Biography of David Garrison, Franklin Co, AR

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        Date: 16 Aug 1998
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SOURCE: History of Benton, Washington, Carroll, Madison, Crawford,
Franklin, and Sebastian Counties, Arkansas. Chicago: The Goodspeed
Publishing Co., 1889.

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 [p.1240]
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.