History of Early Pioneer Families of Hood River, Oregon. Compiled by Mrs. D.M. Coon

JOSEPH M. GARRISON AND FAMILY                            D.M.C.
Oregon Pioneers 1843 Hood River 1872

     Joseph M. Garrison was born in Indiana on February 17, 1812. His father, Abraham Garrison, was a pioneer in Ohio, There were three sons: David, Enoch and Joseph M. and a number of girls.
     The family started to Oregon April 19, 1843 and reached Oregon City November 6 of that year, taking a claim in Yamhill County.
     Mary Matheny was born in 1832. Her father, Daniel Matheny, was born in Virginia December 11, 1793. He moved from Virginia to Kentucky, then to Indiana and from there to Illinois. He served in the war of 1812, was at New Orleans under Jackson. He was first lieutenant in the Black Hawk war and captain in the Mormon war.
     He was married December 19, 1819 and crossed the plains to Oregon in 1843, with his family in the same train with Abraham Garrison; Daniel Matheny being one of those appointed to lay out the road for the wagon train to travel each day.
     In 1845 George Abernathy was elected Provisional Governor of Oregon, and was Oregon's first Governor. The first legislative committee (legislature) was chosen on June 3, 1945 and was as follows: From Clackamas district, H.A.G. Lee, Wm. H. Gray and Hiram Straight. From Yamhill district: Jesse Applegate and Abijah Hendricks; from Clatsop district: John McClure. From Tuality (Tualitan) district: H.M. McCarver, J.W. Smith and David Hill, from Champooick district, Joseph M. Garrison, Robert Newell, M.G. Foley and Barton Lee. The first legislature met June 24, 1845 at Willamette Falls (Oregon City).
     Joseph H. Garrison was a member of the Oregon Rangers organized in 1843. He was captain in the Cayuse war in 1848. He represented Marion County in the Oregon territorial legislature in 1851 and again in 1853. He was appointed Indian agent for Oregon in that year.
     In 1834 Jason Lee, sent out by the Methodists, founded a mission school for the Indians which was located about ten miles north of Salem on the east bank of the Willamette river.
     On February 1, l842 a preliminary meeting was held which resulted in the founding of the Oregon Institute, later known as the Willamette University. At this first meeting a board of trustees was elected consisting of Rev. Jason Lee, Rev. David Leslie, Rev. Gustavus Hines, George Abernathy, Alanson Beers, Hamilton Campbell and Dr. J.L. Babcock.
     Joseph Garrison became a teacher in the mission school and on April 16th, 1846 married Mary Matheny, and moved at once to the mission building. Joseph Garrison was 31 years old when he crossed the plains, Mary Matheny was eleven and he frequently gave her horseback rides behind him on his horse. At the time they were married she was not quite fourteen years old. When the Indian school was abandoned, Joseph Garrison purchased a portion of the mission land, Alanson Beers being the other purchaser. The steamboat landing was known as the Garrison landing and was on their farm. Five children were born to them while they lived on the mission farm: David, Elizabeth (Mrs. Hall) Joseph, Jasper and Emily. Ada was born in Salem where the family resided while the father was engaged in teaching in that place.
     In the great flood of December 186l, on the mission farm the house, barns, fences and most of the stock were lost, and Mr. Garrison sold to the Northcutt Bros. and went to the mines in Idaho. In the winters of '64 and '65 the family lived in La Grande, then moved back to the Willamette valley and bought a farm five miles from Salem. In 1872 they moved to Hood. River, locating on land later known as the Gibbons place. Mr. Garrison taught two terms of school in Hood River in what is now known as the Pine Grove district. He served as County School Superintendent for Wasco County and later as assessor.
     The Garrisons were known as "good neighbors" and useful as pioneers usually are. Mrs. Garrison always had a beautiful flower garden and was generous in distributing her flowers. She often served as a nurse and substitute doctor when necessary. Elizabeth married J.C. Hall. They lived on land, later owned by Harvey Crapper, in the Oak Grove district. Their nearest school was the Barrett school which four of their children attended, walking six miles daily. Jasper Garrison Jr., had a home in the Oak Grove district on grounds now used for the golf course. Two of the children, Joseph's, were pupils in the Barrett school in 1881. Ada married George D. Evans, Emily married C.L. Barrett, a railroad engineer. After his death she married George Frizzell.

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