Alfred Thomas GARRISON
Elizabeth THOMPSON

Husband:  Alfred Thomas GARRISON
Birth:  9 Mar 1827, Hawkinsville, Hawkins Co., Tennessee
Death:  24 Dec 1920, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri     
Burial:  Dec 1920, Garrison Cemetery, Decaturville, Camden Co., Missouri
Father:  Joseph H. GARRISON
Mother:  Elizabeth KING

Marriage:     12 Jun 1848, Camden Co., Missouri

Wife:  Elizabeth THOMPSON
Birth:  17 Feb 1829, Illinois
Death:  18 Mar 1866, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri     
Burial:  Mar 1866, Garrison Cemetery, Decaturville, Camden Co., Missouri
Father:
Mother:

Children:  
1. Mary Ann GARRISON, b: 27 Jul 1849, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
2. Rebecca Victoria GARRISON, b: 12 Dec 1850, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
3. Lucinda Jane GARRISON, b: 3 Mar 1853, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
                                           d: 31 Mar 1863, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
                                        bur: Garrison Cemetery, Decaturville, Camden Co., Missouri
4. Nancy Emiline GARRISON, b: 19 Apr 1855, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
5. Elijah Franklin GARRISON, b: 29 Dec 1856, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
6. Clarissa Elizabeth GARRISON, b: 18 Feb 1858, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
                                                  d: 10 Sep 1861, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
                                               bur: Garrison Cemetery, Decaturville, Camden Co., Missouri
7. Susan Caroline GARRISON, b: 16 Feb 1860, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
8. Julinae "Jo" GARRISON, b: 19 Jun 1861, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
9. Louzan GARRISON, b: 14 Aug 1862, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
                                 d: 17 Sep 1887, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
                              bur: Garrison Cemetery, Decaturville, Camden Co., Missouri
10. Matilda Jane GARRISON, b: 6 Jan 1866, Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
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Notes:    
Alfred served with the Home Guard forces in the Civil War. His Service Record shows:
   Name:  Alfred Garrison
   Residence:                          
   Enlistment Date:        
   State Served:  Missouri
   Rank at Enlistment:  2^nd Lieutenant
   Service Record:  Commissioned as an officer in Company 1, Missouri Osage Co. Home Gd
                                     Infantry Regiment.

He received a pension for his service. The Pension Records show:
   Name:  Alfred Garrison
   State of Application:  Missouri
   Service:  C  47  En MO Mil
        Notation:  I Osage Co., MO H Gds & Mex War               
   Pension Type:        Invalid                                    
   Date Filed:         17 Feb  1890                             
   Application #:         755,957                                           
   Certificate #:           634,075                                        

1860 Federal Census Data (M653_0611, Page 116), Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri,
                                                                                                                          Enumeration Date: 11-Jul-1860, Family #224

After Elizabeth died, Alfred married Susan Williams.

1870 Federal Census Data (M693_0764, Page 548B), Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri,
                                                                                                                            Enumeration Date: 16-Aug-1870, Family #51

1880 Federal Census Data (T9_0678, Page 80C), Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri
                                                                                Enumeration Dist: 43, Enumeration Date: 17-Jun-1880, Family #50

1900 Federal Census Data (T623_0845, Page 128A), Warren Twp., Camden Co., Missouri,
                                                                                      Enumeration District: 12, Enumeration Date: 2-Jun-1900, Family #30

Family recollections recorded in The Reveille newspaper describe (in part):
     In the year 1846 the United States was involved in the Mexican War. Twenty year old Alfred took part in this. When he returned from the war, the gold rush was just beginning. In 1850 Alfred and his brother Andrew left for the gold fields of California. Alfred left his wife and daughter at home. It is not known how many left in this group. They traveled by oxen team across the plains. Somewhere near Dodge City, Kansas, tragedy in the form of Cholera struck them. It claimed the life of Andrew Garrison. Although Alfred was very ill he managed to turn a wagon bed over his brother's lifeless form and then he crawled off to a cool spring. This he credited with saving his life. He lay there 3 days, then went back and buried his brother. He then continued on to California. He was gone from Missouri for two years. 
     The return trip was made by water, except for the short strip of land across Panama Canal, called the Kings Highway. When he reached Louisiana, he came up the Mississippi River to St. Louis and then up the river to Linn Creek. Many years later a grandson asked Alfred how much gold he brought back with him; but he never received an answer to his question.
     During the Civil War, Alfred took part on the side of the north. There is still in existence, an original order from Governor McClurg to Alfred Garrison, to bring a number of men to Sedalia, Mo. for duty. The year was 1862. During this war, one of the local soldiers that didn’t make it back was Sam Farmer. After he was killed, his widow and sons John M. and Tom were given a home at the Garrisons.
     When the Emancipation Proclamation was given, many slaves in the community were simply turned loose to make a way by themselves. Such was the plight of Ed Case and his mother. Alfred Garrison found them walking up the road; the mother was crying because she didn’t know what to do; the little boy was crying because mama was unhappy. Alfred brought them home and gave them shelter and work. Many years later Alfred’s son, Lige (Elijah) who was fair of complexion and blue eyes made the  remark that he was a grown man before he realized that he and Ed Case weren’t “kinfolk.” The Case family is highly regarded by the old timers in the neighborhood who remember them.
     After the war in the year 1874, a 20 year old Swede named Charlie Anderson, came to this community. He had first gone to Iowa from his native Sweden and stayed there three weeks; not liking the north country, he made his way south until he arrived at the Garrison Farm. Here he found work and lodging. He learned the English language from John M. Farmer as the two worked side by side. He later married Alfred’s daughter Julinae (Jo). Another of Alfred’s daughters Nancy married W. H. Parrish, the father of the present W. H. ‘Bill’ Parrish. Daughter Susan married Neednam Parrish, and Mary became Mrs. Jacob Fohn. Matilda became Mrs. Charlie Morgan. Victoria married George Rogers and Alfred’s only son Elijah married Mollie Newland. Three daughters died young. Louzan, Clarisa and Lucinda.
     Alfred became a person of some note in Camden County. He was one of the first farmers to take cattle and hogs by land to St. Louis. This trip took from ten to twelve days. On the way home, as the story is told, Alfred would sleep in graveyards and out of the way places to keep from being relieved of his money. He would also try to borrow five or ten dollars from a friend, telling them that he had left all his money in the bank in St. Louis. This was to keep people from thinking he had lots of cash on hand that needed another home. He had a healthy respect for a dollar. On one occasion he broke his arm and when grandson Bill wanted to take him to the Dr., Alfred showed him how to make a splint. He then showed him how to put the splints in place and how to wrap bandages around. He then pulled his own arm into place and had Bill tighten the bandages. The young boy was still uneasy and begged to for a Dr; but Alfred told him to pour turpentine over it and it would be all right.
     Perhaps Alfred is best remembered by most people as Judge Alfred Garrison. He held the position of presiding judge of the county court for a number of years. His obituary in a 1921 Reveille states that as a county judge he saved Camden Co. from the Bogus Railroad sharks who nearly ruined several neighboring counties. It is interesting to note that a great grandson Jewel Franklin holds that same position that Alfred once held. Alfred also served the County as Probate Judge from the year 1910 to 1914.
     Judge Alfred Garrison, also called Uncle Alfred passed away Dec. 24, 1920 at the age of 94 yrs. He was buried on Christmas day with the Rev. C.F. Green officiating. The obituary states that in spite of the inclement weather, his funeral was well attended. He is buried in the little family cemetery on the Garrison estate. The little graveyard is well cared for by the W. H. Parrish family.
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Sources:    
1) Death - Husband:  Camden County Missouri Vital Statistics - Deaths, Cert. #20-031685