Obituary of the Misunderstood

The obituary for my great-great-grandfather, James B. Garrison, ends on a sort of backhanded compliment, which makes me more curious about him actually. That and the report on his pension file that said he had a scar on his back from getting hit with an axe when young. Was it an accident? Did someone whack him on purpose? How serious was the cut from that axe blade? I haven’t found that in the paper yet, but here is his obituary:

JAMES B. GARRISON
After an illness covering nearly six years, James B. Garrison died at his home on Fayette street on Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock, aged 72 years. The end came peacefully and relieved the patient from the suffering of his long illness. Mr. Garrison was a veteran of the Civil War 1, having served with honor. He was the oldest employee of the Bridgeton Gas Light Company, having worked in the retort house 2 at their plant for over thirty years. For a number of years he had the record of never losing an hour of his working time. Nearly six years ago he gave up his position on account of an illness that seemed to baffle physicians. By many he was misunderstood, but beneath the exterior there beat a heart that contained warmth and affection, and he will be missed by all who knew him in his daily living. He leaves a wife 3 and several children all of whom are grown.

Bridgeton Evening News, April 13, 1908, page 3.


1. Private, Co. H, 3rd Regiment, NJ Volunteers Cavalry.
2. Retort house is the building where coal was heated to manufacture gas. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasworks#Retort_house)
3. His wife, Emma M. Garrison, daughter of Ansel Irelan and Elizabeth Ayars, passed away in 1922.

Emma M. Garrison Death

Department of Health of the State of New Jersey
Bureau of Vital Statistics
Certificate and Record of Death

1. Place of Death
County: Cumberland
City: Bridgeton
2. Full name: Emma M. Garrison
(a) Residence: No. 163 Fayette St 3 Ward
3. Sex: female
4. Color or Race: white
5. widowed
5a. Husband: James B. Garrison
6. Date of Birth: Jan 21 1839
7. Age: 83 Years 7 Months 18 Days
8. Occupation: Housewife / home
9. Birthplace: N. Jersey
10. Name of Father: Anson Ireland
11. Birthplace of Father: N.J.
12. Maiden name of Mother: Elizabeth Ayars
13. Birthplace of Mother: N.J.
14. Informant: George Garrison, Bridgeton, NJ
15. Filed Sept 11, 1922
16. Date of Death: 9/8 1922

19. Place of Burial: Broad St Cemetery, Sept 11 1922
20. Undertaker: Harry J. Garrison, Bridgeton

James B. Garrison Civil War Pension File

Civil War Pension File – James B. Garrison
Partial transcription by Alexander Conrad, 2011

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DECLARATION OF ORIGINAL OR ADDITIONAL PENSION
Act of June 27, 1890. As Amended By Act of May 9, 1900

State of New Jersey, County of Cumberland.
On this 15 day of March A.D. one thousand nine hundred and one personally appeared before me, a Notary Public, within and for the County and State aforesaid, James B. Garrison aged 65 years, a resident of Bridgeton, County of Cumberland, State of N.J., who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical James B. Garrison who was enrolled on the 31 day of Dec, 1863, in Co H 3rd NJ Vols in the service of the United States in the War of the Rebellion, and served at least ninety days and was honorably discharged at Washington D.C. on the 1st day of August, 1865. That he is totally unable to earn a support by manual labor by reason of general disability and rupture. Rupture is of right side and was incurred under following circumstances: brought on by shoveling coal, at the Bridgeton Gas Works, about 3 years ago.
That said disabilities are not due to his vicious habits, and are to the best of his knowledge and belief of a permanent character; that he has never applied for pension. That he has not been employed in the Military or Navel service other than as stated above.
That he did not serve prior to Dec 31/63 nor since Aug 1 1865.
That he hereby appoints with full power of substitution and revocation, Addison G. DuBois of Washington, D.C., his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim, and to receive therefor a fee of Ten dollars; that his Post-office address is 163 Fayette St Bridgeton, County of Cumberland, State of New Jersey.
[signed] James B. Garrison
Attest: [witnesses]
1.Isaac T Garton
2. William B Mires

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3-173
Eastern Division
Claim No. 1265.138
James B. Garrison
Co. H, 3rd Reg’t, NJ Vol. Cav.
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C., April 29, 1901

Sir:
Will you kindly answer, at your earliest convenience, the questions enumerated below? The information is requested for future use, and it may be of great value to your family.
Very respectfully,
M. Clay [can’t decipher last name], Commissioner

Mr. James B. Garrison
163 Fayette st., Bridgeton,
Cumberland Co., New Jersey

No. 1. Are you a married man? If so, please state your wife’s full name, and her maiden name.
Answer: Yes, Emma M. Garrison. Maiden name Ireland

No. 2. When, where, and by whom were you married?
Answer: Jan 1, 1859. Bridgeton, NJ, by the Rev Chas E Hill of the ME Church

No. 3. What record of marriage exists?
Answer: Have the Marriage certificate

No.4. Were you previously married? If so, please state the name of your former wife and the date and place of her death or divorce.
Answer: No

No. 5. Have you any children living? If so, please state their names and the dates of their birth.
Answer: Henry F. Garrison Born Dec 24, 1859
George E. Garrison, March 21 1862, Irvin I Garrison, July 29 / 65
James B Garrison, Aug 30, 1869, Harriet S. Garrison, March 24 / 72
Elizabeth B Garrison Dec 8 / 74, John S Garrison Feb 26 / 77
William J Garrison Aug 30 / 81, Frank C Garrison March 12 / 85

Date of reply, May 2nd, 1901 [signed] James B Garrison

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3-447
Eastern Division
Claim No 1265.138
James B. Garrison
Co. H, 3 Reg’t N.J. Vol. Cav.
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington, D.C., April 29, 1901

Sir: To aid this Bureau in preventing anyone falsely personating you, or otherwise committing fraud in your name, or on account of your service, you are required to answer fully the questions enumerated below. You will please return this circular under cover of the inclosed envelope which requires no postage. Very respectfully, M. Clay [can’t decipher name]. Commissioner

Mr. James B. Garrison
163 Fayette st., Bridgeton,
Cumberland Co., New Jersey

1. When were you born? Answer. March 25 1836
2. Where were you born? Answer. Deerfield, Cumb Co, NJ
3. When did you enlist? Answer. Dec 31, 1863
4. Where did you enlist? Answer. Bridgeton NJ
5. Where had you lived before you enlisted? Answer. Bridgeton NJ
6. What was your post-office address at enlistment? Answer. Bridgeton NJ
7. What was your occupation at enlistment? Answer. Waterman
8. When were you discharged? Answer. Aug 1st 1865
9. Where were you discharged? Answer. Trenton NJ
10. Where have you lived since discharge? Give dates as nearly as possible of any changes of residence. Answer. Have always lived in Bridgeton since 1849.
11. What is your present occupation? Answer. Labourer
12. What is your height? Answer. 6 feet, — inches. Your weight? 150. The color of your eyes? Blue. The color of your hair? Grey. Your complexion? Fair. Are there any permanent marks or scars on your person? If so, describe them. Scar on the back cut by an axe when young.
13. What is your full name? Please write it on the line below, in ink, in the manner in which you are accustomed to sign it, in the presence of two witnesses who can write:
James B. Garrison [signed]
Witnesses:
1. Joseph F Ehrlen [Not positive on last name]
2. John B[can’t decipher rest]

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Act of April 19, 1908
DECLARATION FOR WIDOW’S PENSION

State of New Jersey, County of Cumberland.
On this 23 day of April A.D. one thousand nine hundred and eight, personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, Emma M. Garrison, aged 69 years, a resident of Bridgeton, County of Cumberland, State of N.J. who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of James B. Garrison, who enlisted under the name of [blank] on the 21 day of Dec, A.D. 1863, as a private in Company H in the 3 Regiment of N.J. Cav Vols and served at least ninety days in the late Ware of the Rebellion, in the service of the United States, who was honourably discharged Aug 1 1865 and died Apr 11 1908.
… That he was never employed in the military or naval service of the United States after the day of Aug 1 1865. That she was married under the name of Emma M. Irelan to said James B. Garrison on the 1 day of Jan A.D. 1859 by Rev. Charles E. Hill at Bridgeton, NJ, there being no legal barrier to such marriage; that she had not been previously married; that her said husband had not been previously married. That she has not remarried since the death of the said James B. Garrison.
… That her post-office address is 163 Fayette St. Bridgeton, County of Cumberland, State of N.J.
[signed] Emma M Garrison
Attest: [witnesses]
1. Frank C. Garrison
2. John Garrison

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Emma M Garrison
Bridgeton NJ
657697 ACT APR
163 Fayette St
DROP REPORT – PENSIONER
DISBURSING DIVISION
Oct 10 1922
Check No. 5258197 $30 dated Oct 4 1922, Section 5 returned by postmaster with information that the above-described pensioner died Sept 6 1922, has been canceled.