Fifteenth Generation

1085. Lester Glenn GRIGGS (~) was born on 17 May 1910 in Huron, Beadle County, SD.^{64,325,835,836,837,838,839} (He was listed as "Lester Grigg" on his birth record and the same surname spelling was used for his father.)

(His parents cannot be located in the 1910 Census, and it is not known exactly where they were living in Beadle County when Glenn was born. His World War II Draft Card states that he was born in Huron.)

Glenn's maternal grandfather, Ira J. Root, wrote the following letter to his wife, Mary, while she was in South Dakota to be with their daughter, Eva, when she gave birth to Glenn:

"Tomah, Wis. 5 -- 19th --10

Dear Wife & Folks at Huron,
We heard via Mr. G. (probably Clarence Griggs, Sam's father) last night that Eva & Sam had a Boy. Well, hope he is a nice one & well. Give the youngster the congrats of his Granddad & the best wishes of all of us at home.
Hope to get a letter today & hear that all are doing well. We had a fine rain & the weather is nice after. We are planting corn. Will finish today. Am using the two horse planter that I & Mr. Skinner & Mr. L. bought & it works fine.
Orson & Lulu (Root, Ira's brother) was over yesterday p.m. Gail (their son) was feeling first-rate. We heard this morning that they have a young horse. I presume Orson will be quite pleased. We hear that Jason (Root) does not gain much under Dr. Heinke's treatment.
Well, Mary, will not stop to write any more this morning as am in a hurry as usual. Good Bye. Love to all from Grand Pa."

Glenn's father, Sam, had moved to South Dakota to look for work sometime in 1909, and his mother, Eva, and sister, Blanche, followed in early-1910. After Glenn was born, he was very sick for a few months, and his paternal grandfather and grandmother, Clarence and Carrie Griggs, came to Huron and took him back to their home in LaGrange Township. Initially, Eva wanted to return to Wisconsin, but Sam wanted to stay in South Dakota to work.

In a letter written on 13 May 1911 by Clarence Griggs to Roxana Liscomb Griggs, the wife of his father's brother, Roswell, Glenn's grandfather Clarence states: "We have our grandson with us yet. His mother is in the hospital yet, but her health is improving rapidly. Expect her home soon."

Sometime after that, Eva and Blanche returned to Monroe County from Huron and lived with Clarence and Carrie. Then, later in 1911, Sam returned and farmed on property that they rented in Monroe County.
He appeared in the census in 1920 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.^458,840,841 He was living with his parents.

A detailed search of the 1930 Census failed to locate Glenn or his sister Blanche or his brother LaVerne. Blanche is believed to have been living in the Adams, WI, area because her 1-year-old daughter, Doris May, was living with Blanche's eventual husband, Tom Cassidy, and his first wife, Blanche (Street) Cassidy, in Adams.

Glenn was working as a welder in South Dakota on a work crew that was building railroad lines. Letters from him in April 1930 list his address as Wolsey, Beadle County, SD, and those in July 1930 list it as Scotland, Bon Homme County, SD. It is possible that the work crew was not included in the census.

LaVerne is believed to have been living at the home of his paternal grandparents, Clarence and Carrie Griggs at their home at 1308 Stoughton Avenue in Tomah. But that household was not listed on the census sheets. 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 Stoughton. But, possibly because of Clarence's sickness, she did not enumerate 1308. ⁸⁴² In a post card from Glenn to his sister, Blanche, he wrote: "Just got a letter from LaVern, and he wants me to send him some money. Guess he needs it bad. I'll get along some, so if you will send him the three dollars instead of sending it to me. Send it to him so he will get it by the 2nd or as soon as possible. Remember, he is a long way from home and gets pretty lonesome, so try and send it to him if you can, please. May be seeing you pretty soon. Glenn Griggs"

Many letters between the Glenn, Blanche and Vern mention sending a few dollars between the three of them at various times. It was the middle of the Depression, and they all were struggling financially. He appeared in the census in 1940 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁶²⁷ He was living with his brother and sister-in-law at 220 Superior Avenue in Tomah, his occupation was "Common Laborer, Steam Railroad" and his wages in 1939 were $450. Lester served in the military between 15 October 1940 and 1945.^582,843,844 According to his World War II enlistment record he had completed "2 years of high school" and his Civil Occupation: was "semiskilled chauffers and drivers, bus, taxi, truck and tractor."

He served as a Private in the Quartermaster Corps and was eventually stationed at Camp Livingston, Lousiana in early-1942, and then in the Fiji Islands.

His daughter Judy has many letters that he wrote to his sister, Blanche, from Fiji. He wrote primarily about letters that he received from family members and about wishing that he was back in Wisconsin. He was a Corporal while in Fiji. Each envelope was stamped to indicate that it had been inspected and "Passed" by an "Army Examiner" before mailing.

He registered for the World War II Draft on 29 October 1945 as a "returned veteran." He was listed as 5'9" tall, 165 pounds with Brown eyes, Brown hair and a "Ruddy" complexion. His residence was West Allis, WI and his next of kin was his brother, Laverne J. Griggs. He appeared in the census in 1950 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI.⁸⁴⁵ His household was at 1024 Ogden Avenue, Apt. 205, and his occupation was "Iron Worker, Steel Erecting Co." He died on 12 September 1986 at the age of 76 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI.^325,846,847 Obituary Notes: "Glenn was born May 17, 1910 in Huron, SD to Samuel and Eva (Root) Griggs. He moved to Tomah as an infant and resided in Tomah until entering the service. He married Virginia Williams of Tomah on May 25, 1946.

He was a World War II veteran of the 32nd Division of the Army. He was a lifetime member of the AMVETS Organization. He was an iron worker for Price Erecting until his retirement in 1972. Glenn died at the age of 76 at St. Joseph's Hospital, Milwaukee. His death was caused by respiratory failure due to a long illness from emphysema.

His survivors include his wife, Virginia; four daughters: Judy, Janet and Jerri of Milwaukee, and Joan of Rhinelander, and their husbands and eight grandchildren; and sister-in-law Bernice (wife of the late Vern) Griggs of Tomah. He was preceded in death by one brother (Vern) and one sister (Blanche Cassidy)." Lester was buried on 15 September 1986 in Brookfield, Waukesha County, WI.^325,848 in the Wisconsin Memorial Park.

Lester Glenn GRIGGS (~) and Virginia Mae WILLIAMS were married on 25 May 1946 in Crown Point, Lake County, IN.^325,849,850 They married in Crown Point because a friend of Virginia's had married there and she thought it would be a good place for their wedding. Their best man was Glenn's brother, Vern, and their maid of honor was Virginia's sister, Ruth.

Virginia remembers that she was very embarrassed because Vern drove them to Crown Point for their wedding, and he took so long to get back to Wisconsin after the wedding that the four of them were late for the wedding dinner that Bernice Griggs had waiting for them. When they finally arrived back in West Allis, some of the guests had already left. Virginia Mae WILLIAMS, daughter of Elijah Newton WILLIAMS and Lola Nettie BASSETT, was born on 26 May 1923 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^649,851 She appeared in the census in 1930 in Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁴⁵⁹ She graduated in 1941 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^852,853 from Tomah High School. Virginia appeared in the census in 1950 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI.⁸⁴⁵ She died on 11 December 2012 at the age of 89 in West Bend, Washington County, WI.⁸⁵⁴ Obituary Notes: "Griggs, Virginia M. (Nee Williams). Born to Eternal Life December 11, 2012, age 89. Beloved wife of the late Glenn L. Griggs. Wonderful mother to Judy (Jack) Pleugers, Janet (Jim) Perry, Joan (Tim) Phelan and Jerri (Brian) Gronitz. Loving grandmother to Pam Foster, Glenn (Cindy) Eichstaedt, Andrea (Matt) Pfaffl, Charles Pleugers, John Pleugers, Josh (Angela) Gronitz, Joe (Jessica) Gronitz, the late Justin Mueller and 12 great-grandchildren. Also survived and loved by sister-in-law Lee Williams, many relatives and friends.

Visitation Saturday, December 15, at the Funeral Home from 9:00-11:00 AM with a service to follow at 11:00 AM. Interment Wisconsin Memorial Park.

Ginny retired at the age of 80 as a hairdresser from the Milwaukee Protestant Home. Special thanks to Kathy Hospice in West Bend for all their loving care. Member of Freedom Fellowship of Jackson, WI and a former member of Albright Methodist Church."
She was buried in Brookfield, Waukesha County, WI.⁸⁴⁸ in the Wisconsin Memorial Park.

Lester Glenn GRIGGS (~) and Virginia Mae WILLIAMS had the following children: