Fifteenth Generation

1166. Chauncey Leavenworth GRIGGS was born on 6 July 1909 in Tacoma, Pierce County, WA.^127,325,536 Newspaper article: "Chauncey Leavenworth Griggs, founder of Paxport Mills, sec-treas, C.W. Griggs Investment Co., secretary of the Wilkeson Co. and St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co. Born July, 6, 1909, he died Sept 1989. He lived all his life in Tacoma. He was the son of Herbert Stanton Griggs and Elvira Ingersoll Griggs. Wife, Johanna, daughter, Tamar Koch and son, Mark Leavenworth Griggs. Grandson of Chauncey Wright Griggs and descendant of Henry Leavenworth. He refused a commission in another branch of the service to volunteer for duty as a private in the mountain troops. With another individual, he designed the first tow rope on Mount Rainier."

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He lived in Tacoma, Pierce County, WA after 1946.⁵³⁶
From the Archives of the Tacoma Public Library: "This is a drawing of the exterior view of his home, based on preliminary architectural plans of Frank Lloyd Wright. Mr. and Mrs. Griggs, of a pioneer lumber family, had desired a home with single sloping roof, views of Chambers Creek from all rooms, morning sunshine in rooms, formal dining area, concrete block walls, cedar siding, car bridge and swimming pool.

Wright completed the preliminary architectural plans in April of 1946 and was paid his $300 fee on May 8th. Although Griggs was in further contact with Wright regarding building of the home, there was no legal contract or construction specifications. Griggs started construction later in 1946 but due to weather conditions and budget considerations, building was stopped until 1953.

Economic conditions having improved, Griggs contacted local architect Alan Liddle for help. Liddle would serve as supervising architect, following Wright's preliminary plan and concept, with small changes. The Griggs home in Lakewood would finally be completed in 1954. Forty five years later, kitchen addition/remodeling would take place by Bert Perry, architect."

Another article: "Exterior view of proposal by Frank Lloyd Wright of house for Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey L. Griggs. The roof shown is sloping with steps. Carport is on the far left.

Griggs, scion of a prominent lumber family, had contacted noted architect Wright in late November of 1945 and met with him at his Arizona manor, Taliesin West, in March of 1946. Wright completed preliminary architectural plans by mid-April of that year and was paid his drawing fee of $300 on May 8, 1946.

Although Griggs started construction in the summer of 1946, bad weather and indecisiveness regarding the home's exterior composition brought the construction to a halt. It would not be resumed until January of 1953 when Griggs contacted young local architect Alan Liddle who would carefully follow Wright's preliminary plan and concept. Griggs had finally decided to proceed with his original specification of concrete block and cedar walls. The home would be completed in the fall of 1954 and the Griggs family moved in around Christmas.

Frank Lloyd Wright had called the design a "Northern Timber House" on one of his preliminary perspective drawings and after the home was completed said, "it turned out to be one of my best children...."

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After 1964 he was a President of Paxport Mills, Inc., in Tacoma, Pierce County, WA.¹²⁷ He was President of the Paxport Lumber Company. Chauncey died on 29 September 1989 at the age of 80 in Tacoma, Pierce County, WA.³²⁵

Obituary Notes: "Chauncey Leavenworth Griggs, born in Tacoma, July 6, 1909, passed away September 29, 1989. He lived here all his life, except during World War II, when he served with the 10th Mountain Division. He was the son of Herbert Stanton Griggs and Elvira Ingersoll Griggs.

After graduating from Yale, he started the first ski lifts in Washington state at Mt. Baker, Snoqualmie Pass and Paradise Valley. He later founded Paxport Mills. He loved all the arts, especially music, ballet and painting. He expressed the wish that friends not be sad at his passing, but that they celebrate his long, happy life.

He is survived by his wife Johanna; daughter, Tamar Koch, and grandaughter Maya; son, Mark Leavenworth; and sister, Elvira Cardin. A private graveside service will be held."

Chauncey Leavenworth GRIGGS and Johanna Frieda CLEMENT were married.³²⁵ Johanna Frieda CLEMENT was born in 1916 in Bad Liebenzell, Baden-Wurttemberg State, Germany.³²⁵ She emigrated in 1928 from Germany.³²⁵ She died on 3 August 1997 at the age of 81.³²⁵

Obituary Notes: "Our gentle and loving mother passed away early Sun. morning, Aug. 3, 1997. She was born in Bad Liebensel, Germany in 1916, and emigrated with her family in 1928. Following the death of both parents, she left Chicago and ended up in Lakewood, a beautiful area which reminded her of the Black Forest.

She met her husband-to-be, Chauncey Griggs, while sailing her kayak on American Lake. She was having problems with the sail, and he came to the rescue.

She had 3 children, 2 of whom survive, Tamar and Mark. There are 3 grandchildren--Maya, Karl Clement and Naomi.

There will be no service. Donations may be made to the Pierce County Humane Society, in lieu of flowers."

Chauncey Leavenworth GRIGGS and Johanna Frieda CLEMENT had the following children: