National Register Sons of the American Revolution: John Rowzee Garrison, Washington, D.C. (1864). Son of John Rowzee and Frances (Hudson) Garrison/ grandson of Moses and Nancy (Atchison) Garrison; great-grandson of John Garrison, private Virginia Militia.

Memoir of John Rowzee Garrison II, Washington, D.C. November, 1879

The writer of these lines, John Rowzee Garrison, was born in Stafford County, Virginia, on Monday, August 27th, 1838, in the same mansion in which my parents now reside, on my father's farm called "Clover Hill.” The dwelling house is quite near Ebenezer Methodist Church and about one mile from Garrisonvllle.

My father's name is also John Rowzee Garrison, but as a matter of convenience I have never added Junior in writing my name, since I always sign my name, J. R. Garrison. Among his neighbors in Stafford, he is nearly always called by his middle name (Rowzee).

My earliest recollections of the home of my boyhood are exceedingly bright and pleasant. And indeed all that is connected with my life at my old home in Stafford, from childhood up to the years or maturity And manhood, is rich in holy and hallowed associations, which will live while my memory endures. My parents, who are at this present blue still living at the old homestead, have ever and always been as kind and considerate and careful for my happiness, as any with children were ever blessed.

The natural scenery around the home of my childhood is somewhat wild and rugged' a brokenrolling landscape, varied with bold hills and broad woodlands of pine and oak. Nature in such aspect seems to get a firmer hold on our lasting memory and affection, than when she is presented in less rugged and more pleasing dress. And these familiar scenes -- the well remembered trees and hills, streams and forest afford always to my mind a bright refreshing picture of the happy past.

Here in old Stafford, near to my own birthplace, my father was born, on Tuesday Christmas day, 1804. The house in which my father was born is no longer standing, but the place where it stood is about one quarter of a mile west from his present residence and on the farm on which his father lived.

My father was the second son of Moses Garrison and Nancy Garrison whose maiden name was Nancy Atchison. My Grandfather and Grandmother on my father's side, were both natives of Stafford County where they resided all their lives. They had four children, all sons: Roy A.; John R. (my father); Moses W. and James (who were twins); Roy A. M. Garrison, at the present time resides in Washington, D.C.; Moses W. Garrison in Montgomery, Alabama; and my father in Stafford County as before stated. James Garrison died a number of years ago.

Moses Garrison, my grandfather, was the son of John Garrison, also a native and resident of Stafford County. His wife, Betty (whose maiden name was Betsy Ennis) was of Scotch descent. My Great Grandfather, John Garrison had seven children, five sons, namely; Moses, Jesse, John James and William and two daughters, namely Betsy and Nancy.