http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~streeter/garrison.pdf "History of Bergen County, New Jersey" J. M. Van Valen 1900 SADDLE RIVER. The ancestor of the Garretsons the name being spelled Garretson or Garrison by members of the same family was Peter, a native of Holland, who left his native land in 1664 and settled in Bergen county, where he purchased an extensive tract of land. Among his sons was John P., who married a Miss Ryerson and had children, John, Jacob, John P., Garret, and one daughter. John P., spent his life upon the homestead, and here his death occurred. His sons John and Garret remained in the township, the latter having married a daughter of Ralph Romaine and had eight children, among whom were three sons, John G., Ralph, and Abram. CIVIL LIST. The list of freeholders it is possible to give complete since 1794. The remainimg more important township offices cannot be secured for the period prior to 1862, as the records are not obtainable. The freeholders are as follows: ... 1802-6, Henry Mead, John Garrison; ... ... '52, Simeon G. Garrison; ... ... '69-71, John G. Garrison; ... The remaining important officers are: 1871.— Township Clerk, David P. Alyea; Collector, Jacob W. Dore- mus; Assessor, James V. Joralemon; Township Committee, Cornelius G. Cadmus, John F. Barclay, Ralph G. Garrison, Albert Alyea, Frank Alyea. 1872.— Township Clerk, David P. Alyea; Collector, Jacob W. Dore- mus; Assessor, James V. Joralemon; Township Committee, C. G. Cad- mus, Ralph G. Garrison, Wm. Doremus, R. T. Snyder. Frederick Baker. 1873.— Township Clerk, David P. Alyea; Collector, Jacob W. Dore- mus; Assessor, Isaac A. Hopper; Township Committee, Cornelius G. Cadmus, R. G. Garrison, Wm. Doremus, Richard T. Snyder, Frederick Baker. 1874.— Township Clerk, David P. Alyea; Collector, Jacob W. Dore- mus; Assessor, Isaac A. Hopper; Township Committee, A. E. Miller. R. G. Garrison, William Doremus, R. T. Snyder. 1875.- Township Clerk, David P. Alyea; Collector, Jacob W. Dore- mus; Assessor, Isaac A. Hopper; Township Committer, Tunis W. Vree- land, John Madden, K. T. Snyder, John G. Garrison, George Hubschmitt. 1876.- Township Clerk, John K. Kipp; Collector, Jacob W. Dore- mus; Assessor, Isaac A. Hopper; Township Committee, Tunis W. Vree- land, John Madden, John G. Garrison, George Hubschmitt, P. H. Van Iderstine. 1877 - Township Clerk, John E. Kipp; Collector, James G. Cadmus; Assessor, Isaac A. Hopper; Township Committee, John G. Garretson, George Hubschmitt, T. W. Vreeland, Adam Hopper, John W. Doremus. 1878.— Township Clerk, John E. Kipp; Collector, J. H. Van Saun; Assessor, Isaac A. Hopper; Township Committee, Adam Hopper, John W. Doremus, Andrew W. Ochs, John G. Garretson, William H. Gill. THE CHURCHES. The Passaic Valley Union Chapel was the first organization for religious worship in the township. It originated in a small gathering for religious instruction at the house of Mrs. Henry Van Riper. It num- bered at first but three scholars, but gradually increased until it was thought expedient to secure a building. For this purpose Ralph G. Garrison, Henry A. Hopper and Peter D. Henderson were elected as a board of trustees and subscriptions were solicited for the building of the church. The land was donated by Henry Van Riper to be devoted for forty years to the uses of a union chapel. The edifice was erected in 1873, the building dedicated in December of that year, and in which services have been held ever since. AARON G. GARRISON. Among the old residents of Bergen county no life, perhaps, is more interesting in detail than that of Aaron G. Garrison, whose home is in the Ramapo Valley. Garret Garrison and Elizabeth Hopper were theA parents of five children, Mary Ann, Eliza, Aaron, Sally and Peter of whom Mary Ann, Aaron and Sally are now living. Aaron G. the subject of this sketch and the eldest son, was born September 21, 1819. He became the chief help of his father, who was a tanner, and a man of sound judgment and independent thought, although of limited education. The son inherited his father's intellect, early acquiring a practical knowledge of general business transactions, which was recognized by the community. At twenty-one years of age he was elected town clerk ot the original township ol Kranklin, serving the full term of three years. Upon declining- a re-election to this office, he was immediately elected member of the town committee for the following three years. At the expiration of this term he was again elected town clerk, and has since served a number of terms in this office. Prior to the creation of the office of School Superintendent. Mr. Garrison was made member of the school committee, and, as chairman, discharged the duties of that office for a period of three years. An advocate of the cause of education, he established a new school district, and contributed largely toward the building of two new school houses, one at Riverdale and one at Oakland. For more than forty years of his life he was justice of the peace, and has drawn up deeds, bonds, mortgages, wills, and all sorts of docu- ments, agreements, contracts, etc., for many people in both Passaic and Bergen counties. In the spring of 1868, Judge A. Garrison was elected County Collector of Bergen county, and during his incumbency (to 1873), received and disbursed over $1,000,000. He was foreman of the Grand Jury several terms of court, and was judge of the Court of Common Pleas two terms, of five years each. In the spring of the present year (1899) he was again elected justice of the peace by both political parties, and has accepted, being now established in that office. In private life he has often been called upon to act as executor of states. Being something of a musician, the Judge has been chorister of the Reformed Church of Ponds, has composed sacred music, and, in his younger davs, taught "singing school." Remarkably versatile, he can invoke the muses and indite his thoughts in rhyme, which he often does for friends on both sides of the Atlantic. Judge Garrison was one of the first directors of the New Jersey Western Railroad for five years, and contributed liberally towards its construction. In summing up his various avocations the Judge has aptly said: "At ten years old I drove a team, At twelve I grain did sow, For fifty years I fished the stream And walked behind the plough"