California Biographies Source: History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California by: C M Gidney - Santa Barbara. Benjamin Brooks - San Luis Obispo. Edwin M Sheridan - Ventura Volumes II - Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, ILL., 1917 This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm ADDISON GARLAND. Thirty or forty years ago Santa Barbara, as distinguished from its present grandeur as one of California's chief resort cities, was a thoroughly home town, and there was a closeness of fraternal relationship and a permanence of interests to a much greater degree than can be found in recent years. Many who lived in the city in those times and knew the community, feel a special interest in the individual older residents, one of whom was the late Addison Garland, a well known merchant for many years and a constant worker for and believer in Santa Barbara's great future, though he was of that unassuming type of men who expect little recognition for their work beyond a consciousness of duty well done. He came to Santa Barbara in 1875, buying a store building at 509-511 State Street. There in 1877 he established a general merchandise business and for a time had as a partner his brother-in-law W. E. Noble, who had also been associated with him in business in Wisconsin. Later Mr. Gar- land bought property in the 900 block and built the stone building, where his son Arthur A. Garland was associated with him in the dry goods business under the name Garland & Son. Later they conducted a shoe store in the adjoining building which Mr. Garland planned for that special purpose. He owned other buildings, which he rented, and there was not a piece of property under his ownership which he left vacant and unimproved. At one time Mr. Garland was vice president of the Santa Barbara County National Bank. During the last two years of his life he was one of the directors of the First National Bank. His interest in civic affairs was unfailing and in the various relations of life he was a man of integrity and of helpful and loyal spirit. Politically he was a republican and in religious affiliation a Unitarian. Addison Garland was born near Greenwood Village, Oxford County, Maine, October 13, 1828, and the close of his long and useful life came on November 4, 1900. His parents, Richard and Harriet (Roberts) Garland, were in many ways typical New England country people - reading, thinking people, of well ordered lives, well ordered homes, and small income. When a young man he went to Boston and lived for a few years in that New England metropolis. In 1853 he moved out to Monticello, Wisconsin, where for a time he taught a district school and then bought a farm near the village. March 4, 1855, he married Miss Hannah Augusta Noble, who was born in Paris, Oxford County, Maine, November 12, 1831. They lived on the farm until 1858, when Mr. Garland entered the mercantile business. The forefathers of Mr. and Mrs. Addison Garland were pre-Revolutionary stock, mainly English Puritans, though with a trace of Scotch on both sides. Many were substantial farmers, often trusted with public office, local or provincial. Mr. Garland's family in early times, from 1637 forward, was connected with the sea as well as with agriculture. The first American ancestor of the name owned vessels that coasted between Massachusetts Bay and Virginia and the Dutch plantations. Some of this ancestor's sons settled in the South and others in the North. Since the death of Mr. Garland Mrs. Garland and the two daughters, Miss Retta Augusta Garland and Miss Rowena Garland, have kept their home at 1202 Garden Street in Santa Barbara. The son, Arthur A. Gar- land, has an orange ranch near Nordhoff in the Ojai Valley of Ventura County.