28th Generation

210. Blanche Loretta GRIGGS (~) was born on 10 February 1909 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^{60,109,138,205,231,232} Tomah Journal Article: "Born to Mr. and Mrs. Sam Griggs, on Feb 10th, a girl."

In her autobiography that Blanche wrote in high school, she notes that, "The house in which I was born in was located in the center of the block, where the Church of God is located now." That was in the Village of Tomah.

She and her parents could not be located in the 1910 Census. It is believed that they were living in Huron, South Dakota, where her brother Glenn was born in May 1910.

After Glenn's birth, they lived in Huron for an unknown period, and then they moved back to the Tomah area. They may have lived with Eva's parents for a year or two, because later in her autobiography Blanche mentioned that, "Before I started school, I used to play with Alma Kuehl, who lived near us." Alma was a daughter of Otto and Gusta Kuehl, who owned a farm in Section 28 of Tomah Township, about 3 miles south of Tomah, just west of Highway 131--near the farm of Eva's father, Ira J. Root.

Blanche later mentions that they lived in that home until "We moved to North Tomah and I started school"--which must have been in about 1913. It is believed that her father was renting a farm there, because she talked about helping with threshing and other farm chores. She mentioned that "Worden Shutter lived near us and he used to come over almost every day to play with Glen (her brother, Glenn)." Worden's parents owned a farm in Section 31 in the southwest corner of LaGrange Township. According to her brother LaVerne's birth certificate, they lived in LaGrange Township when he was born in October 1917.

She then mentioned that, "We moved to Tar (actually, Tarr) Valley near Tunnel City where I went to school." That may have been in about early-1918 or so. Tunnel City is in Greenfield Township, about 4 miles northwest of Tomah.

She then mentions that, "The next year we moved to a farm near Wilton. I lived there two years." The farm is believed to have been northeast of the intersection of Highway 131 and County Trunk "A." They probably lived there from about 1919 until just after her mother died in December 1920. According to the 1920 Census, it appears that her father rented a farm from either John O'Leary, James McGarvey or Leopold Von Haden in Section 3 or 10 of Wilton Township--about 5 miles south of Tomah. She appeared in the census in 1920 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰⁹ She graduated in 1928 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^110,219,233 from Tomah High School.

A detailed search of the 1930 Census failed to locate Blanche or her brothers Glenn and LaVerne, whom she would have been caring for. They were not listed in the census record for their father and step-mother on their farm in Kirby, or anywhere else in Wisconsin.

They are believed to have been living at the home of their paternal grandparents, Clarence and Carrie Griggs at their home at 1308 Stoughton Avenue in Tomah. But that household was not listed in the census records. The census enumerator included neighboring homes in their block at 1312, 1314, 1316 and 1320, as well as homes across the street at 1301, 1303 and 1305. But, for some unknown reason (possibly an illness in the household), the enumerator did not include 1308.

Blanche's daughter, Doris Mae (who was one year old at the time), was living with Tom Cassity and his first wife, Blanche Mary Street, in the village of Adams, 45 miles east of Tomah. She was listed as a "Boarder." Doris Mae was born in Adams, so Blanche apparently was living there at the time of her daughter's birth in February 1929. It is assumed that Blanche would have been living in the Adams area near her infant daughter at the time of the 1930 census, but she cannot be located in the census. About July 1928 Blanche was a school teacher in Monroe County, WI.²³⁴ It is not known how long she taught school, but it is believed that she taught between graduating from high school in June 1928 and the birth of her daughter, Doris Mae, in February 1929. ⁷² with Vilas Frederick Roeder. They had a daughter, Doris Mae, but no record of their marriage can be located. She appeared in the census on 2 May 1940 in Adams, Adams Township, Adams County, WI.²³⁵ The census indicates that she lived in the same house in 1935, so she must have moved in with Tom Cassidy after his divorce from Blanche Street in 1934. ⁷² In a post card to her husband, Tom, and her daughter, Doris Mae, in Adams she wrote: "Well, we are almost there (at Camp Livingston, to visit her brother Glenn, who was stationed in the Army). Drove all night. This is Wed(nesday). Had a flat and a $2 fine for speeding. Our speedometer broke and there is a speed limit of 25 + 30 mi. an hour here. and in Kentucky. We are getting cleaned up and will get to Camp in a couple of hours. Will write again soon. Mother."

At the bottom of the post card, she wrote "We are here now. All OK."

Gary Griggs has pictures of Blanche and Glenn at Camp Livingston. She was there with her nephew Gary, but it is not known who else was with them. She appeared in the census in 1950 in Adams, Adams Township, Adams County, WI.²³⁶ She was living with Tom and they were listed as married, although they divorced in 1948. Her occupation was "Char Woman, Household." Blanche died on 11 April 1971 at the age of 62 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Township, Milwaukee County, WI.⁶⁰ Gary Griggs remembers "Aunt Blanche" as a very friendly, outgoing person who really enjoyed life and had a good time with whatever she did. She particularly liked to get together with her extended family at parties, picnics, weddings, and other occasions. She especially liked children, and would spend hours with them playing cards and board games or putting together picture puzzles.

Obituary Notes: "Blanche Loretta Cassidy was born in Tomah on February 10, 1909 and passed away (some months after suffering a Stroke) at the Three Fountains Nursing Home in Milwaukee on April 11, 1971 at the age of 62 years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Griggs and Eva (nee Root) Griggs and her husband, Tom. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. John (Doris) Russ of Anchorage, AK, three grandchildren, two brothers (Glenn and LaVerne Griggs), and nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held from the First Methodist church in Tomah Thursday, Apr. 15. Stanley Wiese officiated and burial was in the Wood Cemetery."
She was buried on 15 April 1971 in Wyeville, Byron Township, Monroe County, WI.^53,60,237 in the Wood Cemetery.

Blanche Loretta GRIGGS (~) and Thomas "Tom" CASSITY were married on 3 June 1940 in Waukon, Allamakee County, IA.^{60,132,235,238} They did not marry until 1940, but Blanche was apparently living with Tom for several years before that. Gary Griggs has a letter that his father, Vern, wrote to Blanche in September 1936 that was addressed to "Miss Blanche Griggs, % T. Cassidy."

The 2 May 1940 Census listed her as his wife, even though they did not marry until the next month. On 26 July 1940, Helen (Vandervort) Borchardt, a cousin, wrote a letter that was addressed to "Mrs. Tom Cassidy."

They were married by the Justice of the Peace and their witnesses were LaVerne and Bernice Griggs. They^{60,132,235,238} were divorced in 1948 in Adams, Adams Township, Adams County, WI.²³⁹ Thomas "Tom" CASSITY, son of Edward CASSITY and Luceba R. MILLER, was born on 3 December 1886 in Valley Junction, Byron Township, Monroe County, WI.^53,60,240 His birthdate is listed on his 1917 draft card as "Sept. 3rd, 1886" and his birthplace is listed as "La Grange Township." Both are believed to be in error.

The plat map of Byron County in 1887, just after Tom's birth, listed no Cassity family. So his family must have lived in the village of Valley Junction or they were renting a farm somewhere in Byron Township.

(Note: His second wife, Blanche, and her daughter, Doris Mae, used the spelling "Cassidy." That is the spelling on his gravestone.)
He appeared in the census in 1900 in Grand Rapids Township, Wood County, WI.²⁴¹ He was living with his mother and step-father. He appeared in the census in 1910 in Byron Township, Monroe County, WI.³¹ His household consisted of Tom, his first wife, Blanche Street, and his sister Edith. His occupation was "Farmer." (His surname was spelled "Cassidy.") He registered for the Military Draft on 3 June 1917 in Byron Township, Monroe County, WI. ²⁴² He was living in Wyeville at the time he was drafted and was described as "Tall, Medium Build, Brown Eyes, and Black Hair." His occupation was "Dispatcher Helper at Round House" for the Chicago Northwestern Railway Company." Tom appeared in the census in 1920 in Byron Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁰⁹ His household consisted of Tom, his wife, Blanche Street, and their adopted son, George, age 2. They lived next door to the family of Blanche's daughter Grace and her husband Clare Griggs. (His surname was listed as "Cassidy.") In February 1929 he was a Street Commissioner in Adams, Adams Township, Adams County, WI.²⁴³ according to information on the birth certificate of Doris Mae, the daughter of his second wife, Blanche Griggs. (Tom was listed as Doris Mae's father on her birth certificate, but he is not believed to have been her birth father.) He appeared in the census in April 1930 in Adams, Adams Township, Adams County, WI.²¹⁹ His household was in the Second Ward (a rental property on Grove Street, at the intersection with Elm Street) and consisted of "Thomas Cassity," occupation "Machinist Helper, Steam Railroad;" his wife, Blanche Mary (Street) Cassity; Doris Mae Griggs, age 1, (the daughter of Tom's second wife, Blanche Griggs), listed as a "Boarder;" and Robert J. Cassidy, age 20, a "Nephew.") (Robert was the son of Tom's sister, Callie.) Tom appeared in the census in April 1940 in Adams, Adams Township, Adams County, WI.²³⁵ His household consisted of Thomas Cassidy, age 53, occupation "Machinist, Railroad," "Seeking Work," and with total wages in 1939 of $200; Blanche Cassidy, age 31, his "wife;" and Doris Mae Cassidy, age 11, his daughter. He owned about 1945 in Adams, Adams Township, Adams County, WI. On 22 May 1945, Tom purchased a .8 acre vacation property on Roche-a-Cri Lake in Cottonville, Preston Township in Adams County, north of Friendship. The property contained a converted railroad passenger car and was the site of several Griggs family gatherings. Blanche and Tom sold the property in July and December 1952, as noted below.

Tom also purchased a home at 201 South Elm Street in Adams, where he and Blanche lived until their divorce in 1948. The date of that purchase is not known. The property was apparently recorded at some point in Blanche's name, because on 23 July 1952 she transferred ownership to Tom via a Quit Claim Deed. On 20 December 1952, Tom then sold the property via a Warranty Deed. About 1946 he was a city public works employee in Adams, Adams Township, Adams County, WI.⁷² Gary Griggs remembers riding with "Uncle Tom" as he drove city dump trucks and road graders in the Adams area. As a youngster of 5 or 6, Gary would bounce around on the truck seat as Tom drove on dirt roads to and from the city dump and other locations. In the Spring, Tom took Gary for rides in the road grader as he smoothed out the bumps from the Winter frost. Tom always seemed to have beard stubble, was always smoking a pipe, and loved to stop at taverns for a few beers after work. Tom appeared in the census in 1950 in Adams, Adams Township, Adams County, WI.²³⁶ His occupation was "Street Commissioner, County (?) Adams." He died on 14 October 1961 at the age of 74 in Adams, Adams Township, Adams County, WI.⁶⁰ Obituary Notes: "Funeral services for Thomas Cassity, 74, of Adams, were held Tuesday, October 17 (1961), at 10 A.M. from Roseberry's Funeral Home, Friendship. The Rev. Charles Bryan of Friendship officiated.

Mr. Cassity died in a fire in his home in Adams. He was born December 3, 1886, at Valley Junction. His parents were Ed and Sebie Cassity. He lived in Wyeville for many years, where he was an employee of the North Western Railroad. He moved to Adams when the railroad shifted their headquarters there. He was employed by the railroad for over 30 years. In 1938 he became an employee of the City of Adams, retiring in 1958 after 20 years of dedicated service.

Surviving Mr. Cassity are his former wife, Blanche Cassity, of Milwaukee; his daughter, Doris, Mrs. John Russ, of Anchorage, Alaska; two brothers: Robert of Reedsburg and Edward of Sparta; a sister, Edith, Mrs. Ben Street of Salem, Ore.; three grandchildren, Randy, Gail and Tony; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and a host of friends. Two sons preceded him in death, also two sisters, Callie and Lizzie, and a brother, James.

Interment was in Wood Cemetery at Wyeville. Pallbearers were Joe Fuller, John Liske, Gene Kennedy, Ed Vonderak, Earl Grinnel, and John Opedson, Sr., all of Adams." He was buried on 17 October 1961 in Wyeville, Byron Township, Monroe County, WI.^53,237 in the Wood Cemetery.

Blanche Loretta GRIGGS (~) and Thomas "Tom" CASSITY had the following children:

237

i.

(Unnamed Infant Son) CASSITY (~) was born on 21 January 1937 in Adams, Adams Township, Adams County, WI.53,244 His birth certificate in the Adams County Register of Deeds office (Volume 10, Page 652) does not contain a given name and it indicates that he was "Stillborn." His mother is listed as "Blanche Griggs" and his father as "Thos. Cassidy." His surname is spelled "Cassidy" on his gravestone. He died on 21 January 1937 at the age of 0.53,244 He was buried in January 1937 in Wyeville, Byron Township, Monroe County, WI.53,237 in the Wood Cemetery. The inscription on the boy's gravestone says "Infant Son of T. &. B. Cassidy 1935." It is not known if the gravestone date was an error, or if Tom and Blanche may have had two sons who died as infants. Only one birth is recorded in the Adams County birth records--the one in January 1937. .

Vilas Fredrick ROEDER, son of Fredrick August ROEDER and Auguste A. HUMBOLDT, was born on 15 February 1909 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.^{72,109,245,246} He appeared in the census in 1910 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.³¹ He appeared in the census in 1920 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.^{109 72} (He is believed to have been the birth father of Doris Mae (Griggs) Cassidy. One story has it that he and Doris' mother, Blanche Griggs, were engaged, but that he died before Doris Mae was born in February 1929.. The birth certificate for Doris did not list him as the father, but instead listed Tom Cassidy, the eventual husband of Blanche.) Vilas appeared in the census in April 1930 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.¹¹⁰ He was living with his parents and his occupation was "Laborer, Odd Jobs." Before December 1930 he was a farm laborer in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.²⁴⁶ He died on 1 December 1930 at the age of 21 in Oakdale Township, Monroe County, WI.^72,245,246 He was killed by runaway horses, when he was crushed between a farm wagon and a tree. Vilas was buried on 30 December 1930 in Camp Douglas, Cutler Township, Juneau County, WI.^245,246 in the Camp Douglas Cemetery.

Blanche Loretta GRIGGS (~) and Vilas Fredrick ROEDER had the following children: