Albert Jerry" Garrison (Unknown children)

Robert F. Garrison. Click here for information about Robert.

James Garrison was born in Buncombe County, NC. Information about James and his family is scarce. I have only discovered three documents where James is listed: the censuses in 1870, 1880, and 1900. Each census has a different year of birth; 1869, 1868, and Dec 1865, respectively. James married Adelia Davis in 1887. They had six children:

• Carrie, b. 3 November 1885, d. 4 July 1988 (102 years old!), married Thomas Chester Craigo
• Dora, b. 26 December 1889, d. 18 November 1947, married Ambros Haskin Brock
• Horace William, b. 13 November 1890, d. 25 September 1954, married Bonetia Austin
• Kittie, b. May 1891, d. Unknown
• Zeb, b. August 1894, d. Unknown
• Effie, b. June 1899, d. Unknown. 

James and Adelia's dates of death are unknown.

Mary Elizabeth Garrison was born on 30 June 1872. Like her parents and siblings she lived in Buncombe County and worked as a farmer her whole life. She had an eighth grade education. At age 16, on 8 October, 1888, she married Cornelius Pitzer Black, a railroad worker, son of Montreville Black and Susannah Edmonds Black. (The Garrison, Black, and Edmonds families intermarried frequently during this time period. Buncombe County wasn't exactly a large city with a lot of options. Even today the area where the families lived is very rural and remains unincorporated.) Janice Black, a 2x great-granddaughter of Cornelius, shares this story about their courtship:

"My father, Wilfred F Black used to tell a oral history tale he heard as a boy about Pitt Black [his paternal grandfather] when he was "courting" Mary Elizabeth Garrison.It went this way...... Pitt Black had been coming for a while to "court" Mary Elizabeth. Every time he came the Mitch Garrison family killed and cooked up a chicken. So after while the chickens became alarmed. So every time they saw Pitt coming they would cluck at a high and fast pitched cadence as only chickens could saying "...Pitt Black, Pitt Black, Oh god here comes Pitt Black!" In his telling... the last part was said like a chicken clucking fast and furious...One of the amazing things to me about this story... more than the story itself, were the smiles and chuckling "the telling" of the story evoked from my Dad.... with out fail every time he told it! I could easily imagine how he was remembering the setting and person(s) who had told it to him."

Mary and Cornelius had 16 children of their own and adopted two more after the death of Cornelius's brother in about 1889. Incredibly, all but four of these children survived to adulthood, and thankfully the Black family has preserved their history well enough that in many cases their stories are able to be shared.

• Susan L "Sue", b. 12 July 1889, d. 31 December 1926, married John Sherman Chandler. Sue was named for her paternal grandmother, Susannah Edmonds. She died of pellagra (a disease caused by nutrient deficiency, commonly associated with people whose main source of food energy is from corn/maize) at age 37. Janice Black shared her obituary: 

"Mrs. Sue (Susan) Black Chandler was born to brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. C.P. Black July 12, 1889. At the age of 37 years, 5 months, and 19 days, the death angel came and took her just in time to begin the new year in heaven. In her childhood she was obedient and tried hard to follow the wishes of her parents. As a school girl she studied hard and was loved by all her playmates. At the age of 14 she was converted at Flat Creek Baptist Church and joined herself to Mt. Zion Methodist Church, where she remained until about 5 years ago. Bro. J.M. Pickens baptized her into the fellowship of this Church, where she was a faithful member until God transferred her to the Church triumphant. Her faith in God and love for his Church was two outstanding principles of her life. All who knew her, loved her, and praised her for her sweet disposition. From her girlhood up, she was never known to speak unfriendly words. On February 18, 1914 she was happily married to Bro John Chandler, with whom she walked life's road until death. A journey not without trials, but one of loving and happy companionship. For quite a long time she has been an invalid, but with patience and Christian fortitude, she bore her suffering without a murmur of complaint. She leaves a sorrowing husband, father, mother, 6 brothers, 5 sisters, a devoted mother-in-law, and a host of friends to mourn their loss, but we know it is her eternal gain. Heaven is more sweet to us, as we expect some bright day to clasp her hand on the other side of the river. May the Lord sustain the bereaved ones and may her passing be to them an attraction to draw them to the sunny shore of the bright clime where family ties are never broken. "Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, asyeth the spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them." Written by Mr. E.J. Roberts and Mr. L.H. & Mrs. L.H. Roberts" [deacons of Locust Grove Baptist Church in Buncombe County]

 

Susan "Sue" Black Chandler, Photo Source: Estate of Wilfred F. Black by Janice Black

• Arthur Jerome, b. 24 October 1890, d. 12 August 1931, married Nannie Crowell Garrison (his 2nd cousin once removed, daughter of Jacob Shuffler Garrison and Mollie McKinney). Arthur worked as a guard at the state prison. He died of pneumonia at age 41.
• Annie K., b. March 1892, d. 1902
• Jacob Sylvania, b. 15 December 1892, d. 30 December 1975, married Julia Maude Williams
• William Mont "Will", b. 5 October 1895, d. 17 March 1992, married Ossie Mae "Mamie" Watts. Will was named after his grandfathers, William J.M. Garrison and Montreville Black. He served in the army during World War I, training at Camp Sevier. Will lived to be 96 years old.

William Mont Black - Photo Source: Ancestry.com

William Mont Black in World War I - Photo Source:Ancestry.com

William Mont Black, Ossie Mae "Mamie" Watts Black, Mabel Thelma Black, ca 1921 - Photo Source: Janice Black

William Mont Black and Ossie Mae "Mamie" Watts Black, ca 1980 - Photo Source: Ancestry.com

William Mont Black and Ossie Mae "Mamie" Watts Black, ca 1980 - Photo Source: Ancestry.com

William Mont Black - Photo Source: Ancestry.com and Josephine Bartlett

• Hester Lee "Lela Mae", b. 19 December 1897, d. 15 July 1988, married Lester Tilson Watts
• Robert Clay, b. 20 January 1900, d. 12 September 1971, married Bonnie Allman. Bonnie passed away in 1925 at age 25 due to complications after childbirth (puerperal eclampsia). The baby, a daughter, also passed away. After Bonnie's death, Robert married Ivora Mae Shepherd Maney in 1928.
• Woodfin, b. 1902, d. 1902
• Thelma, b. 30 October 1903, d. 7 January 1919. Thelma died of the flu during the 1918-19 pandemic. She was only 15 years old. According to Janice Black, family historian, "My Grandfather - William Mont Black - several times talked about having to carry her body down a narrow flight of stairs in the log cabin they all lived in. He said, hardly anyone came to the funeral because of the flu - everyone was either sick or afraid to come cause they didn't want to get sick. In honor of his sister - he named his first child and oldest daughter... Mabel Thelma". Thelma wrote the following letter to her brother, William Mont, a little more than one month before she became ill. Will was training at Camp Sevier at the time (World War I). 

"Dear Brother: Wonder what you are doing this morning. Wish you were here. The ground is white with snow. If you were here we would go a rabbit hunting. I think I shall go. Brother, when do you think you will get home. We heard that they were going to turn Camp Sevier loose this week? Do hope they will? Maybe you will get home for Christmas if you don't before. I guess you thought I wasn't going to write anymore but I have been so busy sewing and making the children's clothes that I just haven't had time to write to anyone and then another thing I have been out of paper and couldn't get any one to go to the store. I haven't heard from Lela since you left as we don't know when she is coming home. I wrote and she won't answer so I have just quit. Well brother, you just about to be here. Mamma is having a time trying to keep the kids in the house. Edna is well now but Mamma won't let her out any. Well I guess I can't write anymore this morning for its mail time. Write at once and let us hear from you. So bye, bye. ++++++ Lovingly Thelma

• Alma Gertrude, b. 6 June 1907, d. 29 May 1979, married Fred Rufus Love. Fred Love was a United Methodist Minister.
• Ida Margaret, b. 6 September 1909, d. 16 January 2001, married William Weaver Hunter
• Cornelius Glenn, b. 1 May 1911, d. 2 March 1983, married Katherine Louise Wilson
• Myra Edna, twin of Mary Edith, b. 16 October 1912, d. 9 January 1997, married Robert Noel Rogers
• Mary Edith, twin of Myra Edna, b. 16 October 1912, d. 23 April 1990, married Clarence Farrell Rogers
• James Caryl, twin of Callie, b. 27 January 1914, d. 17 March 1996, married Mary Kate Garrison (his 1st cousin once removed, daughter of Edward Ethan Garrison, granddaughter of Syntha "Kate" Garrison)
• Callie, twin of James Caryl, b. 27 January 1914, d. early 1914

Mary and Cornelius had been married 48 years when Cornelius died of a heart attack on 27 October 1936. Mary was a widow for 28 years before she died of heart disease on 14 September 1964 at the age of 92. Mary and Cornelius are buried together at Locust Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Weaverville, NC.

Cornelius and Mary Black family, ca. 1901 - Front Row left to right: William Mont, Hester Lee "Lela Mae", Jacob Sylvania, Robert Clay - Second Row left to right: Mary Black (sister of Cornelius), Cornelius, Mary Garrison Black (wife of Cornelius) - Third Row left to right: Arthur Jerome, Susan L "Sue", Annie K - Fourth Row left to right: Syntha "Kate" Garrison (sister of Mary Garrison Black), Lattie Cleveland (nephew/adopted son of Cornelius), Janie (niece/adopted daughter of Cornelius) - Photo Source: Estate of Wilfred F. Black by Janice Black

Cornelius and Mary Garrison Black family, ca 1911 - Children left to right: Thelma, Ida Margaret, Myra Edna/Mary Edith, Cornelius Glenn, Myra Edna/Mary Edith, James Caryl (being held), Alma Gertrude - Adults left to right: Mary Elizabeth Garrison Black, Cornelius Pitzer Black, Mary Black (sister of Cornelius) - Photo Source: Estate of Wilfred F. Black by Janice Black

Jacob Garrison was born around 1874. I have found no record of Jacob after the 1880 census.

Absolem Jerome "Ab" or "Albert Jerry" Garrison was born on 22 June 1875 in Buncombe County, NC. According to Janice Black,

"...there is some difference of opinion regarding his first and middle names. I have "Black and Garrison family" records from my Grandfather, William Mont Black (1895-1992) son of Ab's sister Mary Elizabeth Garrison Black; showing his birth name as Absolem Jerome Garrison. He is shown in the 1880 census as Absolem. I recently tried to reconfirm this with my Uncle William Black, age 88. Uncle Bill confirmed that he had always heard and had been taught that his name was Absolem Jerome. He said, he has never heard him called Albert Jerry by any family in the Jupiter area where he was born and raised; and was surprised when I asked him about "Albert Jerry." Uncle Bill saw Uncle Ab alot while he was growing up. He also stated that Mary Elizabeth Garrison Black (wife of CP Black) and sister of Absolem Jerome; named her first son with the middle name of Jerome to honor her closest brother. I know his death certificate says Albert Jerry. He was born in a era when people sometimes changed their "old fashioned" names as detailed government record keeping (like social security numbers) become more prevalent. By 1910, he was showing up in census records as Albert Jerry"

Ab was farmer and, keeping with the family tradition, lived in Buncombe County his entire life. He married his first wife, Minnie Lee Harrison, on 22 December 1895, and they had ten children:

• Jacob Edward "Jake", b. 12 January 1896, d. 26 January 1961, married Irene Buckner and Berta R. Lunsford
• John Mitchell "Johnny", b. 4 July 1899, d. 2 June 1977, married Emma Gibson
• Pauline, b. about 1902, d. Unknown, married W P Stegall and Mr. Lint (first name unknown)
• Minnie Aldine, b. 19 January 1904, d. 22 January 1989, married Ormond Elihue Chambers
• Blake H, b. about 1906, d. before 1970, married Margaret Martucci
• Raymond Charles, b. 23 March 1907, d. 14 February 1941, married Willogene Farmer. The story surrounding Raymond's death is mysterious. According to family history, "Raymond stopped by the small store in Grace on his way home from work at the Enka Corporation to get a coke.  He was merry and joking with everyone as he knew the employees.  A very short time later he was dead.  The death certificate reads he committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest, but no one believed he killed himself."
• Earl A, b. 9 September 1911, d. 7 June 1991, married Jean M. Esposito
• William Thomas "Bill", b. 26 January 1914, d. 29 July 2006, married Laura Louis Morris
• Virginia Lee, b. 21 June 1917, d. after 1970, married Mr. Toal (first name unknown)
• Albert Jerry, Jr., b. 30 July 1924, d. 9 December 1991, never married

Minnie died of a cerebral hemorrhage on 20 January 1927 at the age of 51. Ab married Kate Wright, 19 years his junior, in 1928. They had no children together, and were married for only about six years when Kate died of the measles on 18 May 1934. Ab then married Pearl Dillingham Black on 20 December 1936. Pearl was 18 years younger than Ab and had previously been married to Lattie Cleveland Black, nephew/adopted son of Cornelius Black (Ab's brother-in-law). Ab and Pearl were married for 34 years when Ab died on 27 May 1970. The cause of death on his death certificate is listed as cerebral hemorrhage with a contributing factor of a broken femur. He was 94 years old. Ab is buried at Sluder Cemetery in Asheville, NC.

Sarah Garrison was born around 1880. I have found no record of Sarah after the 1880 census.

Robert F Garrison & Hester Priscilla Edmonds

Robert F Garrison and Hester Priscilla Edmonds were my 2x great-grandparents. Their son, Jacob Fulton Garrison, was my great-grandfather.

Robert F Garrison

Robert F Garrison was the son of William John Mitchell Garrison and Elizabeth Elmira Ann Roberts (for information about "Mitch" and "Myra" Garrison click here). He was born on 1 February 1864 in North Carolina, most likely in Buncombe County. Robert was the third of the seven Garrison children. There is a good chance he was named after his uncle, Robert M Garrison, who was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg eight months before Robert's birth. There are many users on Ancestry.com that list his middle name as Franklin, but I have found no primary sources to confirm anything beyond a middle initial of "F". Robert had no formal education, but according to census records he was able to read and write. By age 16 he was working on the family farm in Buncombe County, NC, and he remained a farmer his entire life.

On 27 December 1882, at age 18, Robert married Hester Priscilla Edmonds in Buncombe County, NC. They had eleven children between 1885 and 1908. Around 1903 the family moved to Rogers County, OK. Census records show that Robert rented a farm and worked the land.

Robert died on 28 May 1913 at the age of 49. He is buried at Dick Duck Cemetery in Catoosa, OK.

Hester Priscilla Edmonds

Hester Priscilla Edmonds was born on 20 August 1866 in Buncombe County, NC to William Riley Edmonds and Sarah Catherine Edmonds (for more information on William and Sarah Edmonds click here). She was the second of four children in the family. Hester was 16 years old when she married Robert Garrison. She gave birth to eleven children, three of which died during childhood. 

One year after Robert's death, Hester married Marcus Y Leach on 29 May 1914. Marcus was 23 years older than Hester. He was the half-brother of Reuben Leach (grandfather of Minerva Leach Garrison, the wife of Hester's son, Jacob). He was also the father of Lola and Robert Leach who were married to Hester's children, William Cleveland Garrison and Mary Eva Garrison. It seems to be a strange match, and it looks as though it did not end well. By 1924, the couple had split up. Marcus Leach was living with his daughter, Lola, and her husband, William (Hester's son). Hester was back in North Carolina with her sons, Columbus and Wesley. Both parties told the 1930 census taker they were widowed.

Hester lived with her son, Wesley, until she died of a stroke at the age of 73 on 11 April 1940. She is buried at Clarks Chapel Cemetery in Weaverville, NC. Her death certificate makes no mention of Marcus Leach - it lists her husband as R.F. Garrison - and the name on her tombstone is Hester Edmonds Garrison.

The Children of Robert & Hester Garrison

 

The children of Robert and Hester Garrison were Elizabeth Sarah, William Cleveland, Charles E, Bennie K, Thomas Claiborne, Laura Mae, Mary Eva, Jacob Fulton, Robert Cornelius, Oliver Columbus, and James Wesley.

Elizabeth Sarah Garrison was born on 20 January 1885 in Buncombe County, NC. She attended school and was able to read and write. In 1904 she married Charles E Morrison in Collin County, TX. Elizabeth and Charles had three children: 

• William R, b. 24 December 1908, d. 24 February 1970
• Binnie, b. 10 February 1912, d. December 1978; married Alphonso McMartin and Cecil Owensby
• Helen, b. 2 October 1919, d. 4 April 1960; married Everett Lindsay and Allen Lee

 It is unknown how Elizabeth's marriage to Charles ended. He disappears from the records after the 1920 census. Between 1920 and 1930 Elizabeth married Albert F. Allen. At the time of the 1930 census they lived in Blackwell, OK. There is no record of Elizabeth after 1930 until a death record in the California Death Index in 1959. The record lists Elizabeth Sarah Crawford, born 20 January 1885, died 27 February 1959 in Los Angeles, mother's surname: Edmonds, father's surname: Garrison. Thus far I have been unable to determine how Elizabeth ended up in California nor the identity of her apparent third husband, Mr Crawford. She was buried at Pacific Crest Cemetery in Redondo Beach, CA. 

William Cleveland Garrison was born on 23 December 1886 in Buncombe County, NC. He had at least five years of formal education, and then he began to work on the family farm. On 7 May 1911, at age 24, William married Lola M. "Lollie" Leach, the daughter of Marcus Y. Leach (William's future stepfather). They two sons:

• Marquis Fulton, b. 25 February 1914, d. 26 March 1989; married Edith M* and Mary G* (*last names unknown)
• Alvin Herbert, b. 9 January 1926, d. 11 December 2005, married Ruthie Marceen Hinman

William trained as a smelter and was working as laborer and smelter by 1918 when he completed his World War I draft registration card. On the card he describes himself as medium height and build with brown eyes and light brown hair. He also mentions a broken hip as a disability. In 1930 the family lived at 8 First Street in Schulter, OK, a home they owned worth $150. William continued his work as a smelter, and in 1942 he was employed by Eagle-Picher Lead Co. according to his World War II draft registration card.

William and Lola lived in Schulter, OK their entire married life. They had been married 52 years when Lola died in 1963. William lived another 18 years and then passed away in 1981 at the age of 94. William and Lola are buried side by side at West Lawn Cemetery in Henryetta, OK. 

 

Charles E Garrison was born in March 1889 in Buncombe County, NC. He attended school, was able to read and write, and worked on the family farm. Charles died in 1911 in Catoosa, OK at the age of 22. He is buried at Dick Duck Cemetery in Catoosa.

Bennie K Garrison was born in April 1891 in Buncombe County, NC and died in 1909 in Catoosa, OK. She was 18 years old. There is no further information known about Bennie, but it is worth noting that Elizabeth Sarah Garrison, had a daughter in 2012 and named her Binnie, perhaps after her late sister. Bennie is buried at Dick Duck Cemetery in Catoosa, OK.

 

Thomas Claiborne Garrison was born on 12 March 1893 in Buncombe County, NC and died on 14 August 1900 at the age of 7. He is buried at Clarks Chapel Cemetery in Weaverville, NC.

 

Laura Mae Garrison was born on 9 July 1895 in Buncombe County, NC and died on 25 August 1896. She was 13 months old. Laura is buried at Clarks Chapel Cemetery in Weaverville, NC.

 

Mary Eva Garrison was born on 29 June 1897 in Buncombe County, NC. Eva had a fifth grade education. She married Robert Leach, son of Marcus Y. Leach, in about 1918. They had three children:

• Mamie, b. about 1918, d. after 1940
• Clarence Elmer, b. 28 October 1919, d. 28 October 2008, married Fannie M Huffman
• Ray Franklin, b. 3 January 1922, d. 20 December 1986, married Margie Canipe 

Interestingly, the family seems to be missing in the 1920 census, but they are listed in the 1930 census as living in Schulter, OK. Robert Leach died on 29 February 1932 at the age of 43. In 1940, Eva is listed on the census with her children. They had moved back to North Carolina, presumably to be near the rest of the Garrison family, and were renting a house in Chadwick-Hoskins for $12 a month. Mamie was working in a bakery, and Clarence and Ray were steel workers. 

Eva died on 10 July 1994 in Charlotte, NC.  She was 97 years old. Eva is buried at Sharon Memorial Park in Charlotte.

 


Jacob Fulton Garrison. Click here for information about Jacob.

Robert Cornelius "Bob" Garrison was born on 9 September 1902 in Buncombe County, NC. When he was a baby the family moved to Rogers County, OK and Bob grew up there. Like his sister, Eva, he is missing from the 1920 census. By 1926, he was back in Buncombe County. He likely returned to North Carolina with his mother when her marriage to Marcus Leach dissolved. Bob married Irene Katherine Edwards on 21 October 1926. Bob was 24 years old, Irene was 17. They had five children:

• Rosa Lee, b. 12 Aug 1927, d. 16 May 2008, married Wayne Lowrey Richardson
• Clara Mae, b. 31 May 1929, d. 16 May 2008, married David Barron
• Robert Thomas "Tom", b. 15 March 1931, d. 9 July 1992, married Ruth Bernice Tucker
• James Gardner "Coach", b. 5 March 1933, d. 3 April 2015, married Joyce Malone
• Paul Killian, b. 8 July 1935, d. 24 August 2007, married Loyce Louis Tucker

Bob and Irene both had an eighth grade education. In 1930, they were living in Reems Creek, NC. Bob worked as a garage mechanic, and they rented a house for $10 a month. Between 1930-1935 they purchased a house worth $300. An interesting fact about Bob...according to his niece, Norma Garrison Jordan, Bob had a glass eye.

Bob died on 20 March 1990 at the age of 87 and is buried at Charlotte Memorial Gardens in Charlotte, NC. Irene lived to be 91 years old. She died on 22 April 2001. Bob and Irene were married for 64 years.

Oliver Columbus Garrison was born on 28 February 1905 in McKinney, TX. He grew up in Catoosa, OK. He had a sixth grade education, and by age 15 he was working as a farm laborer. When his mother's marriage to Marcus Leach broke apart he relocated to North Carolina with her. He is listed in the minutes of the Flat Creek Baptist Church on 7 September 1924 with a group of people who were baptized that day.

On 24 December 1926, Columbus married Mamie Katherine Rice. He was 21 years old; Mamie was 15. They were married for 11 years before their only child was born. Her name was Dorothy Daffine, born 31 January 1937. Dorothy never married and when she passed away on 3 April 1991 at age 54 her home is listed as a nursing home and her burial as "Burial in State". It appears that she may have been disabled and could have become a ward of the state after the deaths of her parents, but admittedly that is speculation on my part. 

Columbus was an iron and steel worker and was employed by Southern Engineering. He and Mamie were married for 50 years before she passed away on 27 December 1976. Columbus passed away on 29 January 1983 at the age of 77. He and Mamie are buried at Sharon Memorial Park in Charlotte, NC.

 

James Wesley Garrison was born on 22 December 1908 in Rogers County, OK. In the first four years of his life he experienced the death of his sister, Bennie, his brother, Charles, and his father. In 1920, at age 11, he was living with his mother and stepfather, Marcus Leach, and was attending school. Four years later he had moved with his mother and brothers to North Carolina. He was part of the group referenced above that was baptized on 7 September 1924 at  Flat Creek Baptist Church. 

Wesley married Orla Delitha Willis on 5 January 1927. He was 18; she was 19. Their first child was born later that year. They had three children in total:

• Lorraine Elizabeth, b. 9 Nov 1927, d. 19 May 2001, married Charles Ray Black
• Thelma Marie, b. August 1930, d. 9 July 1931
• Alma Maybelle, b. abt 1934, married Louis Ervan Outlaw (Date of death is unknown; Alma may still be alive at the time this post was written) 

It seems tragedy was fond of Wesley. His second daughter, Thelma, died at 11 months old of tuberculosis. His wife died of the same disease on 20 April 1935, shortly after their daughter, Alma, was born. Orla was 27 years old when she died.

A few months after Orla died Wesley married Sarah Anna Cochran on 5 February 1936. Wesley was employed as a steelworker at Southern Engineering (just like his brother, Columbus), and Sarah worked as a packer at a wholesale candy store. Wesley and Sarah had no children.

Wesley died of a heart attack on 27 January 1958. He was 49 years old. He was buried at Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Mecklenburg County, NC. His wife, Sarah, remarried in 1964 to a man named James Harold Belk. Sarah passed away on 19 August 1996. She is buried at Prospect United Methodist Church Cemetery in Monroe, NC.  

 

Read Next:  
William John Mitchell Garrison and Elizabeth Elmira Ann Roberts
William Riley Edmonds and Sarah Catherine Edmonds

Jacob Fulton Garrison & Minerva Leach

Jacob Fulton Garrison and Minerva Leach were my great-grandparents. Their daughter, Norma, is my grandmother; her siblings are my great-aunts and uncles. NOTE: Information about living people has been omitted (with the exception of easily accessible public records) due to privacy considerations.

Jacob Fulton Garrison

Jacob Fulton Garrison was born on 7 January 1900 in North Carolina. He was the son of Robert F Garrison and Hester Priscilla Edmonds; he was the eighth of eleven children. (To read more about Robert Garrison and Hester Edmonds, click here.) The overwhelming majority of the Garrison family lived in northwestern North Carolina and had been there for generations. Robert and Hester Garrison, however, chose to move their family westward in about 1903. They eventually settled in Rogers County, OK, and Jacob grew up there. He did not have a full education - he only attended school through fourth grade - but that was not uncommon for that time period in that region of the country. At age 18 he was working as a farm laborer in Catoosa, OK. His World War I draft registration card lists him as medium height with dark hair and dark eyes.

By the age of 30 Jacob was working as a railroad laborer. In 1935, the family moved from Catoosa, OK to Altus, OK where Jacob worked as a railroad station foreman. He and Minerva attended the Church of Christ in Altus. Jacob outlived all but two of his siblings. He died of cancer on 26 October 1986 at the age of 86, and is buried at Restlawn Memorial Park in Altus, OK.

Minerva Leach

Minerva Leach was born on 23 December 1903 in Arkansas. She was the daughter of John W Leach and Alice Lee Beach and was the youngest of four children. Her adopted brother, Arnold, was born much later, in 1918. (To read more about John Leach and Alice Beach click here.) Minerva grew up in Catoosa, OK. She had an eighth grade education. There is very little information known about Minerva's family before she married Jacob Garrison. Minerva died on 23 February 1988 and is buried with her husband at Restlawn Memorial Park in Altus, OK.

Marriage and Children of Jacob & Minerva Garrison

Jacob Fulton Garrison and Minerva Leach were married on 21 May 1921 at the First Baptist Church in Claremore, OK. Jacob was 21 years old; Minerva was 17.

Jacob and Minerva had eight children: Alice Priscilla, William Jake, Margie Bell, Thomas Stanley Fulton, John Willard, Betty Lou, Norma Jean, and Jacob Sterling.

Alice Priscilla Garrison was born on 1 Mar 1922 in Catoosa, OK. She was married to George Clifton Cantrell from 26 December 1941 until his death on 15 June 1989. They had one daughter, Cheryl, born in 1950. In 2005 Alice married Robert Frank Lovely and remained married until his death on 6 March 2016. The following information is from Alice's obituary:

"Alice was born March 1, 1922, in Catoosa, Oklahoma, to Jake and Minerva Garrison. She was the oldest of their eight children. The family lived through the hardship of The Great Depression losing two children in early childhood. One year the family lived in a one room log cabin built by her father on an acre of rented land. Despite having only bran and molasses to eat for a year, they shared their home and meals with others less fortunate than they. Alice became a surrogate mother to her siblings while her mother tended the farm and her father worked for the railroad. The family moved to Altus, Oklahoma, when Alice was twelve. She graduated from Altus High School in 1940 as the Salutatorian. She attended college in Altus for two years. During WWII she and her husband moved to Washington D.C. where she worked for the State Department in the code breaking department. After the war they moved to Oklahoma City where Cheryl was born. Alice worked in the Insurance Industry for fifty years, rising to a management position and retiring at age seventy-five. She was respected as a highly competent employee and was well liked by her many friends and colleagues, with whom she stayed in contact after retirement. Alice and Cheryl were Charter members of the Memorial Christian Church. Alice attended church regularly for more than sixty years, serving as an Elder and on many standing committees. It was on one of the Church committees that Alice met Robert "Bob" Lovely. Alice and Bob married in 2005, both in their eighties. They both remained active and independent in their home for ten years. Alice described these years as the happiest of her life. Bob and Alice were consistently kind, generous and welcoming to their extended families. Alice loved bowling, belonged to many leagues over a fifty year period, bowled a game of over 200 only two years ago, and had many bowling buddies. She had planned to return to her bowling league next month. She was an accomplished gardener; this year's yard was as lovely as any."

Alice died peacefully at her home in Oklahoma City, OK on 23 August 2016 at the age of 94. She was buried at Rose Hill Burial Park in Oklahoma City.

William Jake "Willie" Garrison was born in Catoosa, OK on 3 March 1924 and died of pneumonia on 3 January 1927.

Margie Bell Garrison was born on 8 November 1925 in Catoosa, OK. She married Richard Stewart in Crawford County, Arkansas on 12 Nov 1949. They had three children: Carolyn, Richard, and Norma Lou. Richard was an alcoholic and was abusive. While Margie was pregnant with Norma Lou, Richard kicked her in the stomach. Norma Lou was born with cerebral palsy and was mentally handicapped; she lived in an institution for most of her life. She was named for Margie's younger sisters, Norma and Betty Lou. Margie left Richard soon after Norma Lou was born. In 1956 she married Wilburn Phillip "Buck" Birdwell. They lived in Snyder, OK and were happily married until he died on 27 May 2004. They had one child together, Lynda. According to Margie's obituary, "she walked everywhere she went and never learned to drive. She enjoyed her family, playing card games, and working word search puzzles. She was a homemaker and a member of Southside Baptist Church in Snyder." Margie died on 12 July 2014 in Snyder, OK at the age of 88, and was buried at Rogers Cemetery in Tillman County, OK.

Thomas Stanley Fulton "Tommy" Garrison was born on 27 November 1927 in Catoosa, OK. In 1946, at age 18, Tommy enlisted in the US Army and served for eighteen months including time at the Panama Canal. After his military service Tommy married Gaynell Adams in Lawton, OK. They had a daughter, Brenda. Tommy and Gaynell lived in Altus, OK until Tommy's death on 2 September 2006. He is buried at Altus Cemetery in Altus.

John Willard "Johnny" Garrison was born on 11 October 1930 in Catoosa, OK. He married Laqueta McCracken on 9 August 1953, and they had two children: Sheila and John Glen. Laqueta died on 3 August 2011, and Sheila died on 1 March 2016. At the time of writing, Johnny was living in Burleson, TX.

Betty Lou Garrison was born on 14 January 1932 in Catoosa, OK. She graduated from Cyril High School and married Bill R Gibson in 1951. Betty and Bill lived in Lindsay, OK and had four children: Billy Keith, Lanette, Barbara, and Janette. Bill passed away on 9 January 1991, and on 18 March 1992 Betty married Neal VanHooser. They also lived in Lindsay, OK until Betty's death due to multiple myeloma on 8 January 2007. Betty was a member of the Church of Christ and loved to serve others. Even during her fight with cancer she was known for being in the kitchen cooking meals and saying "people are sick and need food". Betty enjoyed bowling, playing the piano, and spending time with her family. She was ruthless when it came to Skip-bo. Betty was buried at Green Hill Cemetery in McClain County, OK.

Norma Jean Garrison was born on 22 October 1933. She married Jake Jordan on 2 May 1953, and they had three sons: Paul, Royce, and Brent. Jake passed away on 14 March 2012. At the time of writing, Norma was living in Mesquite, TX.

Jacob Sterling "Jakie" Garrison was born on 8 June 1935 in Altus, OK and died on 10 November 1935. His exact cause of death is unknown. His sister, Norma, said she remembers her mother saying Jakie "couldn't cry" and Norma has always assumed there was a problem with his lungs. Although Jakie died in Altus, OK he was taken back to Catoosa, OK to be buried with other family members according to Norma.

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List of Garrison siblings written Norma Garrison Jordan