Ventura County
Biographies
A. N. Garrison
A. N. Garrison is a veteran of the great war of the Rebellion. He was born in Tompkins County, New York, March 26, 1845, the son of John and Sarah (Cooper) Garrison, both natives of New York, the former born in 1820. His grandfather, Abram Garrison, was also born in that State, in Putnam County, his ancestors being among the early settlers of the State. The subject of this sketch was the third of a family of five children. He was reared and educated in that State, and spent some time clerking in a store. The war broke out, the old flag was fired on at Fort Sumter, and the fires of patriotism burned in the hearts of the loyal people of the North. President Lincoln called for volunteers. War meetings were held. Every little town had its company of volunteers, and the larger places more. The fife and the drum could be heard every day. When the strife began Mr. Garrison was only sixteen years old, and, although eager to enter the service, could not on account of his youth. The following August, 1862, when seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Seventh New York Volunteer Infantry. It was in answer to Mr. Lincoln's 300,000 call; and they went forth into the deadly strife singing, "We are coming, Father Abraham, 300,000 more." In a little over a month they were in the battle of Antietam; and the peaceable farmer boy and clerk and student from school had, as by a miracle, been transformed into a hero. Then they were at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and at the battle of Lookout Mountain, and in the great and notable march with General Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. he participated in all the battles that his regiment was in during the last three years of the war, and never received a scratch, nor was sick a day - a noble record for a youth of seventeen. He came in at the grand review at Washington, when the war veterans, crowned with victory and glory, made their triumphant march through the beautiful capital of the great country that their heroism had saved. What a glorious chapter in a man's life was that!
On being mustered out of the service, Mr. Garrison returned to his home and was in the oil regions for a time; and not long after engaged in business in Saginaw, Michigan, four years as a merchant and four years as a dealer in stock and produce. In 1876 he came to the Golden State, and was engaged in farming and stock-raising in Yuba County. While there he was burned out and met with several financial reverses. He is now, 1890, located in Ventura County, four miles east of Hueneme, on an 800-acre ranch, raising barley, hogs, horses and cattle and is very successful. Last year he sold $3,000 worth of stock from the ranch. Everything about the place indicates industry and thrift.
August 11, 1877, Mr. Garrison wedded Miss Mary Bayley. She is a native of Vermont, daughter of George B. Bayley, also of the Green Mountain State. In his political views Mr. Garrison is a Republican.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 336 Transcribed by Sandy Neder
Waite Gerry
Waite Gerry came to Ventura in September, 1873. He was born in New York in 1824, the son of Euroclydon and Pauline (Avery) Gerry, the former a native of Hatfield, Massachusetts, and the latter of New York. His grandfather's name was Nathan Gerry. His maternal ancestors were English and Welsh, and one of them, Benjamin Waite, was the hero of Hatfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Gerry's parents had two children, a daughter and son, the former being now the wife of Mr. Burr, of New York. Mr. Gerry received a common-school education and completed his studies in Williston Seminary, Massachusetts. The principal part of his life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, but for a time he resided in Pennsylvania, where he ran a sawmill and conducted a store. He also spent some time in Indiana. In 1864 he crossed the plains with Major Bridge, and after returning he emigrated to Cass County, Missouri. Having a love for pioneer life, he continued his way westward, and engaged in mining in Utah, and after returning from this trip he came to California in 1872. For a time he was employed in Oakland, after which he came to Southern California and worked at Los Angeles for the telegraph company. From Los Angeles he went to San Bernardino, and from there he made an overland trip to Reno, Nevada, to see the country.
In 1873 Mr. Gerry sent for his family to come to Ventura County, where he had rented a farm from Mr. William Collins. On this ranch of 550 acres they lived a year and were very successful. The next year he removed to Saticoy, leaving his family in Ventura, where they had built a home on a lot he purchased. Mr. Gerry engaged in farming, in company with J. L. Starr, in Aliso Canon, and also kept a small apiary. In 1880 he purchased seventy-five acres of choice land at $22 per acre. On this property he has built a good house, planted trees, and the place has become valuable, being rated at $200 per acre. The principal crop raised on this ranch is beans, but it also produces corn and fruits. The land yields 3,500 pounds of shelled corn to the acre, and as high as 2,500 pounds of beans per acre.
Mr. Gerry was married in 1850 to Miss Ester Craig, who was born in Pennsylvania, May 12, 1827. Her father, John Craig, was a native of Russia; came to America in 1817, and settled near Scranton, Pennsylvania. Mr. Gerry's family consists of six children, four daughters and two sons, namely: Mary E., born in New York, September 2, 1851, and is now the wife of J. L. Stone, of Los Angeles; Eva P., born in Pennsylvania, April 5, 1854, wedded Mr. A. Everett, of Saticoy; Isabell G., born in New York, February 17, 1857, now the wife of J. S. Collins, of Ventura; Lacetta H., born in Indiana, April 24, 1861, now the wife of George E. Preble, of Tustin City, Orange County, California; Ellsworth E., born February 4, 1863, in Indiana, is now renting the home ranch; Edmund W., born April 2, 1868, in Missouri. Mrs. Gerry and the family, save one, are all members of the Presbyterian Church. Ellsworth and Edmund are members of the Y.M.C.A. Mr. Gerry has been a Republican but he and his sons are now Prohibitionists.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 552 Transcribed by Sandy Neder