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I. L. GARRISON, M. D.,
is an example of the type of man who is not afraid to launch out into a new field of labor after having given a matter of twenty years service in another line of work, and in his case what might be regarded by many as something of an experiment is proving to be a decided success. Giving up his work as an educator, in which he had already found distinctive success, Dr. Garrison turned his attention to the study of medicine, which had long held manifold attractions for him, and in 1910 he entered upon the active practice of his profession in Wayne City, where he is making rapid progress in his bid for recognition among the people of his community. A native of Wayne county and favorably known in this city all his life, his future is an assured one, and will be in every way worthy of one of his character and high standing. He has ever been a man of importance in Wayne county, in a political and social way, and as an educator of no small ability it has been given to him to do much for the advancement of the county in an educational way.
The scion of an old and honored family, I. L. Garrison was born January 31, 1868, in Wayne county on a farm near Keenville. He is the son of George and Sarah (Wells) Garrison, natives of Wayne county. George Garrison was born in 1839, and was the son of Samuel
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Garrison, born in 1788, a native of North Carolina and a pioneer settler of Wayne county, coming here in the 'twenties from Kentucky. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and served in Captain Doherty's company in the Seventh North Carolina Regiment. He was discharged from the service October 13, 1814. He was the son of James Garrison, born in 1747, and a soldier in the Continental army during the war of the Revolution. He served in a North Carolina Regiment under Captam Alexander Gordon, with Colonel Joseph McDowell in charge. His enlistment took place at Wilkes county, North Carolina, and he was afterwards a pioneer settler in Greene county, Illinois.
George Garrison, the father of Dr. Garrison of this review, was a sergeant in Company K, Forty-ni~ath Illinois Volunteer Infantry of the Union army during the Civil war. He . served three years and three months and was honorably discharged at the close of hostilities. He was one of the eight children of his parents, Samuel and Martha Garrison, and their names were Isaac, Samuel, William, Preston, Gregg, George, Elizabeth and Mary Eliza. Of that number two sons, Samuel and George, are yet living. George Garrison settled down in Wayne county to the quiet life of a farmer, and reared ten children. They were named Martha, who is now deceased; Dr. Barney E., a resident of Wayne City; Mrs. Melissa Morrison, of Jefferson county; Charles, deceased; Leota, married to William Tyler and lives in Saskatchewan, Canada; Lillie Powers, who lives in. Albion, Illinois; Mrs. Minnie Talbot, of Jefferson county; Dr. I. L., of Wayne City; Gregg, in Wayne county; and George Everett, The wife and mother, Sarah (Wells) Garrison, was born in 1837. She was the daughter of Barney E. Wells, a native of Jefferson county, and Elizabeth Alvis, born in Virginia, The Wells family were at one time large slave holders in the Virginias, and were the proprietors of extensive plantations. They settled in Southern Illinois in the 'twenties, and there Barney and Elizabeth Wells reared a family of fourteen children. They were: Edmund, Leffington, John, Matthew, James H., Mary, Martha, Elizabeth, Sarah, Melissa, Virginia, Carolina and .Hulda. One son, James H., still lives and is a resident of Jefferson county, at the age of sixty-five years. Three daughters of the seven yet survive,�Sarah Garrison, Carolina Bradford and Melissa Byers.
I. L. Garrison received his elementary schooling in the common schools of his district, and was later an attendant at Old Hayward College at Fairfield, graduating from that institution in 1899 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He began teaching soon thereafter and continued in that wholly commendatory line of work for sixteen years. During the summer vacations he taught at Hayward Normal. For three years he was principal of Fairfield high school and from 1903 to 1906 he was superintendent of the Fredonia (Kas.) city schools, instructing in the branches of science, Latin and French. In the fall of 1906 he entered the medical department of Washington University at St. Louis, and in June, 1910, was graduated frpm that worthy institution with the degree of M.D. He has since been engaged in active practice in Wayne City, and has already established a valuable practice in this city. He is a member of the Wayne County Medical Association. He is a Republican in his political convictions and has taken an active part in affairs of a political nature in his city and county. Fraternally Dr. Garrison is a member of the Odd Fellows and of tlie Masons. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
In 1889 Dr. Garrison was married to Miss Charity Ardilla Feather of Wayne City, a daughter of Richard and Anna (Williams) Feather. Dr. and Mrs. Garrison have three children: The eldest, Lena Novella,
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is married to Byron J. Bixley, of Bridgeport, Illinois, and Marie is a student in the Bridgeport high school. Berlin Clyde is in the common schools of Wayne City.