Boswell, H. James. American Blue Book Western Washington, Seattle, Lowman and Hanford Co., 1922. p. 167. ELLIS LEWIS GARRETSON, who served as Imperial Potentate of the Shriners of North America, is one of the most widely known men in the country. Mr. Garretson was born in Iowa in 1876. He was admitted to practice in 1897, and for a quarter of a century has occupied the same offices in Tacoma. While his practice has always been of a general character he has specialized in probate matters, and is recognized as an authority along those lines. In 1920 M. Garretson was elected Imperial Potentate by the Shriners, his administration proving one of the most successful in the entire history of that organization, and rapidly increasing its membership, an approximate total of 150,000. He is now a thirty-second degree Mason and has held every office in that order. In 1911, Mr. Garretson married Miss Frances Hoyse, and the couple have one daughter, nine years of age. He is a member of the Union club, City club, Commercial club, and the county and state bar associations. Since the above was prepared, Mr. Garretson has passed away. Submitted by: Judy Bivens * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.