Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-01-13
J. N. GARRISUN is
PIONEER POULTRY
BREEDER IN OREGON
Began 40 Years Ago Import
ing and Improving Ore
gOn Chickens

Now that the royal members of the
boards here in Salem and attracting
universal attention, here is a little
story appropriate to the occasion as it
pertains to the Oldest Of poultry fan
ciers of the northwest, j. NJ Garrison
An admirer of the greatest of all Am
erican birds always, he began cult
waiting their acquaintance and studying
their traits and habits in 1877, at For
est Grove.
Long before the advent of poultry
shows he was an exhibitor at the state
fairs, and was really the man who put
the try" in poultry here in Oregon.
Prior to moving to Salem about five
years ago, Mr.. Garrison was located at
Pacific university, being one of its in
structors for 35 years, with a side line
Of poultry always handy. simply be-
cause he was not happy when he could
not hear the biddies cackle and the
lordly cocks sound their morning de-
fies to the world.
At the earlier shows, he naturally
walked away with q large share of the
awards, but of late years he is well
satisfied to get his fair share, for COM
petition has become keen, and competit-
ors numerous. He was first to intro.
duce Wyandottes to the state, this in.
1854, and it has proved to be one of the
most valuable breeds.
In 1888, on account Of hard times and
temporary waning interest, the Port
land fanciers concluded to let their an
nual show go by default. Mr.. Garri-
son felt this was a mistake and to keep
up the interest in fancy poultry he
assumed the expense and the RESPONSE
bility for the show and put in on him.
self He leased room of DAYTON 6
Hall at First and Yamhill streets, and
inviting the fanciers most Of whom
we're personally known to him, brought
together some six hundred birds, making
pretty little show and one that drew
much attention. He made no charge for
entries, but the gate money and sale Of
stock met all expenses and left a nice
little margin, or as poultry man
would say, ga nice little nest egg.
Having demonstrated that one man
poultry show could I've made a success.
along about 1890 he thought Astoria
should get into the chicken game. so
he shipped a boat load of bloOded fowls
to the city by the sea and gave its
citizens their first poultry exhibit. 1t
was great success and ever since AS
toria has been giving poultry shows. He
delivered series Of lectures at Van.
couver, Eugene, Albany, Dallas, Me-
Minnville and The Dalles, awakening a
keen interest in the business and get.
ting those cities started in the fancy
poultry business.
In 1900 he organized the faneiers Of
Lewiston and Charleston in an associa-
tion, since which time they have each
year held successful exhibitions, and
have become a power for good in the
promotion Of better poultry.
Mr.. Garrison is engaged in business
here shipping yearly from two to three
hundred fowls and from six to eight
hundred sittings of eggs yearly. II is
perhaps wrong to say he is in business
for with him it is a labor of love that
has grown and increased through more
than forty years devoted largely to the
study of the birds.
Knowing Mr.. Garrison intimately for
more than forty years, friend offers
this little testimony only as a tribute
to his loyalty and dcvotnion to his pet
industry, and as q recognition of his
valuable work for the state in perfect.
ing the real American bird Of freedom
the one who helps pay the mortgage on
the farm, not the screaming eagle but
the cackling hen, the bird that frosts
our caks furnishes the best of all
breakfast foods and adds TO the gaiety
Of the nation tothe tune Of nearly half
u billion dollars yearly.