San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1534
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 1/3/2010
GEORGE R. GARRETSON
An early settler who has seen much of California grow from a wilderness and who is, therefore, a natural lover of the Golden State, is George R. Garretson, a resident of San Joaquin County for the past thirty-seven years. He was born at Bedford, Pa., on April 28, 1845, a son of Aaron and Hannah (Miller) Garretson, both natives of Pennsylvania, whose ancestors were pioneers of that state, all engaged in farming pursuits. His father passed away in 1848 and George grew up on the home farm, the youngest in a family of ten children. The mother lived to be ninety-two years old.
George R. attended the district schools of the county and grew to young manhood on the farm. At the outbreak of the Civil War he volunteered for services in Company H, 55th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry; later he served in Company G, 101st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was a member of the Army of the Potomac. He served under Generals Grant and Butler, and during April, 1862, was at Yorktown under General McClellan. On September 29, 1864, he was wounded at Chapin's Farm, near Richmond, and was sent to Fortress Monroe and then to New York; then was granted a furlough to go home to Iowa, whither his mother and family had removed and settled near Cedar Rapids. He left New York with twenty-five cents in his pocket for Iowa on furlough, during which time he had the great privilege of casting his first vote for Lincoln in 1864; he then returned to his regiment and was at Appomatox Court House when Lee surrendered; he was also in the Battle of Williamsburg and the Seven Days' Battle. During September of 1865 he was discharged at Richmond and was mustered out of service at Harrisburg, Pa., where he had enlisted. Returning to his home in Iowa he remained there until December 28, 1869, when he was married to Miss Lavinia C. Lanning, a native of Ohio, a daughter of Martin Lanning, who had removed to Iowa when she was two years old. Martin Lanning became an extensive farmer of Iowa.
After their marriage the young people removed to Phillips County, Kans., and preempted a quarter-section of land; later he bought a section of school land, his entire farm holdings amounting to about 800 acres. Here he engaged in general farming and stockraising for five years, during which time he conducted a butcher shop in Phillipsburg. In 1874 he made a trip to California, but it was not until 1885 that he brought his family to reside permanently in the Golden State. He first settled at Woodbridge, remaining there for one and a half years, when he settled in Lockeford, where he has continuously resided. He purchased a twenty-acre ranch about one mile from Lockeford on the Stockton road, on which he raises alfalfa and stock. Twenty-six years ago he was elected justice of the peace of Lockeford and has served in that capacity ever since to the entire satisfaction of the people of the community. During his tenure of office he has received eight notarial commissions from eight different California governors. His years of active service as an official have been the most enjoyable of his life and his duties have been performed with a faithfulness and thoroughness characteristic of all his actions. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Garretson: Elveda, Mrs. Hevey of Brentwood, has one son, Edward, a teacher at Stanford University; Lulu is Mrs. Reynolds, of Los Angeles; Rolla Lee is principal of the Lafayette grammar school in Stockton. Mr. Garretson as a Republican has taken an active interest in national politics, and has always worked hard for civic improvements. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order of Lodi.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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