George A. Garretson
Encyclopedia
George Armstrong Garretson (January 30, 1844 - December 8, 1916) enlisted as private in the Union Army
during the Civil War
and later graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. He returned to duty for the Spanish American War as a Brigadier-general of U.S. Volunteers. In civilian life he held many prominent positions i.e. President of The Bank of Commerce. National Association ; First Vice-President, The Guardian Savings & Trust Company; Trustee, Western Reserve University; Director, The Cleveland Electric Railway Co.; Director and Chairman of Board, The Great Lakes Towing Company; Treasurer, The Montreal Mining Company; Director, The Citizens Savings & Trust Company;
Director. The Wheeling & Lake Erie R. R. Co.; Director, The Cleveland Stone Company; Treasurer, Cleveland Subdivision Ohio Branch, American National Red Cross, all of Cleveland, Ohio.
Garretson was reared in Cleveland, and was given the benefit of exceptional educational advantages. After attending the public schools of Cleveland for two years he entered a first-class private boarding school at Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, New York, where he pursued his studies until the breaking out of the late Civil war. He was married on the 21st day of September, 1870, to Miss Anna Scowden, daughter of the late Theodore R. Scowden. Her death occurred in August, 1886, and on the 5th day of December, 1888, he was married to Miss Emma Ripka Ely, daughter of the late Honorable George H. Ely, one of Cleveland's prominent and deservedly honored citizens. Two children have been born by this marriage, Margaret Ely and George Ely.
, which was organized at Camp Chase
, Ohio, for three months' service. Garretson served from May 26 to September 20, 1862. He then applied for admission to West Point, and was appointed cadet in 1863.
, commanding the Department of the Lakes at Detroit, Michigan. In 1869, the Government began preparations for reducing the army to a peace basis, and inactivity and slow promotion being the result Garretson resigned from the service on January 1, 1870, with the permission of General W. T. Sherman, Commander-in-Chief, and with the full understanding that in case of need at any time his services would be
tendered to the Government.
, Garretson remaining in command as captain until 1892, when business interests compelled him to resign and give up military matters, notwithstanding tempting offers of high rank in the State service had been repeatedly made to him. On January 12, 1880, Garretson was appointed Colonel and Aid-de-camp on the staff of Governor Charles Foster, and upon the re-election of the Governor in 1882 was recommissioned for two years, and served until the expiration of his term on January 14, 1884.
on June 8, 1898 at Camp Alger
and left camp for Cuba on July 5, 1898. This brigade was sent instead to fight in the Puerto Rico Campaign in the Battle of Yauco and the Battle of Guayama. He served in Cuba and Porto Rico, and received his honorable discharge November 30, 1898.
. He was a trustee of the Lakeside Hospital, and took a strong interest in other charitable and benevolent institutions of Cleveland such as the Red Cross, the Fresh Air Camp, etc. He had always been a Republican in politics, but never had political aspirations. He was an officer in several banking and other business organizations of Cleveland.
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and later graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. He returned to duty for the Spanish American War as a Brigadier-general of U.S. Volunteers. In civilian life he held many prominent positions i.e. President of The Bank of Commerce. National Association ; First Vice-President, The Guardian Savings & Trust Company; Trustee, Western Reserve University; Director, The Cleveland Electric Railway Co.; Director and Chairman of Board, The Great Lakes Towing Company; Treasurer, The Montreal Mining Company; Director, The Citizens Savings & Trust Company;
Director. The Wheeling & Lake Erie R. R. Co.; Director, The Cleveland Stone Company; Treasurer, Cleveland Subdivision Ohio Branch, American National Red Cross, all of Cleveland, Ohio.
Early life and family
Garretson was born at New Lisbon, Ohio. He was the son of Hiram Garretson, who was born in 1817 in York county, Pennsylvania, and was the son of George and Anne (Griffith) Garretson, who in 1820 left Pennsylvania and came to Ohio, settling at New Lisbon, Columbiana county, and Margaret King Armstrong, the daughter of General John and Isabella (McKaig) Armstrong, who removed from Pennsylvania to Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1804. She had three children, and died May 16, 1852. His father, within a few years after his birth, removed with his family to Cleveland, and became engaged in the wholesale grocery business in the firm of Hanna, Garretson & Company.Garretson was reared in Cleveland, and was given the benefit of exceptional educational advantages. After attending the public schools of Cleveland for two years he entered a first-class private boarding school at Cornwall-on-the-Hudson, New York, where he pursued his studies until the breaking out of the late Civil war. He was married on the 21st day of September, 1870, to Miss Anna Scowden, daughter of the late Theodore R. Scowden. Her death occurred in August, 1886, and on the 5th day of December, 1888, he was married to Miss Emma Ripka Ely, daughter of the late Honorable George H. Ely, one of Cleveland's prominent and deservedly honored citizens. Two children have been born by this marriage, Margaret Ely and George Ely.
Civil War
Garretson was barely eighteen when our Civil War commenced, but he at once enlisted as private in the 84th Ohio Infantry84th Ohio Infantry
The 84th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 84th Ohio Infantry was organized at Camp Chase in Columbus, Ohio May through June 1862 and mustered in on June 7, 1862 for three months service under the command of Colonel...
, which was organized at Camp Chase
Camp Chase
Camp Chase was a military staging, training and prison camp in Columbus, Ohio, during the American Civil War. All that remains of the camp today is a Confederate cemetery containing 2,260 graves. The cemetery is located in what is now the Hilltop neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio.- History :Camp Chase...
, Ohio, for three months' service. Garretson served from May 26 to September 20, 1862. He then applied for admission to West Point, and was appointed cadet in 1863.
Post bellum service
Upon his graduation from the U.S. Military Academy on June 17, 1867 he received appointment as Second Lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Artillery. He served with that regiment at different posts during the years 1867—'68, and in 1869 was appointed Signal Officer on the staff of Major General John PopeJohn Pope (military officer)
John Pope was a career United States Army officer and Union general in the American Civil War. He had a brief but successful career in the Western Theater, but he is best known for his defeat at the Second Battle of Bull Run in the East.Pope was a graduate of the United States Military Academy in...
, commanding the Department of the Lakes at Detroit, Michigan. In 1869, the Government began preparations for reducing the army to a peace basis, and inactivity and slow promotion being the result Garretson resigned from the service on January 1, 1870, with the permission of General W. T. Sherman, Commander-in-Chief, and with the full understanding that in case of need at any time his services would be
tendered to the Government.
Civil life
At his father's desire, he returned to Cleveland and became connected with the wholesale grocery business but in 1875 he entered upon a more congenial business career with The Second National Bank. In this bank and its successor, The National Bank of Commerce, he served as clerk, assistant cashier, cashier, vicepresident, and, from 1890 to his death, as its president.State militia and the Ohio National Guard
Garretson was interested in the State militia, but owing to business reasons was compelled to decline any appointment until 1877, when at the time of threatened riots in Cleveland, he assisted Colonel W. H. Harris, late of the United States Army and a graduate of West Point, in organizing the First Cleveland Troop of Cavalry, of which Colonel Harris was captain and Garretson First Lieutenant. He retained his commission in the above organization until 1884, when, upon the resignation of Colonel Harris, he was elected to succeed him in command of the company. In 1887 the troop became Troop A, Ohio Cavalry in the Ohio National GuardOhio National Guard
The Ohio National Guard comprises:* Ohio Army National Guard* Ohio Air National Guard-External links:* compiled by the United States Army Center of Military History...
, Garretson remaining in command as captain until 1892, when business interests compelled him to resign and give up military matters, notwithstanding tempting offers of high rank in the State service had been repeatedly made to him. On January 12, 1880, Garretson was appointed Colonel and Aid-de-camp on the staff of Governor Charles Foster, and upon the re-election of the Governor in 1882 was recommissioned for two years, and served until the expiration of his term on January 14, 1884.
War with Spain
At the beginning of the Spanish-American War, he offered his services to President McKinley, and received his appointment as Brigadier General of U.S. Volunteers, May 27, 1898 and took command of the Second Brigade, First Division of the Second Army CorpsSecond Army Corps
The Second Army Corps was a unit of the United States Army raised for the Spanish American War.A defining event of the Spanish American War was the typhoid fever epidemic of July to November 1898. The Army consequently undertook a series of mass-retreats and attempted evasions...
on June 8, 1898 at Camp Alger
Camp Alger
Camp Alger, near Falls Church, Virginia, was established May 18, 1898, for the Spanish American War effort. It was approved by Secretary of War Russell A. Alger for whom it was named.-Location:...
and left camp for Cuba on July 5, 1898. This brigade was sent instead to fight in the Puerto Rico Campaign in the Battle of Yauco and the Battle of Guayama. He served in Cuba and Porto Rico, and received his honorable discharge November 30, 1898.
Organisations
Garretson was a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United StatesMilitary Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States
The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, also known by its acronym MOLLUS or simply as the Loyal Legion, is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by officers of the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United States who "had aided in maintaining the honor,...
. He was a trustee of the Lakeside Hospital, and took a strong interest in other charitable and benevolent institutions of Cleveland such as the Red Cross, the Fresh Air Camp, etc. He had always been a Republican in politics, but never had political aspirations. He was an officer in several banking and other business organizations of Cleveland.