Samuel Claude Garrison

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Among the distinctively prominent and brilliant lawyers of Morris county, New Jersey, none is more versatile, talented, or well equipped for the work of his profession than Samuel Claude GARRISON, who maintains his home and business headquarters at Dover. For about seven years he was a resident of Boonton, this county. Throughout his career as an able attorney and well fortified counselor he has, by reason of unimpeachable conduct and close observance of the unwritten code of professional ethics, gained the admiration and respect of his fellow members of the bar, in addition to which he demands a high place in the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.

At Boonton, Morris county, New Jersey, occurred the birth of Samuel Claude GARRISON, the date of the same being August 16, 1881. He is a son of Samuel Loder and Mary (FERGUSON) GARRISON, both of whom are living, in 1914, and both of whom were born and raised in Cumberland county, New Jersey. As a boy Samuel Loder GARRISON began to work in the office of one of the Bridgeton newspapers and there began the thorough training which has resulted in making him one of the foremost newspapermen of Morris county. He has been editor of the Boonton Weekly Bulletin since the early ‘70’s, having located in Boonton at the time he purchased the above publication. Prior to that time he was foreman of the Millville Republican. As a man he is possessed of a shrewd and interesting personality, and in his citizenship he is enthusiastically in favor of all measures and enterprises projected for the betterment of his community and State. He and his wife are the parents of three sons and one daughter as follows: Wilbert, who resides in Mount Vernon, New York, is president and owner of the Wilbert GARRISON Company, a high-class printing, manufacturing and engraving concern, the headquarters of which are at 82-84 Beekman street, New York City; Samuel Claude is he whose name initiates this review; Thomas Ferguson is a prosperous and progressive farmer, his fine estate being located five miles distant from Bridgeton, in Cumberland county, and Mary Florence is the wife of James W. PROCTOR, who is engaged in the chemical business and who maintains his home at Cleveland, Ohio.

To the public schools of Boonton, Samuel Claude GARRISON is indebted for his early educational discipline, the same including a course in the local high school, in which he graduated in 1897. In September of that year he was matriculated as a student in the University of New York, in the law department of which excellent institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1899, duly receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He obtained his practical experience as a lawyer in various legal offices of note in New York City and in Jersey City. In February, 1903, he was admitted to the New York bar and immediately thereafter opened an office for independent practice in the great metropolis. In 1904 he was admitted to the New Jersey bar and he has since practiced in both states. In June of the above year he opened an office in Boonton, where he was appointed city attorney, in which capacity he served with the utmost ability for three and a half years. January 1, 1913, he was re-appointed city attorney of Boonton and served until January 1, 1914. August 20, 1911, he opened an office above the National Union Bank in Dover, and here has succeeded in building up a large and lucrative practice. He still maintains an office in Boonton and in both cities is well known as a lawyer of great skill and splendid equipment.

In connection with the work of his profession, Mr. GARRISON is a valued and appreciative member of the Morris County Bar Association, and he tries cases in both the State and Federal courts. While in college he was initiated as a member of the Zeta Psi Greek letter fraternity, and he is affiliated with Dover Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is unswerving in his support of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor, and while he is not a seeker after political honors of any sort he manifests a deep and sincere interest in community affairs and gives his eager assistance to all matters tending to uplift and benefit humanity. He is a man of progressive ideas; although versatile, he is not superficial; exactness and thoroughness characterize all his attainments; his intellectual possessions are unified and assimilated; they are his own.

November 7, 1912, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. GARRISON to Miss Lillian May STEVENSON, a native of Boonton, New Jersey, and a daughter of Alonzo C. STEVENSON; her father is engaged in business at Boonton, and the mother is deceased. Mr. GARRISON is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Boonton, and Mrs. GARRISON is a devout communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)