WCGS March 2014 Meeting and the Upcoming April Meeting

By Pamela Pattison Lash

Our Co-VP, Pat Goebel, has a report to share on the March 2014 meeting and what's coming in April.  Here's what Pat has to report:

The Williams County Genealogical Society met in March to finish the DVD on Samuel Clemens. Mark Twain’s most famous books were  The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He wrote 28 books and numerous short stories, letters and sketches. In 1870, Clemens married Olivia Langdon, and they had four children, one of whom died in infancy and two who died in their twenties. Their surviving child, Clara, lived to be 88, and had one daughter. Clara's daughter died without having any children, so there are no direct descendants of Samuel Clemens living. Our guest speaker at the June banquet is a descendant of Mr. Clemens. Come and find out how he is related.

 Next month, April 14, 2014, the society will meet in the Harmon Room of the West Annex to the Bryan Public Library at 6:30 pm. The guest speaker will be Amanda Wells Blackman from DeKalb County, Indiana. She will be talking about how to identify old photographs by looking at the different types of photos and the time period in which they were popular. Amanda will present how to identify and date photos by their use of clothes, hairstyles, jewelry, military medals, and props used the by photographer. Bring a photo or two that is 1920 or older for Amanda to identify.

The purpose of WCGS is the preservation of county records and family research.  Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month, excluding July and August, at 6:30 pm, in the conference room of the West Annex of the Bryan Public Library. The public is invited for all the meetings.

For further information concerning WCGS, visit the Website at www.wcgs-ogs.com or write to WCGS, P.O. Box 293, Bryan, OH 43506.

"But I'm Not Dead" - Curtis S. Garrison, CW Vet

By Pamela Pattison Lash

I’m sure you have heard of obituaries being written for a person who is very much alive.  If not, here’s the case of a man living in Williams County, Ohio who was given a nice obit; when he saw this, he was quick to correct the false impression of his demise – wouldn’t you?

This is what I first uncovered:

Bryan Democrat, 13 February 1890 p5 c3

Death of Curt Garrison

Report reaches here Tuesday of the death of Curtis S Garrison of Russian influenza at Edon.  Mr Garrison was born in Portage Co, O in 1835; was left an orphan at an early age; when eleven years old he began work on a canal; six years later he became a peddler; came to Williams Co and was engaged as a clerk in a store at Edgerton until 1869, excepting three months in 1861 which he served in the 14^th Ohio under Col Jim Steadman – About 1870 he located at Edon, this county and soon won prominence as one of the most active businessmen in the western part of the county.  He was a genial gentleman and many warm friends will regret his early death.

Then I discovered this:

Bryan Democrat, 20 February 1890 p5 c2

Edon, Ohio 2-4-19

Dear Democrat, - In your issue of this week you write me a nice obituary and gave a short correct history of my life, for which I thank you, but I’m not dead yet, for which I am more than thankful, neither asleep but by the grace of God (and the skill of a physician) am doing well here.  One of my friends accuses me of getting this up to see what people would say of me after I was dead, but that’s not so.  What do I care, for if God is for me who can be against me!

Replying and Fraternally,

C S Garrison

From here I researched the man who was not dead yet!

Curtis S Garrison (July 1835 Portage Co, OH - Feb 1890, Edon, Florence Twp, Williams Co, OH or 27 May 1927, Rifle, Garfield Co, CO); died of Russian influenza; s/o Iliff Garrison (d 1848 Portage Co, OH) and Elizabeth Calvin (d 1843 Portage Co, OH)

Bryan Democrat, 13 Feb 1890 p5 c3

Bryan Democrat, 3 June 1927 p2 c4

4 November 1861, Lenawee Co, MI Curtis S Garrison married Elizabeth Curtis

Elizabeth Curtis (April/ September 1842 pos Otsego Co, NY - aft 1900); d/o David Curtis and Charlotte St John

Children

Fred L 1867

Gracie 1874

Orson David 1876

Iliff C 8 Feb 1879 Edon, Florence Twp, Williams Co, OH

1850 Hudson, Lenawee Co, MI

Curtis, Elizabeth 8 NY living with parents and siblings

1860 Hudson, Lenawee, Michigan; Roll: M653_551; Page: 592; Image: 592; Family History Library Film: 803551.

Curtis, Elizabeth 18 NY living with parents and siblings

1850 Edinburg, Portage, Ohio; Roll: M432_722; Page: 222B; Image: 602.

Curtis Garrison 14 OH living with John and Sophronia Cope and his sister Charity Garrison

Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Ohio.

Affiliate Publication Number:            M552

Affiliate Film Number:            38

GS Film number:            0882251

Co C 14^th Ohio Infantry – private; 3 month service 1861

1870 Florence, Williams, Ohio; Roll: M593_1282; Page: 70B; Image: 144; Family History Library Film: 552781.

Garrison CS 36 OH dry goods merchant

Elizabeth 28 MI

Frederick L 3 OH

Ulysses C 1 OH

1880 Eden, Williams, Ohio; Roll: 1077; Family History Film: 1255077; Page: 553A; Enumeration District: 008; Image: 0738.

Garrison, Curt S 44 OH-PA-PA merchant in general merchandise

Elizabeth wife 38 NY

Fred son 13 OH

Gracie dau 6 OH

Orson son 4 OH

Illiff son 1 OH

Bush, Jane 29 OH

1890 Veterans Schedule – 23 April 1861 to 13 Aug 1861 in Co C 14^th Ohio Infantry, private, residing in Florence Twp, Williams Co, OH

21 Aug 1890 – invalid – CW service

1894 Michigan State Census – Village of Hillsdale – Curtis Garrison

1900 Hillsdale, Hillsdlae Co, MI

Garrison, Elizabeth 58 (Apr 1842) married 42 Y 6/4 ch

Illiff C son 21 OH-OH-NY music student

1900 Township 1, Maricopa, Arizona Territory; Roll: 46; Page: 21A; Enumeration District: 0032; FHL microfilm: 1240046.

Curtis Garrison 54 (July 1835) OH-VA-VA married, carpenter

Aug 14, 1900 to 8 June 1904 living in the National Home for Volunteer Soldiers, Curtis S Garrison: 696731 pension certificate

23 April 1861 Bryan, Oh to 13 Aug 1861 Toledo, OH; 5’4”, fair, can read and write, is religious Protestant, clerk, living in Sawtelle, CA, married, Elizabeth Garrison, wife, living in Hillsdale Co, MI

1910 Precinct 15, Garfield, Colorado; Roll: T624_120; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0047; FHL microfilm: 1374133.

Curtis Garrison 74 OH-OH-OH widower, farmer

1920 South Rifle, Garfield, Colorado; Roll: T625_164; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 38; Image: 729.

Curtis S Garrison 84 OH-VA-VA widower, farmer

US Veterans Administration Payment Card – death 27 May 1927