BIO: Israel GARRETSON, Butler Township, Adams County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/adams/ _______________________________________________ History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1886 _______________________________________________ Part III, History of Adams County, Pages 382-383 ISRAEL GARRETSON, farmer and breeder of fine stock, P.O. Bigler, was born in York County, Penn., in 1830, where he was reared to the pursuits of the farm. Being of a studious disposition he made the best possible use of his school days, acquired a good practical education, and at the age of nineteen years began teaching school, successfully teaching ten terms. He then began farming in a small way, and by dint of perseverance and intelligent application widened his knowledge of agriculture, soon becoming regarded as an authority on all matters pertaining to that pursuit. He remained in his native county until 1868, when he bought and settled on his present farm, which then contained 106 acres. He subsequently purchased eighty-four acres, and is now the largest and most successful grain and stock dealer in Butler Township. His farm is a model of neatness and convenience, and his improvements are modern and durable. His stock is selected with great care from those breeds which experience has proved to be the most profitable. In horses, the Percheron is his favorite; in neat cattle he keeps the Jerseys and Guernseys, and the herd consists of magnificent animals; and in sheep, the Southdowns and Hampshire Downs, they being excellent wool producers, hardy and capable of taking on flesh rapidly. Mr. Garretson is a member of the State Board of Agriculture, and is now (1886) serving his second term in office. He has served on a number of important committees; was appointed chairman of the committee on farm implements and machinery, and has been a leading member of the County Agricultural Society for many years. As an exhibitor he has no superior. He is also a life-member of the York County Agricultural Society. Having briefly sketched his tact and capacity in the discharge of business, it will in no sense be irrelevant to make a few statements regarding his moral and Christian worth as a citizen. The avowed enemy to the popular vices of the day, Mr. Garretson fearlessly condemns them, and by word and deed sets such examples as are worthy of imitation. “Be ye therefore temperate in all things” has been his motto through life. A slave to no habit, addicted to no vices, and free from the restraint of all compromising attitudes where honor and Christian virtues are concerned, he is all the more potent as an advocate of reform, the more powerful as an opponent in the suppression of evil. Fearless to advocate the right, to him more than to any other one belongs the credit of having caused the overthrow of King Alcohol in his vicinity. He met the petition of the drinkers in open court at different times with a remonstrance signed by many worthy citizens whom he personally solicited. His example in this respect has since been followed by others closing the doors of the drinking houses. October 20, 1859, he married Rachel, a daughter of Thomas and Jane Garretson, of York County. Our subject and wife have three children: Jacob B., Eli and Israel R. The entire family are members of the Society of Friends. Mr. Garretson holds, as one of the trustees, the property of this society in York County, which aggregates considerable value; also the records of the first monthly meetings of Warrington and Newberry (Penn.) Meetings, beginning in 1747 and ending in 1856. He has also the records of the Friends Society of Menallen particular meeting, and records of births and deaths of many members of the Warrington and Newberry Monthly Meetings. His father, Israel Garretson, was born May 7, 1798, and died June 20, 1880. His mother, Ruth (Walker) Garretson, was born December 25, 1804, and died February 6, 1880, and her children by Mr. Garretson were Jacob, born April 4, 1826; Lydia, Born April 4, 1828; Israel, born July 25, 1830; Ruth A., born January 28, 1833; Mary, born January 6, 1836; Martha, born July 8, 1839; Robert N., born October 31, 1842, died April 7, 1846, and Maria, born June 7, 1845. Thomas Garretson, the father of the present Mrs. Israel Garretson, was born January 20, 1788, and died January 25, 1862. His first wife, Susannah Cleaver, was the mother of Isaac, born April 27, 1816, died May 7, 1816, and his mother died May 4, 1816. Thomas Garretson was next married to Mrs. Jane (Hoopes) Warner, the widow of William Warner, by whom she had Mary, born January 18, 1816, died October 10, 1821. Jane (Hoopes) Warner was born February 17, 1790, and died January 27, 1859. The children of Thomas Garretson by his second marriage were Julia A., born October 14, 1818, died September 19, 1823; Sarah, born October 21, 1820, died February 23, 1853; Eliza J., born November 23, 1825, died April 11, 1848; Rachel, born September 18, 1827; Eli B., born September 2, 1830, died April 10, 1859; Alfred, born July 13, 1833, died August 14, 1847.