1877 -Born in Jordan Valley, OR, the son of William Garrison and Emma Doud Gilson
-Attended elementary school in Antelope Valley, near Lancaster, CA
-Attended business college in San Francisco, CA and worked as an accountant in the Haywood Company in San Francisco until 1906

1906 -Moved to Valdez to become an accountant with the S.Blum & Co.

1913 -Married Miss Ellen Latham Handley; they had three sons - first-born died in infancy, George and John William, Jr.

1923 -Bought the S.Blum & Co.; the bank became the First Bank of Valdez in 1914 and the Mercantile Company became the Gilson Mercantile Company; he served as president of both firms
-Served as president of the Valdez school board for 16 years

1929-1949 -Served as a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska

1945 -Wife died in the Anchorage hospital

1948 -Bank and store building rebuilt following fire in 1947; son George became manager of the store and son Hohn continued in the bank with his father

1954 -Died at the Glennallen hospital at the age of 77; remains interred beside his wife in Anchorage

Credits: BoR Files